Beginning in 1991, the SUNY Buffalo State PDS focused its efforts on local school partnerships to prepare and support educators in the Western, NY region. In recent years the classrooms of our school partners have experienced significant cultural and linguistic changes that reflect national demographic changes. To more effectively prepare new teachers for this changing educational context, IPDS was developed by utilizing the existing PDS structures. Through the international contacts of our education faculty, IPDS was established in 2012 with two short-term, faculty-led study away programs. IPDS now includes PK-12 school partnerships in across five continents as well as a virtual partnership in La Esperanza, Honduras.
Visit the country pages below for program dates, overviews and details, program costs and eligibility requirements and links to student blogs/reflections.
Need a little inspiration? Check out the latest personal stories, reflections, and testimonials from education students who have traveled abroad. Then visit the Participant Voices page to view more!
Mary (Catie) Boerschlein, Italy 2016
Recruiting for Spring 2021 program
Travel: May/June 2021 (with a pre-travel course spring semester 2021)
Application deadline: November 1, 2020
Contact: Pixita del Prado Hill or Angela Patti or Raquel Schmidt
Recruiting for Fall 2020 program
Travel: January 2021 (with pre-travel course fall semester 2020)
Application deadline: April 1, 2020
Contact: Tamara Horstman-Riphahn or Wendy McLeish
Recruiting for Spring 2021 program
Travel: May/June 2021 travel (with a pre-travel course spring semester 2021)
Application deadline: November 1, 2020
Contact: Tamara Horstman-Riphahn or John Carlino
Virtual partnership through department
Contact: Sue McMillen
Participants selected for Fall 2019 program (January 2020 travel)
Contact: Kerry Renzoni
Recruiting for Spring 2020
Contact: Patti Recchio
Recruiting for Spring 2020 program
Travel: May/June 2020 (with a pre-travel course the spring semester 2020)
Application deadline: November 1, 2019
Contact: Hibajene Shandomo or Wendy McLeish
Collaboration with Creative Studies
Recruiting for July/August 2020 program
Application deadline: January 14, 2020
Contact: John Cabra or Myo Thant
Collaboration with The Anne Frank Project
Recruiting for July 2020 program
Contact: Drew Kahn or Eve Everette
IPDS ChinaContact: Jing Zhang
England: Urban Civic Education Study-AbroadContact: Kathy Wood or Amitra Wall
Spain: NYS Master Teacher partnershipContact: David Henry
All IPDS programs are open to all Buffalo State graduate and undergraduate teacher candidates, including programs at all grade levels and within any discipline, as well as other disciplines and school partners as appropriate. Our collaborative partner programs (Myanmar, Rwanda) are open to all disciplines as well as alumni and community members.
The application process and acceptance period varies depending on the program. While some programs travel annually, others are held every other year. Check the individual program page for full details, deadlines and travel/course dates.
General Application Process for IPDS Programs:
This process applies only to IPDS programs. For our partner programs, check the individual country pages.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Applicants DO NOT enroll in the course nor complete applications via the Study Abroad website until they have been pre-selected by the program leaders through the process listed above. IPDS applications can be accessed at the country-specific program webpage.
General IPDS Application Periods:
