New WMU Study Abroad program marks 30-year partnership in India; program fees and airfare waived
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—WMU Study Abroad will take students to India this year on a new trip to mark the 30th anniversary of Western’s strong and long-standing partnership with Christ University in Bangalore.
To celebrate, the Haenicke Institute for Global Education will cover program fees and airfare.
Cultural Immersion in India is a six-day experiential learning program for undergraduate students. It combines academics and culture through extensive engagement with India’s people, communities, traditions, businesses, heritage and everyday life.
Space is limited, and financial support for Cultural Immersion in India will be given to students who haven’t studied abroad at WMU before, or to students who receive the Federal Pell Grant subsidy, says Joe Milostan, director of study abroad and faculty enrichment at the Haenicke Institute for Global Education.
“This program is a unique opportunity for WMU students to participate in a milestone 30th anniversary celebration with one of our most important international partners,” he says.
“WMU students will have a unique opportunity to connect with local students in Bangalore.”
The trip is being run in partnership with the Global Engagement Program (GEP), which empowers students to become global citizens through transformative experiences on campus, in the classroom and beyond.
William McQuitty, an advocate for the GEP and the instructor of GIST 3100: Global Studies in the Field, will serve as the trip’s faculty leader.
“India will challenge students, as the local cultural assumptions and daily life can be quite distinct from our own,” he says. “But, true growth only comes when we push ourselves to navigate such encounters with poise and respect.”
McQuitty traveled to India in December 2024 as a WMU graduate student on a short-term faculty-led study abroad trip. While he was there, one of the most rewarding experiences was engaging with the students at Christ University and spending time on their campus. He hopes this year’s group finds similar community.
“I plan to deepen that experience for these students by integrating time in Christ University’s classrooms while also keeping plenty of free time in the evenings for the students to engage with Christ University students on their own terms,” he says.
“The students will take part in the 30th anniversary celebrations of the WMU–Christ University partnership. They will also be assigned an individual buddy who will be a friendly face to encounter on campus and will help them navigate and encounter Bengaluru in the evening.”
WMU Study Abroad offers other India programs, including the popular multidisciplinary Sustainability, Social Justice, Education and Commerce in India trip.
“For decades, Christ students have come to WMU to earn their degrees and WMU students have traveled to Christ on study abroad,” says Dr. Rosemary Max, associate vice president of global education at WMU.
“Faculty have also taught and carried out research at Christ. In honor of this is long and strong partnership, WMU will travel to Bangalore in March for a series of events.”
Apply to WMU and get involved
More than 470 students at WMU studied abroad last year. Study abroad programs are incorporated in most majors and minors, and students travel to 30 countries, on average, each year. Apply to WMU today at wmich.edu/apply.
Want to study abroad? Browse the online program catalog and prepare your application. Learn more at WMU Study Abroad, where all may learn though travel.
About the Haenicke Institute for Global Education
The Diether H. Haenicke Institute for Global Education, established in 1998, fosters an environment that supports the global engagement of the Western community. Its offices assist more than 1,000 international students and alumni at home and abroad with admissions, immigration, student success and post-graduation job training.
The institute also facilitates short- and long-term study abroad programs for students, faculty and staff, and hosts a variety of global learning initiatives to encourage a more globally engaged Kalamazoo. This includes providing scholarship and academic opportunities; K-12 outreach; and showcasing arts, entertainment and culture from around the world. Learn more about the Haenicke Institute for Global Education.
For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.