University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Study Abroad Center Mission Statement and Student Learning Outcomes

University of Hawai`i at Mānoa Mission Statement

Leadership – Excellence – Innovation

University of Hawai`i at Mānoa Study Abroad Center Mission Statement

Students in the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa Study Abroad Center Programs shall acquire knowledge through academic work in other countries and develop cross-cultural understanding through cultural immersion. Faculty in Study Abroad Programs shall have similar opportunities for enrichment.

University of Hawai`i at Mānoa Study Abroad Center Program Student Learning Outcomes

The Manoa Strategic Plan 2002-2010 and 2011-2015 call for undergraduate educational effectiveness and continues to endorse Study Abroad as one of the University’s strategic imperatives. Students in Study Abroad Programs gain: 1) a deeper knowledge and understanding of other cultures and their environments; 2) different perspectives in regard to other nations; 3) increased capacity to analyze issues with appreciation for disparate viewpoints; and 4) increased respect and tolerance of differences – all contributing to a citizenry better able to succeed in the 21st century.

Course Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of a course students will achieve at least one of the following outcomes and be able to:

1. Demonstrate awareness of own cultural values and biases and how these impact their ability to work with others.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of diversity with a focus on the population or topic of interest in the specific Study Abroad program.

3. Communicate appropriately and effectively with diverse individuals and groups.

4. Demonstrate an increased capacity to analyze issues with appreciation for disparate viewpoints.

SAC programs are also designed to meet the program objectives of individual departments and the Mānoa undergraduate general education requirements. SAC has helped various departments to fulfill their goals of meeting student learning outcomes. For example, the Department of Political Science requires majors to complete a three-credit course applying their knowledge and expanding it to real world settings (Political Science 403: Community Action Field Work). SAC offers such a course that fulfills this major requirement. In the same manner SAC programs offer curricula that helps departments with their 2nd year foreign language, major, minor, certificate, focus, graduation, and elective requirements.

They additionally meet SAC’s overall program mission through its curriculum, experiential learning activities, in-country orientations, pre-departure preparations and many other channels. A paradigm of this process is illustrated here which foregrounds how all our programs meet essential SAC Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs).