A Scholar Ship to a Transnational Learning Experience

Undergraduate and postgraduate students from around the world will have the unique opportunity for a first-of-its-kind transnational learning experience, when The Scholar Ship sets sail on its inaugural voyage next year.

An ocean-going academic programme aboard a passenger ship, The Scholar Ship has been developed as a new model for education, with particular emphasis on developing intercultural leadership skills to meet the growing demand for talent who have had international exposure and a multicultural perspective.

Backed by the Royal Caribbean Cruises, one of the leading cruise lines in the world, The Scholar Ship will embark on its maiden voyage in September 2007, taking 600 to 700 students on a 16-week semester to eight countries across five continents.

Students enrolled in the programme will have the opportunity to be part of a unique multi-cultural living and learning environment in which they interact with their counterparts from diverse cultural and social backgrounds.

"The Scholar Ship's academic programme is designed to nurture the next generation of leaders by equipping them with the international network and multi-cultural outlook that are highly valued by employers today," said Dr Joseph Olander, President, The Scholar Ship.

"As the nature of work and study rapidly takes on a global dimension, achieving academic grades is no longer enough. Top students need to have a multinational perspective and sharp communication abilities, as well as excellent interpersonal skills. The Scholar Ship will groom a new breed of talent with the competitive professional and personal skills and perspectives to live and work in an inter-dependent global environment."

The only ocean-going programme that offers students a competitive edge through intercultural immersion and a compelling global itinerary of learning environments, The Scholar Ship offers undergraduate and post-graduate level study and research on board a fully operational cruise liner, refitted to provide complete campus facilities.

In addition to a series of core subjects focussing on intercultural communication and global issues, undergraduate students will select a "learning circle" which enables them to study related courses based on a central theme, such as international business, sustainable development, international relations or conflict studies.

Residential experiences and classroom instruction on board the ship will be enhanced by onshore experiential learning programmes designed to bring the academic subjects to life. Top of Form 1 Each port-of-call provides extensive opportunities for students to pursue independent research and visit local businesses, cultural attractions and government offices. Students will also be able to schedule excursions and independent travel.

"The Scholar Ship offering is particularly relevant to Asia. With the wide mix of cultures in this region, the new economy demands that the next generation of business and political leaders are able to navigate this increasingly differentiated and diverse region. The on-shore programmes, in particular, give students the invaluable hands-on experience of learning and operating in the different cultures, while helping them establish an international network," said Peter Gainey, Regional Director, Asia Pacific, The Scholar Ship.

"Employers' needs are changing as the nature of business shifts in tandem with the rapid economic and socio-political movements worldwide. With globalisation, they are looking for candidates who can operate effectively in different social, political and economic environments. This edge can be gained from immersion in a multi-cultural learning environment and exposure to the economies across the different regions," said Karen Kwan, Director, Sales & Marketing Practice, Hudson.

She added, "The future CEOs are home grown talents who know their own local market yet bring with them an international outlook."

The Scholar Ship is a collaborative initiative with leading universities and organisations from around the world, including Macquarie University in Australia, University of California – Berkeley in the USA, Peking University in China and Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico. These esteemed institutions have all joined forces as part of the Consortium of Academic Stewards – an independent body charged with the task to ensure that the highest global academic standards are maintained on The Scholar Ship.

Upon completion of the programme, undergraduates will receive The Scholar Ship Certificate in Intercultural Leadership, in addition to credit for a semester successfully completed. Postgraduate students will receive a Certificate in Intercultural Knowledge Management, and may opt to undertake a study stream that will result in the award of a Postgraduate Certificate in International Communication, conferred by Macquarie University. By undertaking an additional semester of study at Macquarie, following the Postgraduate Certificate, students may earn a Master of Arts degree in International Communication.

For its September 2007 inaugural voyage, The Scholar Ship will travel from Athens, Greece, and dock at Casablanca in Morocco, Buenos Aires in Argentina, Montevideo in Uruguay, Cape Town in South Africa, Fremantle in Australia, Singapore, Cochin in India and Larnacal in Cyprus, before returning to Greece. Thereafter two voyages are planned each year, commencing in January and September respectively, with itineraries tailored for each voyage.

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