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Semester at Sea Partnering With Model UN

Starting this spring, Semester at Sea will begin a partnership with the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) on the Spring 2014 Semester at Sea 50th Anniversary voyage. For 70 years, UNA-USA has worked to educate, inform, and inspire Americans in support of the United Nations and its impactful work around the world. UNA-USA has also been a leader in global education for the past 14 years via its Model UN program, Global Classrooms®, an innovative experiential learning tool which delivers incomparable global education as well as life skills essential for academic, career and life success.

“The original vision for Semester at Sea was to be a floating UN university. This new partnership with UNA-USA is a step toward realizing that vision,” said Luke Jones, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Institute for Shipboard Education. “UNA-USA is a partner that can expose our students to major global challenges and involve them in developing solutions.”

SAS and UNA-USA will launch Global Classrooms at Sea, which will incorporate the Global Classrooms program into the Semester at Sea course of study. The program will include Model UN training, curriculum, and resources, as well as a simulation, program exchange, and Campus Advocates Chapter at Sea membership. Like Semester at Sea, the Model UN Global Classrooms program aims to give students an invaluable international education and to offer insight on the growing influences of globalization. It challenges students to develop their critical thinking, conflict resolution and communication skills that are necessary of global citizens.

“The partnership between Semester at Sea and UNA-USA will provide an opportunity for our students to further learn what it means to become a global citizen by engaging in model debates that our global leaders face today,” said Michael Zoll, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, Institute for Shipboard Education.

All students who participate in the program will receive free memberships to UNA-USA, and may continue to engage with UNA-USA and the UN when they return to their home campuses.

“Through our partnership this spring, students will lend their voices to the United Nations, helping to create new goals to alleviate poverty within our generation,” said Monika Johnson, Youth Engagement Manager, UNA-USA. “As they sail around the world, they will not only explore new cities and sights, but also delve into what it will take to build a better future for the global population.”

The Spring 2014 voyage embarks from San Diego on January 10, 2014 and will sail to Hawaii, Japan, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Burma, India, Mauritius, South Africa, Ghana, Morocco and England. Dr. Anne Kinney, professor of Chinese in the Department of East Asian Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the University of Virginia, will serve as the Academic Dean of the voyage, and Michael Zoll, Vice President of Academics, Institute for Shipboard Education will serve as the Executive Dean. The spring voyage will continue Semester at Sea’s celebration of 50 years of shipboard education.

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