Location:

Kigali, Rwanda

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Summer

Program Overview

Program Description:

This 3-week field course provides you an opportunity to explore Rwanda’s highly innovative social innovation landscape, and to address social innovation topics in partnership with local entrepreneurs and civil society leaders.

GEI’s Social Innovation Labs in countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa and Vietnam aspire to drive collective social impact in the host countries by researching, designing and implementing out-of-the-box solutions with and for local communities. Student teams first develop key skills through classroom learning, workshops, field visits and general cultural immersion. You then spend two weeks working in interdisciplinary service-learning teams to address a specific social innovation topic in partnership with local entrepreneurs and civil society leaders. These topics derive from our ongoing Social Innovation Lab and Social Enterprise Incubator projects.

Dates: June 30-July 20, 2019

Highlights

• Learn to use basic design thinking tools to solve social problems with a “designerly” mindset.
• Understand the role of social innovation in dealing with complex sustainable development issues
• Engage with Rwandan entrepreneurs or civil society leaders to develop social innovation solutions.
• Work in a small multicultural team and gain invaluable intercultural competence relevant to your field of study.
• Explore the progress and challenges towards development of one of Africa’s leading success stories – Rwanda.

Setting Description:

The course gateway is Kigali, Rwanda’s political, economic and cultural center, and one of the cleanest, greenest and safest capital cities in Africa. Course activities typically take place either in Kigali or in Musanze, a northern town towards the Ugandan border. Students are typically hosted at a local guesthouse. Excursions are arranged to visit attractive historical and cultural sites as well as Akagera National Park for an African safari experience.

Cost:

2,690 USD. Tuition: US $400 - Educational costs: US $1,090 - Housing & meals: US $1,140 - Health insurance: US $60

Additional Program Information

Requirements:

There are no academic prerequisites. To be eligible to apply for this course, students can be enrolled in any major and minor, including, among others, business, engineering, social sciences, development studies, or any related area. Service-learning tasks will be tailored to the backgrounds and skills of the students. Enrollment is generally reserved for sophomores, juniors and seniors, or by consent of the instructor. Graduate students and professionals are welcome to apply for participation without credits.