What Study Abroad Teaches That a Classroom Can’t
In this episode
In a classroom, I can teach you how the world is supposed to work. Study abroad shows you how it actually works.
- The importance of global education and how to get started
- How The Econ Games started
- The importance of community in economics
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About this episode
Dr. Darshak Patel joins me to talk about taking students to Kenya to watch a universal basic income program up close, and why he would rather learn a new country alongside his students than teach one he already knows.
Darshak has completed 11 study abroad experiences, not including joint programs with other universities.
Darshak and I met at the University of Kentucky as graduate students. Since then, we have written many papers together, co-founded The Econ Games, and continue working to make economics accessible to students. It was fun having him on the podcast.
Did you study abroad? Tell us in the comments what lesson stuck with you.
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Dr. Darshak Patel is an associate professor of economics at the University of Kentucky and co-founder of The Econ Games. Connect with Darshak on LinkedIn
Show resources
Research
- Study abroad Assignments to engage students in economics study abroad programs Patel, D. (2019). Assignments to engage students in economics study abroad programs. In Perspectives on economic education and teaching (pp. 53–62). Springer, Cham.
- The Econ Games Facilitating authentic practice and content acquisition through competition: The Econ Games Patel, D., Al-Bahrani, A., & Hoyt, G. (2024). Facilitating authentic practice and content acquisition through competition: The Econ Games. The American Economist, 69(2), 288–300.
- Teaching with film Using ESPN 30 for 30 to teach economics Al-Bahrani, A., & Patel, D. (2015). Using ESPN 30 for 30 to teach economics. Southern Economic Journal, 81(3), 829–842.
- Teaching with the arts Art of econ: Incorporating the arts through active learning assignments in principles courses Al-Bahrani, A. A., Holder, K., Patel, D., & Wooten, J. (2016). Art of econ: Incorporating the arts through active learning assignments in principles courses. Journal of Economics and Finance Education, 15(2), 1–16.
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