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Study Abroad
The Trienens Institute is committed to empowering future global leaders in sustainability and energy. To accomplish this goal, the Trienens Institute is pleased to offer a range of study abroad opportunities in collaboration with interdisciplinary partners from across Northwestern.
- Israel – Global Engineering Trek (GET): Water
- Germany – Global Engineering Trek (GET): Sustainability and Energy
- Taiwan – Global Engineering Trek (GET): Innovation and Hi-Tech
- Chile – Global Engineering Trek (GET): Energy Storage and Critical Minerals
- China – Energy Technology and Policy: Wanxiang Fellows Program
Israel – Global Engineering Trek (GET): Water
September 2023 – For Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors
Water management is a highly interdisciplinary field, and all majors, particularly in engineering, science, and social policy, will contribute to addressing critical water needs in the 21st century. Based on the successful GET Sustainability and Energy program model in Germany, the GET Water program will enable Northwestern freshmen and sophomores to see Israel’s critical water infrastructure, experience its culture of innovation, and tour diverse historical and archaeological sites. GET Water will feature an immersion program in three regions in Israel: the populous and vibrant Tel Aviv / Dan region, the temperate and historical region around Haifa and the Northeast, and the Negev Desert in the south.
On this trek, students will travel to Israel to explore transboundary water issues, ancient infrastructure, and modern emerging solutions through discussions with diverse water experts, explorations of technological innovation, and visits to major water utilities, infrastructure facilities, and research centers. In addition to visiting companies and research universities, participants will gain exposure to global internship, research, and job opportunities including those related to startups, water desalination, water reuse, and hyper-efficient precision agriculture systems.
This GET Water program is open to freshmen and sophomores from ALL undergraduate majors. Cross-school participation is encouraged. It is important to note that participants do not receive academic credit for this program.
Program Details
- Program dates: Likely program dates will be September 5 - 16, 2023 (dates subject to change)
- Application deadline for students: March 17, 2023 (11:59 pm CST)
- Deadline for submission of letters of recommendation: March 22, 2023 (11:59 pm CST)
- Who should apply? This September 2023 trek is open to Northwestern students who are freshmen, sophomores, and (*new*) juniors at the time of application. The program is designed for undergraduate students in any major who have an interest in sustainable technology.
- Academic credit: This short-term experience abroad carries no academic credit.
- Financial assistance and cost: Some need-based financial aid may be available, proportional to the applicant’s current level of university financial aid. Cost to participants without financial aid is approximately $1,000. All airfare, in-country travel related to the program, lodging, and meals will be covered by the program.
- Language: No prior knowledge of a foreign language is required.
- Trek Contact: Krystle Felcaro, Crown Center (krystle.felcaro@northwestern.edu)
Applications for this year's Global Engineering Trek programs are now closed. Historically, GET applications open in January/February. Please check back for future program updates/applications.
Program costs associated with the Global Engineering Trek to Israel are highly subsidized through generous support of the Crown Family Fund (McCormick School of Engineering), Northwestern Israel Innovation Project, Northwestern Center for Water Research, the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, and McCormick Global Initiatives (MGI). This program has been reviewed and approved by the Office of Global Safety and Security (OGSS) at Northwestern University. For more information about global safety approvals, contact OGSS at globalsafety@northwestern.edu; 847-467-6400.
Germany – Global Engineering Trek (GET): Sustainability and Energy
September 2023 – For Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors
Sustainability is a highly interdisciplinary field, and all majors, particularly in engineering and science, will contribute to creating a more sustainable tomorrow. With this in mind, the Trienens Institute has partnered with the McCormick School of Engineering Global Initiatives Office and created a cleantech immersion program for freshmen based in Hamburg and Münster, Germany.
On this trek, students will travel to world-leading companies and research institutes in the Hamburg and Münster regions. In addition to touring cleantech startups and global corporations, participants will gain exposure to global internship and job opportunities including those related to biotech, organic photovoltaics, sustainable materials, big data/smart cities, renewable energy, and sustainable production chains.
This GET Sustainability and Energy program is open to freshmen and sophomores from ALL undergraduate majors, with an emphasis on students such as engineers and scientists with an interest in technology. Cross-school participation is encouraged. It is important to note that participants do not receive academic credit for this program.
The GET Germany 2023 program is financially supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Program Details
- Program dates: Likely program dates will be September 9 - 17, 2023 (dates subject to change)
- Application deadline for students: March 17, 2023 (11:59 pm CST)
- Deadline for submission of letters of recommendation: March 22, 2023 (11:59 pm CST)
- Who should apply? This September 2023 trek is open to Northwestern students who are freshmen, sophomores, and (*new*) juniors at the time of application. The program is designed for undergraduate students in any major who have an interest in sustainable technology.
- University Partners in Germany: Universität Hamburg and Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
- Academic credit: This short-term experience abroad carries no academic credit.
- Financial assistance and cost: Some need-based financial aid may be available, proportional to the applicant’s current level of university financial aid. Cost to participants without financial aid is approximately $1,000. All airfare, in-country travel related to the program, lodging, and meals will be covered by the program.
- Language: No prior knowledge of a foreign language is required.
- Trek Contact: Mike McMahon, Trienens Institute (mike.mcmahon@northwestern.edu)
Applications for this year's Global Engineering Trek programs are now closed. Historically, GET applications open in January/February. Please check back for future program updates/applications.
Program costs associated with the Global Engineering Trek to Israel are highly subsidized through generous support of the Crown Family Fund (McCormick School of Engineering), Northwestern Israel Innovation Project, Northwestern Center for Water Research, the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, and McCormick Global Initiatives (MGI). This program has been reviewed and approved by the Office of Global Safety and Security (OGSS) at Northwestern University. For more information about global safety approvals, contact OGSS at globalsafety@northwestern.edu; 847-467-6400.
Taiwan – Global Engineering Trek (GET): Innovation and Hi-Tech
June 2023 – For Sophomores and Juniors
Innovation and entrepreneurship are essential ingredients to modern progress in high tech fields like computers and electronics. With this in mind, the Office of the Vice President for International Relations is partnering with the McCormick School of Engineering Global Initiatives Office to create an innovation technology immersion program for sophomores and juniors based in Taipei, Taiwan.
On this trek, students will travel to world-leading companies and research institutes in Taiwan. In addition to touring innovation incubators, global corporations, and meeting peer students at National Taiwan University, participants will gain exposure to global internship and job opportunities including those related to computer science, manufacturing, app development, electronic devices, and sustainable supply chain management.
This Taiwan - GET Innovation and Hi-Tech program is open to sophomores and juniors only from ALL undergraduate majors with an interest in innovation and technology. Cross-school participation is encouraged. It is important to note that participants do not receive academic credit for this program.
Program Details
- Program dates: Likely program dates will be June 10 - 20, 2023 (dates subject to change)
- Application deadline for students: February 15, 2023 (11:59 pm CST)
- Deadline for submission of letters of recommendation: February 22, 2023 (11:59 pm CST)
- Who should apply? This June 2023 Trek is open to Northwestern sophomores and juniors in all fields of study who have an interest in innovation and high tech. An interest in technology is required, but a technical major is *not* required. Journalists, sociologists, musicians, and any other major interested in learning more about entrepreneurship and technical fields like computer science, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, and supply chain management are welcome to apply.
- Academic credit: This short-term experience abroad carries no academic credit.
- Financial assistance and cost: Some need-based financial aid may be available, proportional to the applicant’s current level of university financial aid. Cost to participants without financial aid is approximately $1,000. All airfare, in-country travel related to the program, lodging, and meals will be covered by the program.
- Language: No prior knowledge of a foreign language is required.
- Trek Contact: Jennifer Gerrard, International Relations (jennifer.gerrard@northwestern.edu)
Applications for this year's Global Engineering Trek programs are now closed. Historically, GET applications open in January/February. Please check back for future program updates/applications.
Program costs associated with the Global Engineering Trek to Taiwan are highly subsidized through generous support of the government of Taiwan, Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, and McCormick Global Initiatives (MGI). This program has been reviewed and approved by the Office of Global Safety and Security (OGSS) at Northwestern University. For more information about global safety approvals, contact OGSS at globalsafety@northwestern.edu; 847-467-6400.
Chile – Global Engineering Trek (GET): Energy Storage and Critical Minerals
September 2023 – For Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors
Gain exposure to minerals mining at the center of energy storage technologies, the environmental and social effects of mining, and research to develop improved mining and recycling technologies that can reduce them. The Chile Trek is the newest GET program. Additional program details forthcoming...
Program Details
- Program dates: Likely program dates will be September 9 - 17, 2023 (dates subject to change)
- Application deadline for students: March 17, 2023 (11:59 pm CST)
- Deadline for submission of letters of recommendation: March 22, 2023 (11:59 pm CST)
- Who should apply? This September 2023 trek is open to Northwestern students who are freshmen, sophomores, and (*new*) juniors at the time of application. The program is designed for undergraduate students in any major who have an interest in sustainable technology.
- Academic credit: This short-term experience abroad carries no academic credit.
- Financial assistance and cost: Some need-based financial aid may be available, proportional to the applicant’s current level of university financial aid. Cost to participants without financial aid is approximately $1,000. All airfare, in-country travel related to the program, lodging, and meals will be covered by the program.
- Language: No prior knowledge of a foreign language is required.
- Trek Contact: Mike McMahon, Trienens Institute (mike.mcmahon@northwestern.edu)
Applications for this year's Global Engineering Trek programs are now closed. Historically, GET applications open in January/February. Please check back for future program updates/applications.
Program costs associated with the Global Engineering Trek to Chile are highly subsidized through generous support of the Center for Engineering Sustainability and Resilience (CESR), Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, and McCormick Global Initiatives (MGI). This program has been reviewed and approved by the Office of Global Safety and Security (OGSS) at Northwestern University. For more information about global safety approvals, contact OGSS at globalsafety@northwestern.edu; 847-467-6400.
China – Energy Technology and Policy: Wanxiang Fellows Program
Originally part of President Barack Obama’s “100,000 Strong” initiative, the Wanxiang Fellows Program sends 12-20 Northwestern students to China to work on one of the world’s most important challenges: the development of sustainable green energy technologies. This competitive fellows program takes place during the Summer Quarter and consists of three phases.
First, in the Spring Quarter prior to travel, students will be introduced to environmental and sustainability studies and will visit the Wanxiang America Corporation headquarters in Elgin, Illinois.
The second phase takes place abroad where Wanxiang Fellows will spend one month completing two full-credit courses with other Northwestern students at Peking University in Beijing. Students then participate in a two-week intensive program at Hangzhou Wanxiang Polytechnic, where they explore issues of energy technology and application through lectures by Wanxiang researchers and practitioners, as well as site visits.
Along with language study, students will learn about clean energy science from researchers at Wanxiang Corporation, and will go on various experiential field trips (i.e. solar manufacturing plant, electric vehicle battery factory, and energy storage stations) for a full two weeks. Upon returning to Northwestern University, the third phase, the students will report on their experience.
Program Details
- Program dates: TBA
- Application deadline: Applications are not yet open.
- Who should apply? Open to Northwestern students from all majors meeting Northwestern's minimum application requirements.
- Academic credit: Courses taken through this program are eligible for academic credit.
- Cost: Summer program costs vary, but summer study abroad tends to be much less expensive overall than a regular quarter at Northwestern. Cost to participants is approximately $4,100.
- Scholarship: Applicants are eligible for GLO study abroad scholarships and may be eligible for external funding opportunities. Northwestern students receiving financial aid during the academic year may be eligible to apply for summer aid for this program. Visit the summer aid and scholarships page for additional information.
- Language: Language of instruction is English, though students will gain exposure to Chinese language and culture.
Note: The Wanxiang Fellows Program was suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions but is expected to resume in Summer 2024 as these restrictions ease.
Contact:
Global Learning Office
(847) 467-6400, global@northwestern.edu