2023 Honors Early Fall Start India

2023 Honors Early Fall Start India

Social Entrepreneurship and Population Health in India

Location: Bengaluru and Ladakh, India

Program Dates: Early Fall Start 2023 (Aug. 19-Sept 8)

Credits and Courses: 5 credits total

  • HONORS 233, Social Science, SSc, and “W” and “DIV”

Directors:

Alissa Bilfield, School of Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Nutritional Sciences Program

Akhtar Badshah, Evans School of Public Policy and Governance and UW Bothell Business

APPLY NOW! Deadline Extended to April 15

 

Upcoming On-line Information Sessions

Friday, Feb 10th at 10AM

Monday, Feb 13th at 10AM

Zoom

RSVP for the info sessions

About the Program

This program is a 3-week immersive program examining social entrepreneurship in population health in India. The program will foster an exploration of concepts related to population health, specifically learning that health and well-being are impacted by multiple overlapping and intersecting factors that include poverty, education, governance, racism, the environment, and many more. Through it all, students will explore how social innovation/entrepreneurship can have a positive societal impact by addressing the social determinants of health. The program begins with a stay in Bengaluru with an introduction to the Ashoka Foundation, the organization that originated the modern concept of social entrepreneurship. While in Bengaluru students will learn about the history and evolution of social entrepreneurship through the work of the Ashoka and others. Students will learn directly from social entrepreneurs who are innovating to address population health issues. Diving into these social entrepreneurship models will set the stage for student-led discussion and presentation on best practices.

The second stage of the program will be in Ladakh, India where students will learn about social entrepreneurship in the Himalayas through the Naropa Fellowship. Students will apprentice with fellows and alumni of the program to learn how social entrepreneurs have used their training to address population health issues unique to rural mountain communities. While in Ladakh, students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the unique Ladakhi culture and climate through visits to monasteries and hikes in the surrounding area.

This faculty led study abroad program will consist of 2 sites in two geographical locations:

  1. Naropa Fellowship, Ladakh, India
  2. Ashoka Foundation, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Program Leadership

Alissa Bilfield is a faculty member in the Nutritional Sciences Program and the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences in the School of Public Health. Her interdisciplinary background includes work and research in the government, nonprofit and academic sectors that has spanned the United States and 14 different countries. Dr. Bilfield is a social entrepreneur herself, having co-founded a food literacy and cooking education nonprofit called The Cookbook Project. She also  developed courses in an online Masters in Entrepreneurship Program and has taught several graduate level Social Entrepreneurship courses during her time at the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship at University of Arizona. Regarding the program itself, Dr. Bilfield has developed relationships with the Naropa Fellowship. She has been traveling and working in India since 2002, and she has had the opportunity to collaborate with community organizations and entrepreneurs across Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Sikkim.

Akhtar Badshah is faculty member at the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance as well as the Bothell School of Business. Dr. Badshah has over 30 years working in international development managing corporate philanthropic programs and co-founding a global nonprofit for social enterprise. He is very interested  in exploring the changing social impact space and its impact on the nonprofit and social development space. He also looks at the intersection of technology, especially exponential technologies and its impact on societies and how nonprofits can effectively utilize these technologies. Badshah also launched Accelerating Social Transformation, an executive leadership development course for mid-career professionals working in the social impact space. For more information on this course, click here. Regarding the program itself, Dr. Badshah has developed relationships with the Sehgal Foundation, the Yunus Foundation and Ashoka.

Cost of the Program

Anticipated Student Program Fee: $4,975. This cost includes all breakfasts, lodging, excursions (flight, lodging, transport, food). The cost does not include airfare or concurrent enrollment fee ($485) or most lunches and dinner. Students will find that the cost of meals in the community are very affordable.

Average Airplane Ticket: $3,000 (continue to check prices)

Program fees will be posted to your MyUW student account and can be paid the same way that you pay tuition and other fees. Check your MyUW Account periodically for due dates.

Payment Schedule

Note: Students do not pay regular tuition costs, instead a concurrent enrollment fee of $485 is paid plus the program fee.  Students pay for their roundtrip airfare

Estimated costs:

Payment Type Payment Amount Payment Due Date
Non-Refundable UW Study Abroad Fee $485 2 weeks after acceptance, TBD
Program Fee Balance $4,975 Same as UW’s Autumn Quarter Tuition deadline
TOTAL FEES CHARGED $5,460

Making the program affordable

The Honors Program is passionate about study abroad and the incredible impact it can have on a student’s life. Don’t assume you can’t afford to study outside of the U.S. Here are resources to help you get started on your global adventures!

Honors Program Scholarships

The Honors Program offers a number of scholarships for current Honors Program students. These scholarship funds may be used for UW approved study abroad programs or exchanges. Students may apply beginning in late January (deadline is March 30).

Study Abroad Scholarships at UW

Every student who applies and is accepted to a study abroad program is considered for a scholarship. Scholarship awards are dependent on need and students may be awarded up to $4,000. Visit the study abroad office in 459 Schmitz Hall to learn more or click here. Students may also email goglobal@uw.edu for an advising appointment.

There are several outside resources for study abroad scholarships. Visit the UW’s Study Abroad Scholarship page for more information on scholarship support as well as information about GET funds and how you may apply the GET to your study abroad costs.

Using Financial Aid for Study Abroad

You may find more information about using your existing financial aid for study abroad on the Study Abroad Office’s Financial Aid webpage. In general, all financial aid awarded may be used to support study abroad. Exceptions to this include tuition waivers, work-study awards, or scholarships that are specific about using the award for tuition (although there may be flexibility with some scholarships, please check with the financial aid office). Tuition waivers and work-study are never allowed for study abroad.

Revision of Need

You may also turn in a “Revision of Need” form with the Financial Aid Office if you have a FAFSA on file. Once you are accepted to a study abroad program, visit the Study Abroad Office to obtain a budget for your study abroad program then complete the Revision Request and turn in both the budget and the revision request to the Office of Student Financial Aid in Schmitz Hall.

Visit the Financial Aid Study Abroad Funding Website for more information about applying for Summer quarter financial aid and for information about Exploration Seminar financial aid timeline (different than A or B term financial aid disbursement timeline).

Application Process

This program is open to students in the Honors Program and students across campus (UW Seattle, Tacoma, Bothell).  Students of all majors, freshmen-seniors, are encouraged to apply. This program strives to be intentional, inclusive and ethical as we support students with diverse backgrounds and abilities within the program while being considerate of the host country’s culture. We welcome students who are historically underrepresented and explore ways we can meet needs and ensure a supportive, educational journey. We will constantly provide spaces for reflection before, during and after the program to ensure we learn from each other, process critically together, and create an outlet for challenges that may be encountered. We will practice empathy, active listening skills, and validate students’ experiences as we receive them while also connecting them to resources to support them if helpful.

To learn more contact the Population Health Initiative at pophlth@uw.edu

APPLY NOW! – April 15 deadline