Peru Study Abroad

Students who participate in the Peru study abroad experience will work with international partners to address specific challenges the partners have identified and learn the principles of extension methodology and sustainable community development. Working with established partners, students will integrate their discipline knowledge and technical skills from previous courses.

Students will also learn intercultural communication, market analysis, project design and planning, business planning and business ventures, and cultural factors that affect community food security while they work in bi-national teams. Some key objectives are to strengthen learning, literacy, and life skills of Peruvian and Purdue students through mutually beneficial engagement that aims to improve lives and livelihoods.

The Peru experience typically occurs during Purdue’s spring break. To participate in this trip, students are required to enroll in three 1-credit courses: ASEC/BTNY 43100 (Planning for International Engagement Methods) takes place before the trip and ASEC/BTNY 43120 (Evaluating International Engagement Methods) takes place after. The trip itself is ASEC/BTNY 43110 (International Engagement Methods and Food Security). Participating students earn 3 credits.

Students who travel to Peru create videos that reflect on their experiences. Some examples of these videos appear below. A sample itinerary for the experience also appears below.

Peru on the river
Waterfall in Peru
Group in Peru

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart West Lafayette

Day 2: Visit Allas community, including Vacas Felices Farm and other enterprises

Day 3: Visit and tour Lima

Day 4: Visit Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina

Day 5: Travel to Ollantaytambo

Day 6: Visit Machu Picchu

Day 7: Visit Parque de la Papa

Day 8: Visit Sacsayhuaman Fortress and other archeological sites

Day 9: Visit Surquillo Market, participate in cooking classes, visit Larco Herrea Museum, depart for airport

Day 10: Return to West Lafayette
Russell Mark

Russell Mark

Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication
Professor
Dr. Mark Russell began his career with animal science degrees from Cornell University (BS) and the University of Illinois (MS and PhD). After serving as the Horse Extension Specialist at Illinois and Purdue, he taught 18 different animal sciences courses and expanded the curriculum, which positioned students to use their technical information by applying it to real-world problem-solving experiences—focusing on team collaboration and effective community engagement. Over the last 15 years he has become most known for his focus on extension methods, leadership development, and intercultural effectiveness outcomes through service learning and travel courses where his students have learned informal educational engagement strategies in many international work settings, including Ecuador, Romania and Haiti. He is passionate about students discovering a worldview of cultures beyond their comfort zone and became the Head of the Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication in the College of Agriculture in 2015.  

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