This Week in EA

• EA Pop-Up in PUP | Thursday, Dec. 4th | 9am-12pm | PUP354

  Are you planning to go abroad this winter or spring and have last minute questions? Do you want to get a jump start on planning your study abroad during Summer or Fall '26? Then stop by the Education Abroad Pop-Up Drop-In Advising hours in Room 354 of the Public Policy building! We can't wait to see you there!

• EA Pop-Up in the Commons | Thursday, Dec. 4th | 12:30pm-1:30pm | Commons Main Street

  Are you interested in studying abroad but don't know where to start? Do you have questions for the EA team? Stop by our table on Commons Main Street!

• Identity among Japan Exchange and Teaching Participants - Thesis Defense | Thursday, Dec. 4th | 10am-12pm | Sherman 445 or Virtual
  

  MA TESOL Candidate MV Kizer Ball will be defending her thesis on identity among Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) programme participants on 4 December from 10.00-12.00 in person and on zoom. The format for the hearing, which is scheduled for 90 minutes is as follows. Note, only a portion is open to the public and this should last no more than 60 minutes. 1. Introduction of committee, 2. Thesis presentation - MV will then present a short overview of her thesis using Powerpoint. This will not last more than 20 minutes, 3. Question and Answers - The committee will pose comments and questions to MV. If there is additional time, guests may be invited to make comments or ask questions, 4. Committee Deliberation - Guests will be thanked and invited to step out. MV will also step out but rejoin when the committee invites her back to receive feedback and the overall decision. 

• The Global Studies Program is seeking digital marketing interns!

  Have you ever considered a career in global education or marketing? The Global Studies Program is seeking three digital marketing interns who will create and publish content for the program's website and social media in spring 2026. Interns must be GLBL majors with at least 60 completed credits and demonstrate a strong interest in global education marketing. This is an unpaid internship where students earn three upper-level elective credits (GLBL 401), involving 7.5 hours of work per week. For more information, please contact Dr. Filomeno (filomeno@umbc.edu). Use this link to apply by January 7th.

Recurring Events and Deadlines

• February 1st, 2026: ISEP Exchange and Nanzan University Fall '26, and AY 26-27 Applications due

• February 16, 2026: Summer 2026 Faculty-led Program Applications due

• March 10th, 2026: Summer (non-faculty led), Fall, and Academic Year 2026-2027 Applications due

• Summer 2026, Fall 2026, and Academic Year 2026-2027 advising is available now! Contact educationabroad@umbc.edu to schedule an advising appointment.

• Faculty-Led Study Abroad Virtual Drop-in Hours
  Tuesday | 3pm-4pm | Virtual

• Study Abroad 101 Sessions
  Monday | 11am-12pm | Virtual
  Tuesday | 2pm-3pm | Virtual
  Wednesday | 1pm-2pm | Virtual

Faculty-Led Study Abroad Corner

• French in France
  What better place to learn French than in France? Take a French language course in Angers, a city in western France, specifically in the Pays de la Loire region. It's conveniently located to access Paris, Nantes, and other large cities via high speed train and the Loire Valley castles. This faculty-led study abroad course will allow students to earn credit for any French language course: 101, 102, 103, 201, 202, or 304. Students above level FREN 304 will receive credit for FREN 399. Work towards or complete your language requirement, Cultures GEP requirement, or a French major, minor, or certificate! Students will stay in homestays and share meals with French families, attend courses with students from across the globe, participate in a French cooking class and river-boat tour, and select two day-long excursions that will take them outside the city of Angers.

• Justice, Agency and Culture in Kenya
  Are you interested in learning about the Maasai people and other local communities of Kenya while exploring the relationship between community, culture, and social justice? Over the course of three weeks, explore Nairobi and the Maasai Mara region. This will include visiting organizations and significant historical sites that emphasize Kenya's people and history, particularly in terms of de-colonization. Deepen your understanding of the connection between the environment and its people by engaging with organizations like The Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies (The Green Belt Movement), the Brackenhurst Indigenous Forest, and the Centre for Ecosystem Restoration-Kenya. You will also spend time with organizations that focus on women's and girl's rights. In the Maasai Mara, we will go on safari and learn more about Maasai culture.