NOTE: SIT will make every effort to maintain its programs as described. To respond to emergent situations, like COVID-19, SIT may have to modify programs. Visit the SIT website for more details.
Explore different approaches Spanish cities are taking to pursue sustainable urban development while confronting social justice issues.
WHY STUDY SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN SPAIN?
On this 6-week, 6-credit summer program, you will examine sustainable urban development and social justice in the European Union, where cities and local governments have control over the decisions that affect them. As a result, cities such as Bilbao are developing strategic plans for their future.
This program looks at multilevel governance in praxis: how a city actively participates in planning for its development. Explore how Bilbao is integrating territory, environment and sustainability, transportation, well-being, identity and other characteristics to balance the needs of institutions, corporations, NGOs, and, of course, its people. Learn how civil society becomes part of the discussion about how cities function and how housing is—or is not—a right in a post pandemic economic crisis. You will have the opportunity to compare and contrast Bilbao’s experiences with other cities, including Vitoria, Girona, and Barcelona.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Learn how EU cities in the 21st century organize, relate and co-govern.
- Understand the “right to the city” and implications such as the fights against evictions and gentrification.
- Learn how model cities in Spain are implementing ways to confront gentrification, housing, the environment, migration, transportation, and other issues.
- Learn how civil society organizations and social movements engage in multilevel governance.
Please visit the
SIT Study Abroad website for details on the
program courses (including syllabi), educational excursions, and housing.
KEY TOPICS OF STUDY
- Sustainable urban development
- Rights to the city
- Multilevel governance
- Civil society and cities
- Private-public perspectives on 21st century cities
MONEY MATTERS
Be sure to discuss how study abroad costs are handled at your school with your study abroad advisor.
SIT tuition and room and board fees include the following:
- Cost of all lecturers who provide instruction to students in:
- Sustainable Urban Development in the Basque Country
- Housing Rights and the Right to the City
- All educational excursions to locations such as site visits in Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz, French Basque country, and Catalonia (Girona and Barcelona) including all related travel costs
- Accident and illness insurance throughout the entire program period
- All accommodations during the entire program period. This includes during orientation, time in the program base (Bilbao), on all excursions, during the Independent Study Project or internship, and during the final evaluation period.
- Homestay (six weeks in Bilbao)
- All meals for the entire program period. Meals are covered by SIT Study Abroad directly, through a stipend, or through the homestay.
SCHOLARSHIPS
- SIT awards nearly $1.6 million in scholarships and grants annually.
- All scholarships and grants are need-based.
- Awards generally range from $500 to $3,000 for summer programs.
- Contact the financial aid and/or study abroad office(s) at your college or university to learn if your school’s scholarships and grants and federal and state aid programs can be applied to an SIT Study Abroad program.
CONTACT SIT STUDY ABROAD
PACE STUDY ABROAD SUMMER PROGRAMS:
Follow Pace's
STEPS TO STUDY ABROAD (May2022).
Pace Study Abroad application deadline for Summer programs:
March 15
IMPORTANT!! - SIT APPLICATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 1, HOWEVER PROGRAM FILLS QUICKLY SO APPLY AS SOON AS YOU HAVE PACE APPROVAL!
APPLY TO STUDY ABROAD THROUGH PACE
First, apply for your chosen study abroad program through Pace (via the blue "
Apply Now" button) prior to the application deadline (March 15), and wait to be notified by Education Abroad of your approval to study abroad. Pace academic credits for study abroad will only be awarded to students who have applied and been accepted to study abroad by Pace Education Abroad.
NEXT,
APPLY TO THE FOREIGN HOST INSTITUTION (SIT)
Apply to the foreign host institution directly, only after being accepted to study abroad by Pace. Follow the instructions sent to you by the Pace Education Abroad office on how to apply to your specific program, which you will receive after you apply through Pace.
FINANCES
- Program fees (tuition and fees, room and/or board) are the responsibility of the student and are paid directly by the student to the host institution/program provider.
- A $100 Study Abroad Fee is billed to the student's Pace account.
- Pace mandates that students going abroad purchase Pace-arranged international travel insurance to cover them for the duration of their study abroad program, at a cost of $63 per month. The insurance fee is automatically billed to the student's Pace account and booked through the Education Abroad department.
- Any other out-of-pocket expenses (airfare, meals, visas, etc.) are the responsibility of the student.
- Financial Aid: Federal Financial Aid applies to summer programs as long as the student is enrolled full time for summer (6 credit hours); a separate Summer Loan application is required. Pace institutional aid (scholarships/grants) and Pace tuition remission do not apply.
=================================================================================================================
CREDITS
The maximum enrollment a student can take is 8 credits for Summer I term, and 8 credits for Summer II term. Pace students are not permitted to take more than 8 credits during a Summer term. Also, students are not permitted to take courses at Pace (in-person or online) during the same Pace Summer session in which they are studying abroad.
- SUMMER NOTICE: THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM FOR 2023, therefore no pre-approved SIT Courses apply for this year and you can dismiss the first bullet point and move on to the next.Email Pace Education Abroad (studyabroad@pace.edu) with the pre-approved SIT course(s) you plan to take for your Summer program for assistance in building a Course Equivalency Form. Click the above link to see the courses that have been approved for Pace students who previously studied abroad on this SIT program.Pace recommends that you try to select courses from this Pre-approved Courses list because these courses have already been reviewed and approved by Pace Department Chairs. If you select courses from this list, you’ll only need to receive approval from your Pace Academic Advisor for those courses - which will make the process of receiving Pace academic credit for your semester abroad much easier.
- However, if the pre-approved courses listed don’t fit with your interests/academic plans and you chose a course that’s NOT on the pre-approved list, you’ll need to seek approval from a Pace Department Chair and your Academic Advisor, which could take some time.
- Be sure to check with SIT's current course catalog (and Pace’s current course catalog) because some courses listed on the link above may no longer be offered on this program or are only available during a specific term.
- Read more about the process of obtaining Pace academic credit for courses taken abroad.
=================================================================================================================
HEALTH & SAFETY
Pace Education Abroad will help support you before, during, and after your study program abroad. However, you are ultimately responsible for your own physical and mental health while abroad. Although there are many factors outside of your control, making good decisions, preparing in advance, avoiding unnecessary risks, and staying informed about what to do in case of an emergency will help mitigate the problems you may encounter.
- Carefully read through
- STEP: All study abroad students are enrolled by Pace Education Abroad in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a free service from the U.S. Department of State (DoS) for U.S. citizens who are traveling or living abroad. Students are enrolled with the nearest in-country U.S. Embassy or Consulate so that the DoS can assist the student and their families in case of an emergency.
- Schedule a physical exam with your healthcare provider before you travel, and discuss your plan for filling prescriptions abroad to ensure you’ll have enough for your entire term abroad ahead of time.
- Meet with your mental health provider to discuss how you will manage your mental health and wellness while abroad. Be proactive prior to travel. Stresses can heighten mental health struggles. Anticipate potential challenges and talk about coping strategies in advance. Understand what resources you have available through your host institution/provider, Pace-provided international insurance, and your own insurance.
- Share health and safety information with your family to make informed decisions regarding participation in study abroad and behavior while abroad.
Mandatory Pre-departure Orientation at Pace & Abroad
- All Pace students going abroad on credit-bearing programs are required to attend a pre-departure orientation held by Pace Education Abroad. The orientation stresses health and safety abroad, cultural adjustment, insurance, student identity, mental health, COVID-19 protocols, and other topics. It also covers Pace's academic policies and procedures such as enrollment and credits.
- Students must also attend on-site orientation(s) abroad, arranged through their host institution.
Pace’s Resources
- Students should download Pace’s free “PACE SAFE” app, with helpful safety and travel features.
- All study abroad students have access to Pace Study Abroad Advisors who can provide additional health and safety information, direct them to further resources, and address specific concerns.
- While preparing for study abroad, those who feel they need extra support can reach out to the Pace Counseling Center prior to departure. (Note: Pace Counseling Center services cannot be accessed while abroad because they are not licensed to provide ongoing international services.)
- If you require accommodation(s) in order to participate in your program abroad, you must self-identify and contact Pace Student Accessibility Services to request copies of your Pace-approved Letter of Accommodation and other documents to provide to your Study Abroad program or foreign university. Think about how you will manage these differences abroad, consider programs that can best support you, and seek as much information as possible before you depart. Advance planning is the key to a successful study abroad experience!
Who to Call — in case of an emergency while studying abroad
- First contact the on-site Resident Director, other in-country program staff. These people are all in-country and will be best able to assist you at the moment of need.
- During the initial orientation period, SIT staff educate students about potential safety risks and strategies to keep themselves safe within their new environment. SIT has a team of trained Student Affairs duty officers available 24 hours a day to respond to potential threats to student safety and manage emergency situations.
Call: 802.258.3366
- Call Pace Security. +1 (212) 346-1800. They answer the phone 24/7 and will then reach out to the appropriate Pace departments who can assist you. You can also quickly contact them through the Pace SAFE app.
- If needed (for example, with a lost passport), contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate or the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services. Consular officers are available for emergency assistance 24/7 at +1 (202) 501-4444 (when calling from outside the USA).
International Emergency Medical & Travel Insurance
As a participating third-party provider study abroad program, SIT requires all students to enroll in their emergency medical and travel insurance plan. As a result, Pace will not enroll you in the Pace-arranged international travel insurance plan through Chubb during your semester abroad to avoid charging you for similar coverage which is already provided by your program. However, if you would like to be additionally insured by the Pace-arranged plan please e-mail us at studyabroad@pace.edu
Please carefully review the of benefits of your
SIT third-party provider insurance program plan.
Strategies for Remaining Vigilant
- Trust your instincts and remain alert to your surroundings! Remove yourself from a situation if you feel at risk.
- Keep your cell phone charged and with you at all times.
- Learn the in-country 911-equivalent emergency number(s) of your host country.
- Keep important phone numbers in your phone, in your photos, and in your email (in case you lose access to your phone): on-site program staff, Pace faculty leader, Pace security, and the in-country 911-equivalent emergency numbers.
- Be aware of, and adhere to, local laws. Understand what activities are culturally and legally appropriate.
- Appropriate use of alcohol is shaped by local laws, cultural norms, individual program regulations, and safety considerations. Alcohol consumption is a major factor in many of the injuries, assaults, and thefts that might be experienced by students on study abroad programs. Excessive drinking can be disruptive to your program and have a negative impact on your experience (and those around you). Before departure, research the drinking culture in the country you're studying in. Finally, your consumption of alcohol (or another drug), and/or your behavior while under the influence, might lead to a violation of local laws in addition to program and Pace University conduct codes.
- Stay away from high-crime areas.
- Don't travel alone — especially if you're unfamiliar with the area.
- Ensure that you and your friends always have a plan for a safe way to get back to your accommodations.
- Stay informed about current events in your host country. Learn to assess unfamiliar situations and possible risks in your new environment.
- When traveling away from your program site, make sure that your program staff and family are informed about where you’re going and when you’re expected to return.
- Avoid demonstrations, protests, and crowds of people. If you find yourself caught up in one, stay as far from the center of activity as you can. Maintain situational awareness and always know where your exits are! (Do not stay and document the event with your phone or camera!)
Travel smart, be safe, keep in touch with family, and make the most of your experience abroad!
