International Exchange Options

In international exchanges, an agreement between Lyon College and a university abroad allows the two institutions to enroll each other’s students. The main benefit of an exchange  from a student perspective is that it allows students studying overseas to pay tuition to their home university and room and board costs to the host institution, with a guarantee that all credits earned abroad will transfer to the home institution. Examples of exchange programs at Lyon are the partnerships with Akita University in Japan and with Myongji University in Korea. Many times in exchange agreements, especially in Europe and Latin America, study in the language institute of a university will not be covered by the agreement. In such cases, a student who is fluent in the host country’s language can enroll in regular undergraduate classes taught in the local language and can pay just the home campus tuition, while a student who studies in the university language center will be charged additional local tuition and fees. The exchange agreement with the University of Poitiers in France is an example of this kind of exchange situation. In Poitiers, Lyon students enjoy the full benefits of the exchange only if they enroll in regular classes taught in French, but must pay language center tuition and fees out of personal or scholarship funds if they study in classes at the language center.

University of Poitiers Exchange Program

City and University

The city of Poitiers has a history of serving as a university center since the Middle Ages. The University of Poitiers is the second oldest university in France and was established in 1431 by Pope Eugene IV and King Charles VII. It is known for educating many famous philosophers and scientists – including François Rabelais and René Descartes, Franvis Bacon, Guez de Balzac – throughout the ages. It is one of the oldest universities in Europe.
 
There are currently over 26,000 students attending the University of Poitiers, 4,000 of which are international students. The university utilizes buildings that date back the 16th Century as well as facilities that were built within the last few decades. With over 1,000 faculty and researchers and 14 colleges and faculties for, students have a wide variety of academic subjects to study. And the campus is just a 15-minute bus ride from the city center.
 
Poitiers is the capital of the Poitou region. It is a young city as many college students inhabit the area. Located in western France in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, it is full of historic churches, Romanesque architecture, shops and cafés near the city center. It is approximately 2 hours from Paris by train and has convenient public transportation (bus and railway). Poitiers is also in close proximity to the Loire Valley, dozens of charming chateaux, an excellent wine region, and Basque country just to the south. The Futuroscope--part interactive learning center and part theme park--is located just outside Poitiers and pays tribute to the technologies of multimedia in several wildly imaginative pavilions. Normandy, Brittany, the French Riviera, the Alps, London, northeastern Spain, and northwestern Italy are all within half a day's train travel.

 

 

 

Student Comments

“Poitiers has been an overall great place to stay and study. Many of the French people who I told that I would be studying in Poitiers asked me why I would want to come here, as they thought that I would not find much to do. I found out on my own however that I love Poitiers, and there is plenty of history to learn about as well as a small amusement park nearby! Also, the fact that France is so small really allows me to be able to take trips around the country during the many vacation days that universities have over here. Having already made plans to travel to several places, I would definitely have the time to travel had the pandemic not happened! The teachers at the university here are so kind and helpful, and every student that I have met has been enthusiastic and excited to be here. This experience is a necessity for any student that has the opportunity.” - Raleigh Jeffrey, Lyon College Exchange Program Student 

 

“My professors were fantastic and engaging." - Jodi Schmidt, Lyon College study abroad student at the University of Poitiers

 

"I would recommend studying abroad to anyone and wouldn't trade my time in France for anything."  -Norah Gnade, Lyon College study abroad student at the University of Poitiers

 

“Plenty of opportunities to travel, for good for the improvement of (French) Language” - Jacey Flatte, Lyon College study abroad student at the University of Poitiers

 

 

 

 

 
You can find more information at the links below:

 

 

Akita International University

City and University

Akita Prefecture, one of 47 in Japan, is located in the northwest of the main island along the Sea of Japan. It is 280 miles (450 km) north of Tokyo and known for magnificent nature, abundant festivals, and sites such as Kakunodate (a 17th-century samurai town) and Tazawako (the deepest lake in Japan), among others. Industries in Akita have traditionally centered around rice farming, forestry, and mining, but recent decades have seen rapid development in electronics, nonferrous metals, and tourism. The ruins of the Kubota Castle and surrounding park in Akita City are currently very popular tourist attractions for Japanese and foreign visitors.  Spring, summer, and fall allow you to enjoy hiking, canoeing, and fishing. As much snow falls from late December through March, Akita is famous for its many skiing and snowboarding resorts with excellent powder snow and fabulous facilities. After enjoying outdoor activities, a range of different onsen, or mineral hot springs, will bring you physical as well as mental relaxation.

Akita International University (AIU) is located in Akita City, which has a population of 320,000 people. (The University has an excellent website which can be accessed here. The campus has modern facilities and is surrounded by a peaceful, natural environment. Opposite the university is a state-of-the-art sports facility (basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer, weight training, and more) run by the prefectural government. A variety of hiking, cycling, and golf courses are adjacent to our campus as well. There is a huge shopping mall 10 minutes away from campus by bus where students can stop before or after classes and on weekends for groceries, restaurants, movies, video-gaming, and much more.

Akita International University campus is located in a rural environment, but is accessible from downtown Akita city via bus and train and is less than 10 minutes by car from Akita Airport, which offers flights to Tokyo and Osaka. Adjacent to the university is a sports facility run by the local government (basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer, and weight training, etc.). A variety of hiking, cycling, and golf courses are adjacent to the campus. A shopping mall is 10 minutes away from the campus by bus.  Akita prefecture is known for its natural beauty and resources. The university is located close to ski areas, scenic hiking opportunities, and the Sea of Japan coastline. Akita is particularly famous in Japan for producing the country's most delicious rice and sake. The new AIU campus is set on the same location as the previous academic entity known as Minnesota State University in Akita  which operated from 1990 to 2003.  In Spring 2019, AIU welcomed 151 international students from 30 countries and regions, a strong indication of its commitment to inter-cultural education.

 

 
 

 

 

Student Comments

“Studying at Akita was truly one of the best experiences of my life.”- Jessica Craven, ’17, Lyon College Exchange Student at Akita

 

You can find more information on the Akita Exchange Program at the links below:

Myongji University

City and University

Myongji University is a private, Christian university founded in 1948 in South Korea. It provides higher education in the fields of engineering, sciences and humanities. It has two campuses: the Social Science Campus is located in Seoul and the Natural Science Campus is in Yongin which is 35 kilometres (22 mi) south of the capital. The English-language version of the University’s brochure for international students can be found here and their university website here.

Yongin (Korean pronunciation: [joŋ.in]) is a major city in the Seoul Capital Area, located in Gyeonggi ProvinceSouth Korea. With a population close to 1 million, the city has developed rapidly since the 21st century, recording the highest population growth of any city in the country. Yongin is home to Everland and Caribbean Bay, South Korea's most popular amusement and water parks. The city is also home to the Korean Folk Village, the largest of its kind.

With over 22,000 undergraduates and 2,600 postgraduates, Myongji University has been a center for practical humanism over the past half century, and is operating various and practical globalization programs while having exchanges with 150 universities in 22 different countries.

 

International University of Rabat

Rabat, with a population of around 1.9 million, is the capital of Morocco. One of the country’s four imperial cities, it is located on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Wadi Bou Regreg, opposite the city of Salé.
Rabat is a cultural city deep-rooted in history. Many masterpieces decorate its streets and squares. Visit the Kasbah des Oudayas which is a majestic and splendid architecture with impressive surrounding gardens. Not far from the city’s walls, stands the Chellah, a necropolis from the time of the Merinids, imperial sultans who ruled the area from the 13th to the 15th century.  
Rabat is also a modern eco-responsible capital with its green spaces. Beautiful parks, such as the botanical garden or the Exotic Gardens of Bouknadel, which are a few kilometres from the city.   Rabat also boasts an outstanding coastline. On the Atlantic Ocean shores, it has kilometres of pristine beaches leading all the way to the neighboring city of Casablanca.
With its modern infrastructure, bustling center, and various popular festivals, Rabat is very much a living city. Airport, tram, shopping centers, cafés and restaurants, all the amenities are within reach. Rabat is especially noted for its vibrant music scene. From Mawazine, to Jazz au Chellah and many other musical genres, Rabat celebrates music like no other city in Morocco.   The city’s main attractions include Hassan Mosque, Kasbah of the Oudayas, Chellah necropolis, Archaeological Museum, and the Mawazine World Music Festival.
For more city and country details please see htps://www.visitmorocco.com/en/travel/rabat  

Third Party Provider Program Explanation

At present Lyon College pays for membership in two study abroad provider organizations, which in turn offer Lyon College students discounted study abroad programs. These organizations are CONAHEC, the Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration, and ISEP, International Student Exchange Programs. Another provider of multiple study abroad sites is the Irish-America Scholars Program which grants qualified applicants access to courses and a scholarship for tuition or a semester at the following universities in Northern Ireland: Queens University Belfast, Ulster University, St. Mary’s University College, Stranmillis University College and Belfast Metropolitan College.

 

 

​Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC)

CONEHEC offers reasonably priced, university-based semester exchange programs in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.  Their website is located at http://www.conahecstudentexchange.org/   and their database is searchable by major and location. Their applications deadlines are usually in September/October for spring and February for the following fall. We are permitted to nominate to the receiving universities two students to any single institution and a total of 8 during any one nomination period. Most CONEHEC are semester, rather than summer, courses. If you find a program which interests you on their website and have questions or need more details, contact the Director of International Education at Lyon 218 , Ext. 7229, or by email at joseph.macade@lyon.edu.

 

International Student Exchange Programs (ISEP)

 

 

​International Student Exchange Programs (ISEP) is the second study abroad organization of which Lyon College is a member. IESP offers access to 60 different institutions in more than 30 countries, covering six continents. ISEP has semester, year-long, and summer programs, as well as programs for volunteers and interning overseas. Since it is not a tuition exchange program, ISEP will charge local tuition. Therefore the best prices in ISEP tend to be for summer courses. Most of the information you will need for ISEP Direct, which are the services covered by Lyon College’s membership, can be found here.

Applicants for third-party programs must have at least a 3.00 GPA, must apply no later than the second semester of their junior year, must complete a study abroad application packet, including a recommendation form filled out by their advisor, and must comply with the application requirements of their chosen overseas university. Students begin the application process for these programs by obtaining and submitting their application packets to the Director of International Education (Lyon 218), who will nominate qualified applicants to the receiving overseas institutions which make the final selection decisions. Once accepted into an exchange program, a qualified student is eligible for up to $3000 in Nichols scholarship aid for a semester or year-long program and up to $2000 for an exchange which last at least one month.

Irish American Scholars Program

Student Opportunity for a Tuition Free Semester of Study in Northern Ireland

 

Who May Apply

Current sophomore and junior students at U.S. colleges that participate in Study USA (formerly the Business Education Initiative — BEI) may apply. (Note: Institutions that have agreed to host a Study USA student during the current academic year may submit student applications for the Irish American Scholars program even if there is no Study USA student currently on campus.) Students may not attend a school in Northern Ireland for their final semester of study. In order to obtain a Visa, students must show that they are required to return to the United States to complete their education. This means that juniors may apply only for the fall semester.

Additionally, because they usually have not completed sufficient coursework in their major field of study, students who are currently freshmen will not be accepted as Irish American Scholars.

 

 

 

 

Student Comments

 

“Studying in Northern Ireland was amazing. I learned to be more independent and resourceful in addition to improving my communications skills.” - Mathew Kirkpatrick, Exchange Student at Ulster University Fall 2017

“Personally, I found the academic system in N. Ireland too focused on finals…The international student presence enlarged my cultural knowledge and enriched my experience. The prevalence of sports clubs on campus provided me with the beginnings of what is hopefully a life-long interest in practicing martial arts.” -Kacey Johns, Lyon Exchange Student at Ulster University, Fall 2004

“ I say that every student who has the opportunity to go study abroad (should)try and do it. It’s an amazing experience and it looks very good on your resume. There is no excuse for someone not to go study abroad. Going to Belfast is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I made many friends, and had a lot of new experiences that I could never have had in the States. I will never regret making this decision.” Payton Ouber, Lyon Exchange Student at Queens University, Spring 2013

 

The links below provide more information on the various Irish universities and colleges, the application process, and the cost of living in Ireland as a student. 

International Student Exchange Programs (ISEP)

With ISEP you can study at

Universidad del Pais Vasco

(The University of the Basque Country)

 

The Universidad del Pais Vasco or University of the Basque Country (main website), the Visiting Student Handbook (here) advertises itself as “a vibrant 30-year-old institution with 45,000 students, 5,000 world-class academic staff and state-of-the-art facilities.” Located along the Atlantic coast of Northern Spain, this public University has three main campuses, Alava (Vitoria-Gasteiz), Biscay (Liloa-Bilboa) and Gipuzkoz (Donostia-San Sabastian). 

Alava, sometimes spelled “Arava” or “Araba” is the University’s smallest campus and hosts 7 faculties & schools very centrally located in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz. This city is the administrative capital of the Basque Country and has over 230,000 inhabitants. Its vast green areas and the low carbon footprint of locals made it possible to designate Vitoria-Gasteiz ‘European Green Capital’ in recent years.  The city has a beautiful historical section around the Cathedral of Santa María. The city also has an excellent modern art museum, and in the surrounding areas, a number of archaeological sites woodlands and parks. Not far from Vitoria-Gasteiz are numerous trekking trails, mountain bike routes, water sports options and paragliding clubs. To reach the city students normally fly to Bilbao-Loiu airport.

 

 

 

Fact Sheet: For cost-of-living estimates, application requirement, and visa information, please see the University’s Partner Fact Sheet here.

 

Student Comments

“I loved the experience…I am glad I did the exchange. I find myself more mature and happier … (as a result).” -- Jose Poblete, Exchange student Spring 2018, Biscay Campus

“Traveling made me want to keep knowing new places and to have a positive impact on the world with the skills I was given.” -- Omar Fabila, Exchange student Spring 2018, Biscay Campus

*Omar Fabila also commented on the lack of personal attention to students at a large public university (The Biscay campus), the old-fashioned lecture-centered methodology of many of the instructors, and the need to arrange housing in advance.

 

The links below provide further information on the University of the Basque Country, Visa information, and videos of life at the university.

Lyon College Study Abroad Center

The third avenue of study abroad available to Lyon College students is to study at a particular foreign university or educational institution for a period of one month to one semester. At a study abroad center, some of the student’s classes will be taught by Lyon faculty and some may be taught by visiting professors from other universities or by host institution faculty.  Normally a study session at a center will allow students to earn a minimum of six credits.
Currently Lyon College has three study abroad centers:  the Vesuvian Institute in Southern Italy, the Daugavpils, Latvia, and the Centre for European Studies at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland.

Lyon College at the Mark Rothko Art Centre in Latvia

Lyon will offer a study abroad opportunity for students interested in art on location in Latvia in June of 2022. The program will focus on the art and the unique culture of Latvia with a partnership with the Mark Rothko Art Center in Daugavpils, Latvia. The Center’s website can be seen here. Art majors and students interested in art will be allowed the opportunity to interact with the rich cultural heritage in Latvia, a Baltic Country, that gained its independence as a former Soviet country in 1991. Students will have the opportunity to paint and study Baltic art history in an immersive and expressive environment. Students will stay in a former military citadel used during the early nineteenth century toward the end of the Napoleonic wars later converted into a Soviet era military base and now restored as an art museum and residency program. Classes will be offered on site at the Mark Rothko Art Center, where we will be inspired by the modern tradition of Color Field Abstraction that Rothko popularizes. 

 

Students are encouraged to have had the prerequisite of ART 101, ART 120, or ART 232 before traveling on the trip and can creatively and loosely approach the theme of color field painting gaining inspiration from Rothko’s work, where abstraction is the predominant subject matter but could also incorporate landscape and/ or figurative elements depending on the interests of the individual student. 

The art history course will center on the unique comprehension history of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia, as we navigate individualistic art movements of these countries from their very beginnings to the 20th through contemporary art. Topics will include Art Nouveau architecture (we will study first hand in the capital Riga), social realism during the Soviet era, revolutionary art in the liberation of Latvia first in the early twentieth century and again in the 1990’s. 

 

Here is a tentative list of the classes to be offered for Latvia art program:

ART 282: Special Topics: Painting Color Field

ART 382: Special Topics: Baltic Art History

 

Students will be expected to pay for meals (billed by Lyon College), optional excursions, and incidentals. The combined basic estimated cost for 2022 is approximately $2500 with most students being eligible for a $2000 grant based on the length of the program. The program will last four weeks and carry at least six credits, which should be covered by institutional and governmental financial for eligible students.

For cost of living information for the area, you are welcome to check out this site.

Lyon College Krakow Study Abroad Center

The Poland Study Abroad Program would involve a summer semester (approximately 31 days) of course
work and related excursions and visits to cultural, economic and academic sites in Poland. The program
would build off the two-week Nichols trip undertaken in Poland in Summer 2018 and would involve
cooperation with the Jagiellonian University’s Centre for European Studies. Ideally, one of the courses of
the program would be taught by Jagiellonian’s faculty (we had a very positive experience with Dr.
Joanna Orzechowska-Waclawska (Economics and Sociology) during the Nichols trip) and I hope that the
Centre can also assist us with lodging and classroom space for our students. The other two courses
(together with an extra credit hour for the cultural portion, the entire semester would be worth 10
credit hours) would be taught by Lyon Faculty, presumably myself and perhaps another faculty from
History or Politics.
The three courses are described below. In addition to the course taught by the Jagiellonian faculty
(ideally on the Economy of Eastern and Central Europe) the other courses would take advantage of the
location and history of the region. The Multinational Financial Investment course, which we already
have in the catalog, would fit in ideally with the purpose of the program, as it deals with exchange rates,
international economic issues and the operations of multinational firms. A new courses which would be
offered as part of the program, which would either be Economic History of Europe (taught by myself), or
a History course, on World War 2 and/or the Holocaust. This last course can be adjusted according to
the availability and interests of other Lyon Faculty that wish to participate.
Lodging for the students could potentially be obtained through the Jagiellonian University, although the
particular dates can affect availability of dorm space. Alternatively, it would be relatively straight
forward to obtain month long apartment/hostel rental in the vicinity of the university, if the total
number of students participating in the program is not too high (my sense is that anything under 16 can
be easily accommodated).
In addition to the course work students would be required to read several books (listed below) and
participate in cultural and academic events in Poland. There are two possible ways to set up the exact
schedule. In the first variant, students would take courses Monday through Thursday (or perhaps
including early Friday) and then participate in the excursions on the weekends, with Sundays off. In the
second variant. Alternatively, we could extend the duration of the program, and have a week in the
middle of the trip to do all the major excursions at once. The schedule below is based on the first
variant.
Costs involved would consist of travel, lodging, food, event ticket prices and of course tuition. Some of
these costs are expenses that students would have to incur in some form anyway. Since the coursework
will count towards graduation, if the students are charged summer tuition rates, they would be saving
money in this respect. Likewise, because food and lodging are cheaper in Poland than United States due
to favorable exchange rates, these categories of costs might also very well be lower for the students. On

the other hand, the plane ticket and event tickets would be costs that students would normally not pay
if they did not participate in the program.
For the college, additional costs will consist of the compensation of faculty for teaching the course, as
well as some per diem costs.
Dates (tentative, picked for illustrative purposes)
July 8th – August 8th
~31 Days
8 weekend days – cultural events related to course material in Krakow, Warsaw and possibly
Gdansk.
23 weekdays – students attend classes, some cultural events in Krakow in the afternoons and
evenings
Alternatively take a week off in the middle to combine the Warsaw and Gdansk visits (would be
easier logistically), but require classes on some Saturdays to compensate

Weekend Trips
Weekend 1 Saturday: Wieliczka Salt Mine (Cultural)
Sunday: Wawel Castle (Cultural)

Weekend 2 Saturday: National Bank of Poland in Warsaw (ECO 401 , ECEE)

Sunday: Warsaw Uprising Museum (WW2)
Weekend 3 Saturday: Solidarity Centre in Gdansk (ECEE)

Sunday: Westerplatte (WW2), Cultural Spots in Sopot (Cultural))
Note – because Gdansk is 7hrs away from Krakow, maybe skip Gdansk
(alternatives: Czestochowa, Sandomierz, Lodz (museum of textiles and industrial
revolution) or combine it into a single Warsaw-Gdansk trip
Weekend 4 Saturday: Zakopane/Polish Highlander region (ECEE)

Sunday: Auschwitz (WW2)

Academics
Three 3 hour courses
 ECO 401 Multinational Financial Investment (taught by Dr. Szulga)
 ECO/POL XXX (ECEE) Economy of Central and Eastern Europe: From Transition to EU
(taught by UJ faculty)
And one of the following, depending on faculty interests/availability

 HIS XXX (WW2) World War 2/Holocaust course (taught by another Lyon faculty or by
UJ faculty)
 ECO/HIS XXX (EHE) Economic History of Europe (taught by Dr. Szulga)

One credit hour for participation in cultural events

Total of 10 credit hours
Program related readings and media
Books
 God’s Playground, Norman Davies (Columbia Univ. Press)
 Postwar, Tony Judt (Perigree)
 Global Economic History. A Very Short Introduction, Robert Allen (Oxford Univ. Press)
 The Auschwitz Volunteer. Beyond Bravery, Witold Pilecki (Aquila Polonica)
Movies
 Man of Marble, Andrzej Wajda
 Man of Iron, Andrzej Wajda
 White, Stefan Kieslowski

 

Lyon College Vesuvian Institute Details

 

 

The Institute will offer its first round of courses in July of 2022, if circumstances allow. The first program to be implemented at the Institute will be for computer science majors and will feature extensive onsite practical work in    GIS based on data from the archeological site supplemented by classes taught by Lyon faculty. Italian language will be offered as part of the orientation.  This is a tentative list of the classes to be offered for computer science program:

CSC 482: Database for Interdisciplinary Research
CSC 482: GIS for Archaeology
CSC 482: Special Topics - Web Development

Students will be expected to pay for meals (billed by Lyon College), optional excursions, and incidentals. The combined basic estimated cost for 2021 is approximately $3000 with most students being eligible for a $2000 grant based on the length of the program. 

The plan for the Vesuvian Institute is to later add other courses, such as art restoration, which would follow the same model of combining onsite and online classes with practical experience.