Study Abroad:
We encourage information sciences students to expand their global experience through various international programs. The benefits of study abroad are numerous—whether you are interested in expanding your academic research experience, growing your professional skills, or developing lifelong friendships—there is an opportunity for you! Read more about highlighted benifits and debunk some common myths. Or watch a past presentation on study abroad to iSchool students.
Our school partners with Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange (IAGE) to provide students with study abroad advising to enhance their Information Sciences degree. Students should also talk with your IS Advisor to review your academic plan and how an international program may fit into your schedule, and then find your program!
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Virtual Global Experience (VGE) Opportunities:
Virtual Global Experiences are internships, research, and projects with universities, international organizations, alumni mentors, or companies abroad. We recommend any student who is interested in an VGE to should schedule a virtual appointment with the iSchool embedded advisor from IAGE. VGE opportunities may be eligible for specific study abroad scholarships, such as the I4I scholarship.
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- Campus B: Internships in Brazil Campus B offers internship programs and experiential learning in a structured online working format through interacting with Insper (Institute of Education and Research) students. Interns will have the opportunity to work alongside Brazilian students and experienced professionals in renowned organizations across many disciplines. All interns will be placed within an organization working on projects, with a dedicated supervisor and a program coordinator based in Brazil. Cost of Participation: Program fees: $880-1080 in addition to the $150 administration fee. Enrollment in LAS 199 is required.
- VACorps provides internship placements with a South African company, startup, nonprofit, or NGO. VA Corps may also offer hybrid opportunties to begin your internship remotely and then travel to South Africa to meet your colleagues in person and enjoy local travel adventures with VACorps. Cost of Participation: Program fees: $1,000 in addition to the $150 administration fee. Enrollment in LAS 199 is required.
- Sage Corps offers customized 12-week remote internships with global startups around the world. Students can work on projects in relevant areas of data analytics and software development. There are also opportunities to develop and use a foreign language. Cost of Participation: Program fees: $1,999 in addition to the $150 administration fee. Enrollment in LAS 199 is required.
- Barcelona SAE offers customizable internships with start-up comapnies in Barcelona, Spain. Companies who host a virtual intern on this program are available in Spanish or English. The virtual internships are project-based, and each internship is unique to you. Cost of Participation: Program fees: $799-999 in addition to the $150 administration fee. Enrollment in LAS 199 is required.
- Virtual Mojo offers placements with unique Indian social enterprises and not for profits. Relevant opportunites are in UI design, UX writing, and data visualization. View the flyer. Program fees: $700 in addition to the $150 administration fee. Enrollment in LAS 199 is required.
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Fall 2021 Virtual Internship Opportunity:
THE USE OF AI IN SOCIETY AND ITS IMPLICATIONS – A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE US AND EU Apply
Mentors: Roger von Laufenberg, Reinhard Kreissl (VICESSE)
Description: In this project, participants develop individual case studies, researching the use of AI in different settings (e.g. in law enforcement, advertisement/marketing, health & care, political campaigning), the implications these uses have on individuals and societies and the potential means of addressing negative implications. A comparison between the US and the EU, both in terms of AI use as well as the means of addressing negative implications, is central in this project.
The student will identify a specific setting in which AI systems have been implemented in recent years, comparing both the US and EU, and address the following questions:
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Perform a desk research (literature, media articles, public documents, etc.) on which types of AI systems are used in that selected setting and what is the purpose of these systems. What are the differences regarding AI use between the US and the EU?
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What implications – negative as well as positive – can result from the use of these systems?
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How are negative implications of AI systems addressed and mitigated, in the US as well as the EU?
The work includes weekly meetings with the mentors related to the questions. Guidance will be provided on how and where to research these questions through these meetings.
The student(s) will present their findings in the form of a “virtual brown bag seminar” at VICESSE and write a report about their results.
Time Commitment: 5 hours/week. The weekly meetings will be arranged at the mentor’s and students’ convenience.
Student Profile: 1-2 advanced BA students in Sociology, Engineering, Computer science and/or other relevant disciplines, preferably with an understanding of the basics of Science and Technology Studies (STS) and with an interest in the sociological implications of AI systems.
Cost/Scholarships: There is a cost associated with the coordination of this Virtual Internship. Please view the “Costs” tab on the study abroad page below.
Find more on the Study Abroad Page: https://app.studyabroad.illinois.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=11749
Contact: LAS International Programs las-intprograms@illinois.edu
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Fall 2021 Global Online Classes:
In collaboration with study abroad partners, academic units are offering online courses for students to explore various topics in an international context. What is unique about these courses is that students will develop a global mindset and learn through engaging with international experts and being exposed to new perspectives. Some course examples are:
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UP 160: Race, Social Justice and Cities (3 credits): Study of the history and politics of American cities as sites of everyday struggles against systemic racialized exclusions rooted in patterns of residential segregation. Frame everyday racial encounters as surface symptoms of submerged and systematic forms of racism rooted in centuries of genocide, land theft, racial slavery and decades of Jim Crow segregation and neoliberal exclusions. Explore everyday racial conflicts in selected cities as expressions of historical struggles for social and spatial justice, across multiple scales. Focus on the governance of routine social practices ranging from policing, to education, to gentrification and memorialization in public places. Final student projects will focus on social struggles against systemic and everyday racisms in a self-selected city of their choice.
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HDFS 398: Child Health in South Africa (3 credits): This course offers a unique exploration of child development and health perspectives and challenges in South Africa. Topics will include family, cultural and societal contexts, child guidance, food security, HIV and tuberculosis care in childhood and adolescence, as well as the effect of COVID-19 on child well-being in communities already affected severely by socioeconomic and health disparities
- IS 390 (3 credits): This course is designed to provide practical and hands-on training by simulating consulting projects. Students will develop proficiencies in problem-solving, team management, storytelling, and professional communications. As they learn the theories and practices of consulting engagements, students will have opportunities to discover how their knowledge in information sciences can be applied to various types of consulting services. The transferrable skills acquired in this class are applicable to other workplace settings
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GER 1021 (4 credits): This is a special section of German language courses featuring Illinois in Vienna lecturers, Kyle Schmude and Evita Nitsch. What is unique about this course is that students will learn German through experiencing Vienna virtually and interacting with Austrian students. If students are thinking about studying abroad in the future, this course would be a great opportunity for them to experience and learn about Austria before embarking on a semester, summer, or year-long program.
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Additional Global Experiences at Illinois:
Building your global competency is beneficial for you personally and professionally! If you are looking for opportunties outside of the classroom, here are some great options:
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- Global Leaders: orange and blue engagement (GLOBE): GLOBE connects Blue members (current university students) with Orange members (new incoming students) and teams them up in small groups to participate in various activities and events throughout the semester.
- ISSSTrains: ISSSTRAINS encompasses workshops, student and scholar panels, and coaching to build the global skills that lead to more effective and enjoyable intercultural communication.
- Intensive English Institute: You can help promote our world-class program, better connect our students and enrich the local community. We offer opportunities for professional development and to advance research in the field of second language teaching. ConvoPartner Volunteer
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- Campus Research/Area Studies Centers
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Post-Graduation Global Opportunities:
