Programs
Colombia Beyond the Classroom
Program Introduction
Program Leader: Rahi Dayerizadeh
This Honors Beyond the Classroom program aims to expose students to the cultural dynamics and value systems in Colombia, allowing them to develop an understanding of intercultural communication and Colombian history, all while exploring the beautiful landscape and historical sites of Barranquilla, Colombia.
Be inspired by powerful female leaders and empowerment movements as you explore the lived experiences of women in the global south and the Caribbean. In this course, you’ll participate in a Virtual Global Exchange with UniNorte students, working on hands-on projects and building meaningful connections. After the term, you’ll travel to vibrant Barranquilla, Colombia, to meet your peers and expand your learning.
While in Colombia, you’ll visit the Office of Women and Gender Equality, UN Women Colombia, Secretariat of Women, and the School for Political Incidence for Migrant Women. Engage with grassroots female leaders and witness women in power firsthand. This is more than a course — it’s a life-changing experience!
Program Dates
Spring 2025 | May 12, 2025 – May 25, 2025
- Applications Open: July 1, 2024
- Applications Close: Monday, November 4, 2024
- Course: Spring 2025
- Travel: May 12, 2025 – May 25, 2025
The Colombia Beyond the Classroom Course Experience
The Colombia Beyond the Classroom program is a Spring 2025 IDH 4200 course based in
Tampa, culminating in two weeks of travel to Barranquilla, Colombia at the end of
the semester.
Throughout the semester, students will collaborate with Colombian students at the
Universidad del Norte through virtual global engagement activities and then meet their
partners in person during their stay in Colombia. The course will explore the history
of women in leadership positions, allowing students to interact with women leaders
through site visits to organizations such as UN Women and the Colombian Office of
Women and Gender Equity.
This course offers a cross-cultural analysis of the lived experiences of women and
their struggle for power and gender justice in the developing world. We will examine
current events, debates, and scholarly works primarily from the Global South to gain
a non-Western perspective on the political, historical, cultural, geographical, social,
educational, and economic challenges and achievements that have shaped gender politics.
Topics to be covered include social movements, cultural relativism, feminism(s), neoliberalism,
globalization, and human rights discourses.
A variety of examples and authors from across the Global South will be utilized to
provide an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the differences and similarities
between the realities of women in these societies. We will deconstruct the intersections
of identity based on race/ethnicity, religion, age, class, gender, and citizenship
from a transnational context. Through our readings and discussions, we will critically
analyze recent trends that have been shaping gender politics in developing countries.
Students will become more aware of global women’s issues and be introduced to feminist
scholarship from the developing world. Throughout this term, students will conduct
project-based learning in a Virtual Global Exchange (VGE) with a partner class at
UniNorte, Colombia.
This program will be of interest to Honors students in any major who seek to develop
cross-cultural communication, research, and leadership skills and want to utilize
those skills to further gender equity.
PROGRAM COST
- $2,561.00
PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY
Students will be expected to do some light walking on a daily basis and tolerate temperatures/climate similar to Florida. No extreme weather and our travels will be before raining season. UniNorte and housing will also include AC.