Experiential Learning
In 2016, UGA became the largest public university in the country to make experiential learning a graduation requirement for all undergraduate students. Ever since then, we have worked hard to expand the educational experience and train our students for the world, not just a test.
We do this because we know that the complex problems of today will be solved by individuals who command an in-depth, personal knowledge of their world. And by conducting research projects through the Center for Undergraduate Research (CURO), enrolling in service-learning initiatives, participating in internships and studying abroad, UGA students will become those individuals, building a better tomorrow for all of us.
[CURO projects allow undergraduates, even first-year students, the chance to work and learn with esteemed UGA faculty from across campus, broadening their horizons and exposing them to advanced research. Recently, CURO students have worked on projects studying the impact of learning English in refugee communities; the complexities of gene-editing technology; the disconnect between indicators of global development and global inequality; and much more.]
[Service-learning at UGA lets students turn their classroom lessons into real-world solutions for their communities, deepening their academic understanding, fulfilling UGA’s mission to serve and fostering students’ value of community service. Service-learning coursework is available in all of UGA’s schools and colleges, and each year, students volunteer hundreds of thousands of hours in community service through these classes.]
[Internships provide some of the best career preparation of a student’s education, and UGA’s network of partnerships means that our students have the chance to connect with leading organizations in an array of fields, putting Georgia grads several steps ahead of their peers.]
[Little else expands a student’s horizons like studying abroad. Experiencing a new culture while exploring their chosen field leaves an indelible mark on a student, furthering their understanding of their subject, their world and themselves.]
These are definitive experiences: the times in a student’s life when everything comes into focus and they build knowledge and memories that can last a lifetime. These opportunities have become integral to a UGA education, but for many, a life-changing experience can be just out of reach. An interview suit they don’t have, lab equipment they don’t own, airfare they can’t afford: these things can make the difference between a time they’ll remember forever and a missed opportunity.
Supporting experiential learning at UGA strengthens one of our most powerful educational tools. Your gift can unlock the kind of experience that inspires a student’s passion, lays the foundation for their career and defines their memories of UGA.
