The International PDS in Santiago, Chile provides opportunities for teacher candidates and faculty members from Buffalo State and Universidad Mayor to learn from one another - virtually and through study and service exchange activities. Buffalo State teacher candidates and faculty travel to Chile every other June for three weeks. Universidad Mayor teacher candidates and faculty travel to Buffalo every other February for three weeks.
Travel: May/June 2025 (3 weeks)
Cohort Meetings: Spring Semester 2025
Accepting Applications: No
Next Application Deadline: November 1, 2026
Visit from Chilean Teacher Candidates: TBD
Santiago, Chile (view map) is located in the central valley of the Republic of Chile and serves as the country's capital city. Chile, the long ribbon of land running along the southwest coast of South America, rests between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains. It boasts a very diverse climate, said to be comprised of seven separate climatic types experiencing four seasons--summer December to February, fall March through May, winter June to August, and spring September through May. Castillian, a very distinct version of Spanish, is the national language. Also spoken are four indigenous languages and German.
Final program costs are determined once all participants are enrolled. The current program estimate of $4500 - $5200 is all inclusive and consists of: round-trip flight, lodging, group ground transportation, group cultural excursions, travel health and evacuation insurance, required course/language textbooks, administrative fees, and passport. Some expenses are included in a one-time fee applied to participants' Buffalo State tuition. Other expenses participants direct-pay to vendors before and during travel.
Buffalo State Leaders
Pixita del Prado Hill, Elementary Education
Angela Patti, Exceptional Education
Raquel Schmidt, Exceptional Education
International Partners
Universidad Mayor
Universidad San Sebastián
TANDEM Escuela de Idiomas
In addition to sending participants to Chile, the School of Education welcomes visitors from Chile to the United States. Teacher candidates from Universidad Mayor, along with their faculty leaders, spend three weeks in the Buffalo-area each spring semester.
Applications are accepted through the School of Education during open application periods only (see above). Applicants must submit a completed application form, essay of intent, one academic reference, and a copy of past grades and current course registration. A typed application form is preferred; handwritten is acceptable.
Eligibility:
- Open to all current Buffalo State undergraduate or graduate students - including those graduating the May prior travel
- Priority given to education majors
- Must maintain good academic standing
- Must be able to obtain passport
Follow Chile participants as they experience life abroad.
View individual profiles of past participants - colorful demonstrations of the impact of IPDS programs on the personal and professional lives of our students.
Crystal explains how her time at an international school in Chile in 2015 prepared her to be a better educator.
Kelly shares her IPDS experiences in Chile and Italy and how they have benefited her teaching practice.
Bryanna reflects on how her experiences in the Dominican Republic and Chile changed her views of teaching.
Christine shares her observations at two special education schools in Chile and the teaching strategies she utilized in a second grade classroom in Italy.
Education’s Globalization Efforts Continue through Buffalo Public Schools
Pixita del Prado Hill, Elementary Education