Asturias Field Study and Internship Program

INSIDE YOU WILL FIND

• About IFE ...... 2-3

• About Asturias ...... 4-5

• Program overview ...... 6-7

• Program in detail ...... 8-9

• Who participates ? ...... 10-11

• Practical Information ...... 12

Strasbourg

Asturias

Andalucia IFE is a European not-for-profit institute founded in 1988 committed to trans- Atlantic understanding through exploration of European perspectives.

IFE provides credit-bearing education abroad programming to US colleges and universities. IFE’s vision for international education has language at its core and uses experiential education in an international setting to build not only comparative knowledge but also students’ engagement, curiosity, and self-reliance.

IFE’s Field Study and Internship programs in Andalucía, Asturias, Strasbourg, Paris, and Brussels are built around in-depth field experience and guided research, for which students prepare through classroom instruction and inter-cultural training. Why Asturias?

Understanding the modern Spanish experience...

Gijón and comprise a thri- The Universidad de Oviedo, ving urban area in a beautiful natural serving over 27,000 students, has built setting on the northern Spanish coast. a -wide reputation for excellence. With a combined population of over As IFE’s local partner, its laboratories half a million people, they provide the and research centers offer opportuni- perfect “human-sized” urban setting for ties for research internships in the Nat- a variety of field experiences. Though ural and Social Sciences, and it also home to a top-ranked European univer- provides highly qualified teachers for sity, there is no American presence in IFE courses, and advisers for student and around the university, making it ide- research projects. al for students who wish to perfect their understanding of and society without the distraction of English- speakers.

Asturias Field Study and Internship Program 4 Asturias is a green, mountainous region with a rugged Atlantic coastline, intensely agricultural and home to a thriving milieu of small and medium-sized businesses. Boasting the historical city of princes, Ovie- do, and the modern bustling city of Gijón, Asturias offers a myriad of perspectives by which to understand the modern Spanish experience: autonomous not federal, both agricultural and industrial, a contemporary society built on deep historical foundations that are still present and, most importantly, a strong regional identity.

5 Asturias Field Study and Internship Program The Asturias field study and internship program

Overview

The Asturias Field Study and Internship Program is a Spanish-language program centered on a full-time internship or research placement as the means for linguistic immersion, cross-cultural learning, and a comparative grasp of a student’s own field. These goals are reached though a multi-faceted 18-week academic semester.

The semester begins with 6 weeks of intensive interdisciplinary courses, includ- ing two study tours to neighboring regions, in preparation for an 12-week full time internship related to the student’s area of study.

While at their internship, students conduct guided field research, delving into a particular issue to produce a substantial independent study.

Throughout the internship students attend a weekly seminar on Asturias and contemporary Spanish issues at the IFE center.

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The 18-week semester at a glance

Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Historical Foundations of Modern

Asturias & Social Transformation

Study Tours

Internship

Inter-cultural Workshops

Asturias Seminar

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In detail

TWO FOUNDATION COURSES, AT THE IFE CENTER

• Historical and Cultural Foundations of Modern Spain

Highlighting key moments and themes in Spanish history, this course pro- vides non-specialists a grasp of the institutions and realities of contemporary Spain by demonstrating their historical origins. The course draws case studies from Asturian history and culture.

• Asturias and the Dynamics of Social Transformation This course examines the seismic changes at work in Spanish society from the modern to the contemporary era. While adopting a primarily sociolo- gical approach, the course also analyzes dynamics of identity, memory, demographics and culture.

- Courses are a mix of lecture-seminars, discussion sections and site visits. - IFE organizes optional cultural outings throughout the semester - All instruction is in Spanish

A SEMINAR ON ASTURIAS IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

• The Asturias Seminar Spanish socio-economics in Europe and the World During the internship, students meet weekly for an IFE course that looks at Spanish economic development, trade, the “new economy”, and the effects and social impact of globalization, drawing frequently on examples from Asturias.

Asturias Field Study and Internship Program 8 The Asturias field study and internship program

TWO STUDY TOURS TO EXPLORE NORTHERN SPAIN, PAST AND PRESENT • Early in the semester, students head west to study the cultural heritage of and surrounding . This three-day study tour illustrates and rein forces the themes of the course Historical and Cultural Foundations of Modern Spain.

• Shortly afterward, they turn eastward to visit and study , the city that reinvented itself. An exploration of the re-purposed capital of Basque country brings to life the themes of the course on the Dynamics of Social Transformation.

THE INTERNSHIP; 400 HOURS OF FIELD EXPERIENCE The core of the semester is a full-time internship where students improve their language skills and cultural expertise, while gaining insight into Spanish society. IFE works closely with each student - and with a broad variety of organization types - to ensure a productive fit between the intern’s objectives, the work en- vironment, and the subject matter of the internship.

THE INDEPENDENT FIELD RESEARCH PROJECT IFE students engage even further with their individually-tailored internship through a guided research project using primary sources to examine an impor- tant issue in the work of their host organization. Individual advising and instruc- tion in methodology are an integral part of this project.

Students participate in a series of workshops designed to expand their intercultural skills and prepare them for participation in an inter-cultural workplace.

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Who Participates?

All students come to the Asturias Field Study and Internship Program seeking to perfect their command of Spanish through constant daily use.

Students enroll in the program with 5 semesters of college-level Spanish, or the equivalent. They leave with a level of Spanish enabling them to function easily in academic, social, and professional settings.

Students from any major who are eager to get to know Spanish so- ciety as an insider.

Students who wish to gain a fuller, comparative view of their field by pursuing work in an Asturian, Spanish, and European context.

Generalists or specialists, students from all areas of study find their place in the Asturias Field Study and Internship program.

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Sample student profiles...

IFE works with each student, using their background and goals to individualize the internship placement.

Student 1 Combining two interests Major Management and Anthropology Exposure to Spanish society by combining business with interest in the Objective role of culture in society Internship Divertia Gijón S.A. (Cultural management, festivals etc.)

Student 2 The generalist Major Comparative Literature Objective Perfect Spanish skills; get to know contemporary Spain Internship Educational Services of Gijón City Hall

Student 3 A STEM student studying Spanish Major Chemistry Objective Apply scientific training beyond a university lab Internship &D department of a regional metallurgy firm

Student 4 Motivated by research Major Sociology Participate in the work of a research institute; pursue a thematic Objective interest in human trafficking A social research institute on this theme, plus a part-time internship Internship at the Amaranta Foundation (family planning, adolescents in difficulty, human trafficking, prostitution, etc.)

11 Asturias Field Study and Internship Program Practical Information

Location

IFE’s center is located on the ’s lovely Gijón campus, set at the edge of the city, a ten-minute bus ride from downtown.

Housing

Students are housed with Spanish-speak- ing host families, located in safe and lively neighborhoods within the city limits of Gijón and accessible by public transportation.

Academic Credit

• Historical and Cultural Foundations of Modern Spain

…...... 4 credit hours

• Asturias and the Dynamics of Social Transformation

…...... 4 credit hours Contact • The Asturias Globalization Seminar For more ...... 3 credit hours information visit: • Independent Study / www.ife-edu.eu Guided Field Research or email: …...... 6 credit hours [email protected]

Asturias Field Study and Internship Program 12 PARIS CENTRAL OFFICE

5 rue Saint Nicolas 75012, Paris T. (+33) 1 4321 7807 [email protected] www.ife-edu.eu