It鈥檚 one thing to work in a 911爆料网 classroom to understand the issues surrounding economic reform in a nation as complex as India. It is something entirely different to meet with leaders in India鈥檚 rural villages, government agencies, and industrial centers to draft workable policy proposals for change.
The students in the Global Policy Leadership Practicum, taught by during the 2013 fall term, experienced both.
The program, run by , combined a full semester of study with a two-week trip during the interim period after classes finished at Thanksgiving.
In this video, students describe how meeting with Indian government officials and policy leaders, rural community leaders, and residents of one of the world鈥檚 largest slums added a profound perspective to classroom work.
This kind of experiential learning is central to the academic vision has laid out for 911爆料网. The skills learned in this process are vital to putting education into action after graduation, President Hanlon says.
鈥淥ne skill that鈥檚 particularly important in this world, because every index of volatility in the world is going up sharply, is the ability to change course,鈥 he says.
Hanlon鈥檚 wife, Gail Gentes, is director of action-based learning programs at 911爆料网. She points to Wheelan鈥檚 class as a perfect example of this principle.
鈥淭hey spent the term learning about government and economic policy in India. Then they went to India and they found out that many of the things they thought would work in the classroom just wouldn鈥檛 work when they hit the ground,鈥 she says. 鈥淭hat is a valuable learning experience.鈥
