The exchange program at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito-GAIAS Institute (USFQ-GAIAS) offers semester programs in the Galapagos Islands focusing on the natural sciences and social sciences. All courses are taught in English.
Courses are taught in three week modules and follow three different tracks:
- Evolution, Ecology and Conservation in the Galapagos
- People, Politics and the Environment in the Galapagos
- Marine Ecology
A full listing of the courses and special activities of the programs are available on the GAIAS website below.
Host University Description:
The Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences is a branch of the USFQ in Quito. The Institute sits on the island of San Cristóbal in the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, population 5,400. From the front door of the institute it is less than a one minute walk to the beach where you can snorkel or swim right after class. It’s a ten-minute walk into town and five minutes in the opposite direction to the Galapagos National Park Interpretive Center. The GAIAS Institute houses classrooms, some dormitory rooms (for faculty and English teachers), a computer lab, and a small library. It also holds the new science center, a three story building created through a partnership between USFQ and UNC Chapel Hill in the United States.
On San Cristobal exchange students are placed with host families within walking distance of campus. Breakfast and dinner are eaten with the host families some days and at local restaurants other days. Lunch is not provided. Students also have the opportunity to go on excursions to other islands as well as local field trips around the island of San Cristobal!
For general information on USFQ, its academic units and services, please consult: http://www.usfq.edu.ec
For general information on GAIAS, its academic units and services, please consult: http://www.usfq.edu.ec/Galapagos/GAIAS/SemesterPrograms/Paginas/SemesterPrograms.aspx
Some information from: http://oregonabroad.ous.edu/countries/ecuador/gaias/academics.html
