The Vanderbilt Initiative for Scholarship and Global Engagement combines the university’s deep commitments to international study and civic engagement through innovative scholarship and service opportunities abroad. Students explore topics of global significance through a year-long learning sequence beginning in January with a core course at Vanderbilt, followed by summer service or field-based project abroad, and a seminar in the fall semester. VISAGE encourages and supports rigorous service-learning programs which support the development of global civic leaders, whose scholarship and civic participation help to enrich the local and global communities of which they are part.

Download a VISAGE Brochure

What sets VISAGE apart from other service-learning programs?

Rigorously structured, year-long experiential academic programming flexible enough to incorporate faculty and students from all disciplines to serve areas of community-identified need in Nashville, Tennessee, USA and in the partner institutions’ locations;

Sustained relationships between Vanderbilt University and individual and organizational global and local partners;

Clear and measurable objectives as set forth in the programs’ modules. Module I, Module II and

Module III of the initial phase of sustainable VISAGE development and implementation for five program sites.

Three VISAGE sites will be offered in 2008-9:

Global Citizenship in Cape Town , South Africa

Topic: Education, Social Cohesion and Economic Development

Faculty Director: Prof. Brian Heuser

Global Citizenship in Managua , Nicaragua

Topic: Family, Community and Social Justice

Faculty Director: Prof. Marshall Eakin

Global Citizenship in Melbourne , Australia

Topic: Sustainable Water Resource Development

Faculty Director: Prof. Gene LeBoeuf

How can I become engaged in shaping the Vanderbilt VISAGE?

Vanderbilt hopes to develop sustainable, long-term relationships with partner institutions and organizations that will allow for growth and change over time, and seeks partners who will actively engage with Vanderbilt faculty, students and staff as partners in this endeavor. If your organization would like more information regarding program specifics, or would like to learn more about VISAGE in general, please contact Marie Martin, Assistant Director or Professor Marshall Eakin.