SUMMER INTERN ABROAD PROGRAM

GLOBAL HEALTH (GHANA)

GLOBAL PRACTICUM

A 4-credit global practicum to develop skills, knowledge, and understanding that prepare you for leadership and engagement in our global society.

AT A GLANCE

  • Global Practicum Program
  • Disciplinary Track: Global Health
  • Intern Abroad Destination: Ghana
  • 2026 Dates: June 27-July 24 (4 weeks)
  • Credit: 4 U.S. credit hours (~ 8 ECTS credits) for eligible university students
  • Eligibility: Any field and level of study

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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Implement public health solutions in Ghana
This Global Practicum is a four-week, immersive experience designed for students who are ready to move beyond foundational coursework and apply their knowledge in a professional global health context. Based in Ghana, this credit-bearing practicum places students with local host organizations where they work collaboratively on real-world health-related challenges, gaining hands-on experience while developing critical professional and intercultural competencies.

Built around GEI's Global Health curriculum, the program emphasizes practice-based learning, teamwork, and applied problem-solving. Students engage in supervised project work aligned with their academic background and skill level, while participating in weekly colloquiums, reflection sessions, and cultural activities facilitated by GEI faculty. The practicum culminates in a final presentation and a comprehensive project report, supporting students as they translate field experience into academic and professional insight.
Program Highlights
  • A 4-week, credit-bearing Global Practicum
  • Supervised group placements with local host organizations
  • Project work aligned with students’ academic background and skills
  • Ongoing mentorship from GEI faculty and host organization supervisors
  • Weekly colloquiums, guided reflection, and cultural activities
  • Emphasis on professional skills, ethical engagement, and cultural intelligence
  • Final project presentation and post-program practicum report
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ACADEMICS

Program Structure
The Global Practicum in Global Health is an intensive, 4-credit program spanning four weeks in a host country in Africa or Asia. Students immerse themselves in hands-on public health work, collaborating with local healthcare providers, NGOs, and community health organizations to address pressing health challenges in resource-limited settings.

The program follows a structured, experiential learning model, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts. Working alongside medical professionals and public health experts, students contribute to health initiatives focused on infectious diseases, maternal and child health, mental health, and health systems strengthening.

Each week includes a combination of clinical or field-based health work, data collection, and project design, complemented by weekly class colloquia, reflection sessions, and cultural engagement activities to deepen learning and cross-cultural understanding.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the program, students will be able to:
  • Collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams to implement public health initiatives
  • Apply global health frameworks and field methods in Ghanaian contexts
  • Engage ethically and interculturally with Ghanaian health professionals and communities
  • Reflect critically on systems, culture, and personal growth in public health practice
  • Present a comprehensive digital portfolio that documents project outcomes and professional development
Further Details
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YOUR DESTINATION: GHANA

Ghana is a dynamic West African country known for its political stability, rich cultural heritage, and strong tradition of civic engagement. Shaped by regional leadership and global connections, the country offers a compelling context for experiential learning across disciplines, where tradition and innovation coexist. For GEI participants, Ghana provides an opportunity to engage thoughtfully with local communities and institutions, gaining insight into how global systems intersect with everyday life in a contemporary African setting.

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

At the core of the Global Practicum in Ghana is a structured placement with a local host organization, where students work in small teams alongside local professionals and peers. Projects are designed collaboratively and focus on clearly defined health-related challenges, allowing students to contribute meaningfully while respecting institutional priorities and local expertise. This model ensures that learning is grounded in real organizational contexts rather than simulated exercises.

Unlike short-term coursework-focused programs, the practicum prioritizes professional skill development and workplace readiness. Students are expected to engage with organizational norms, manage responsibilities and deadlines, and communicate effectively within professional settings. Faculty supervision and host organization mentorship provide guidance throughout the process, helping students strengthen both technical and interpersonal competencies relevant to future careers in global health and related fields.
Weekly class colloquiums and guided reflection sessions create space for students to step back from day-to-day project work and critically examine their experiences. These sessions focus on ethical engagement, cultural intelligence, teamwork, and the broader global health implications of the work being undertaken - encouraging students to connect local challenges in Ghana to global systems and trends.

The practicum experience concludes with a final colloquium and project presentation, followed by an in-depth written report completed after the program. Together, these components support deep reflection, synthesis of learning, and professional articulation of outcomes - equipping students with both the experience and the language to carry their global health practicum into academic, professional, or graduate pathways.
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HOUSING & MEALS

The program includes 4 weeks in Ghana. For this time, GEI Ghana offers different housing options that students can choose from, pending availability. These include:
  • Homestays: Typically single rooms, with shared bathroom, and access to a kitchen and living room
  • Serviced apartments: Single or shared double rooms, with shared bathroom, and access to a kitchen and living room
  • University residence halls at our local partner universities: Shared double rooms, with shared bathroom and no kitchen facilities
  • Simple guesthouses: Shared double rooms, with shared bathroom and no kitchen facilities


Homestay host families typically provide breakfast and dinner. Students in serviced apartments, university residence halls, or guesthouses are usually responsible for all meals outside of core course meals.

You can find additional information in the following blog post: Accommodation – What to expect.

DATES, FEES, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Program Dates

Application Due Date

Fees

Summer 2026 (4 weeks): June 27-July 24

April 1, 2026

Summer 2026: US $3,950 (4 weeks)

At GEI, we strongly believe in equal access to academic opportunities in study abroad. In order to help eliminate financial barriers, we offer a variety of merit scholarships, trailblazer scholarships, and opportunity scholarships and grants, ranging from $500 to full tuition awards. Each year, GEI is awarding several hundred thousand dollars in scholarships. You can find further information as well as additional resources for external funding opportunities in the following blog post: Scholarships & Grants.

GHANA

STAFF

All of our staff are highly experienced and resourceful professionals.
Henry Azanu, BA
Center Director
Michael Williams, PhD
Aya Centre

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