Expanding Perspectives of NIU Students
Over the past several years, NIU College of Education professor James Cohen, Ph.D., has led groups of students to Southeast Asia to live and teach in Indonesia. For approximately three weeks, NIU pre-service teachers work alongside Indonesian co-teachers to teach local students from pre-K through high school.
Now, the College of Education is preparing to expand the program in summer 2026—with NIU professors and students traveling to both Indonesia and Malaysia to co-teach at local schools.
In the past, this life-changing program has been offered at no cost to students. But due to cuts in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education and uncertainty in other funding sources, that may no longer be possible.
Your gift today can ensure that NIU students continue to benefit from this unique international teaching experience—regardless of their financial situation.
Why This Program Matters:
- Cultural Immersion: Students experience life and teaching in another country, gaining exposure to new customs, traditions, and languages—broadening their global understanding and empathy.
- Professional Development: Teaching abroad sharpens instructional skills and strengthens cross-cultural communication—making students more adaptable, job-ready and marketable.
- Personal Growth: Living and working abroad fosters independence, resilience, and cultural sensitivity. These experiences transform students as individuals and educators.
Program Goals:
1. Immerse NIU pre-service teachers in international classrooms where they co-plan and co-teach with experienced educators.
2. Provide transformative, real-world experiences that build confidence, adaptability, and a global perspective.
3. Give NIU graduates a competitive edge in the job market.
"Even though the Educate Global Program only lasted three weeks, those are three weeks I will never forget. The opportunity to teach and live in Indonesia for just under a month was a transformative experience that built my confidence in a multicultural setting, expanded my skills with English Language Learners, and challenged me everyday to be the best educator I could be. In addition to learning valuable skills related to teaching students with different ethnic and linguistic backgrounds than myself, I feel that I also benefited from the consistency of being in a teaching role for a full school day, every day. Working closely with my co-teacher on a daily basis was an experience I didn't get in my clinicals, and it makes me more confident about going into student teaching this spring. As a whole, I think the trip to Indonesia made me a better teacher and a better person overall." - Educate Global Program participant.
"Teaching in Indonesia was an unforgettable chapter of my life, filled with memories that continue to shape the way I see the world. I was welcomed with open arms and learned about the rich Indonesian culture. I collaborated with my co-teacher to combine our ideas and learn from each other, creating the best lessons for our students. Our students were always eager to learn, yet they taught me more than I could have ever taught them. Throughout these three weeks, I have discovered something that fills me with a smile, regardless of the circumstances. I made friends with so many teachers who spent time leading us around their beautiful home. I knew I would be stepping into a world of new traditions, unfamiliar foods, and a different way of dressing. But nothing could truly capture how different life would feel until I was experiencing it. No amount of research or preparation could have given me that experience." - Educate Global Program participant.
