The Dornsife Global Development Scholars program is a nationally and internationally recognized capacity-building program for bridging gaps between scientific research, development practice, and applied problem-solving in the context of improving global health.

This program is based on a mentorship model that allows students of all majors and educational levels to work alongside World Vision International, a major international non-government organization (INGO) and the largest distributors of water around the world, on humanitarian efforts that push forward to achieving all U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to the global agenda prioritizing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).

While gaining international experience in rural parts of sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia for 2 to 6 months, Dornsife Scholars address cross-cutting themes in WASH such as social marketing, economic development, health education, community engagement, evaluation, and a host of other areas related to promoting and improving overall health and development in low-resource settings.

Meet the Dornsife Scholars' 2023-24 cohort.

Program Eligibility

The Dornsife Global Development Scholars program is open to all graduate and undergraduate majors (at all levels) at Drexel. Applications for co-op and/or a summer international experience are strongly encouraged.

Learn how to apply ​(application open now until December 9, 2024)

The program provides students with generous funding to cover the associated costs of participation, including a scholarship to cover travel and in-field expenses, such as:

• Airfare to and from country
• In-country accommodations
• Food stipend
• Local transportation
• International health insurance
• Emergency evacuation insurance
• Visa expenses (visitor's visa required)
• Other project-related costs

All co-op applicants are required to abide by the Steinbright Career Development Center international co-op requirements. Additionally, all non-co-op applicants must adhere to the Education Abroad registration requirements.

Learning Outcomes

The Dornsife Scholars program is an innovative experiential learning opportunity committed to:

• Developing global stewards that are catalysts for change in a forever changing world, and exhibitors of a higher level of awareness, empathy and cultural competence;
• Providing an international development training curriculum rooted in social justice and health as a human right;
• Ongoing field support for personal and project-related development;
• Allowing past Scholar experiences, current trends in development, and characteristics that global health and international development employers consider fundamental in competitive applicants to influence program growth;
• Equitable access for all students inclusive of those from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.

The Dornsife Global Development Scholars program prepares each and every scholar for international work through a required on-boarding program. This training is held prior to travel and field work, as pre-departure training is essential for every outbound scholar.

Dornsife Global Development Scholars are expected to present findings and lessons learned upon their return back to the United States through a post-exit presentation or workshop.

As a part of this scholarship program, Dornsife Global Development Scholars are required to participate in programming at least one term before the international experience begins; as well as re-entry programming during the academic year after they return to the US. Specific details on the presentation, participation in all programming, and other expectations will be given during the Dornsife Global Development Scholars interest meetings and orientation.

Contact

All questions in regards to the application process or the training program can be directed to Idris Robinson, Executive Director of Global Health and Strategic Partnerships at idris@drexel.edu.