MORROW — This spring, 21 Clayton State University students studied abroad in programs offered by the university.
In Paris, France, six CSU students spent their time teaching while in Costa Rica, 15 CSU students journeyed through the country’s tropical climate studying its ecology and environment.
Sasha Cokuslu, the university’s study abroad manager and international programs advisor, said that since 2011, Clayton State students have visited 25 countries in previously offered summer abroad programs.
She also said 643 CSU students at Clayton State who have opted to study abroad at some point in their academic careers — and all 643 have gone on to graduate.
“I think it (showcases) what you’ve been learning in the classroom so far and applying that to the real world on a global scale,” Cokuslu said. “It’s giving students that opportunity to see that a lot of our issues aren’t just local — they’re global.”
Melvin said that while this was not the first trip Clayton State has taken to Costa Rica, this summer’s trip was the first time the experience was offered as an interdisciplinary program between the university’s biology and chemistry departments.
Studying water quality is something that chemistry major Ghadeer Al Chbenawi is used to in Clayton County. But getting the opportunity to do it overseas in a foreign country’s ecosystem while further studying both other subjects and the country itself was something she deemed priceless.
“Going out and experiencing what it’s like to live and see other countries made me appreciative of what we have,” Al Chbenawi said. “For example, I know their water is free and 99% spring water — but at the same time, none of it is clean water. We went to the Monteverde Institute. Some speakers came out and spoke about their water quality issues and how companies and farmers…
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