Germanna students to go global in July

[sajiv]

Germanna students to go global in July

Germanna Community College is launching a study abroad program to India this summer aimed at developing a global view of the world and learning about business and culture in the country.

Eventually the hope is to develop an internship program and foster American jobs but the first trip will be geared primarily at gaining an understanding of the culture, said Germanna spokesman Mike Zitz.

A handful of Germanna staff were part of a local delegation that visited six cities in India last year. They met with business leaders and university staff, exploring history, culture and information technology.

"They chose India because India and China are said to be the two emerging economic powers," Zitz said. "They felt they could combine cultural opportunities with the opportunity to develop an internship program."

This year's program will run from July 23 through Aug. 8. Students will choose from three tracks for their studies. They can take part in a humanities track, a general cultural interest track and a track that includes the study of business, information technology and Ayurvedic, which is a system of traditional medicine native to India.

The trip will also include visits to the cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, and activities including a visit to the Taj Mahal and a cross-country Jeep safari ride.

Germanna is the first school in the Virginia Community College system to launch a study abroad program in India, Zitz said.

Last week, a delegation of business people from India visited Germanna to speak to students and faculty about opportunities a student exchange could provide.

"I am delighted that Germanna has approved its first study abroad program to India," Sunithi Gnanadoss, a native of India and Germanna assistant professor of English, said in a prepared statement. "This is a fruition of a vision, research and much work. It is good for students to connect with the global world. Connecting today with tomorrow's world is very important."

The study abroad is entirely student-funded. Students pay for their own travel expenses at a discounted group rate, Zitz said.

Deadline to register for the 16-day trip is May 15.

For additional information, visit germanna.edu.