Friends World Program

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Friends World Program is an international studies college with regional centers scattered around the globe. It was founded as Friends World College by the New York Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1965, but became non-sectarian in the mid-1970s. In financial difficulties, the college became a part of Long Island University in the 1991-1992 academic year as the Friends World Program.

Currently there are only about 250 students enrolled worldwide. Students participating in the full four-year Bachelor of Arts degree program generally spend their first two semesters at the Latin America Center in Heredia City, Costa Rica (the "Foundation Year Program" or "First Year Program"), and subsequently study at a minimum of two other centers.

The school promotes an experiential approach to education, with most of the student work at the centers - which have limited teaching faculty - being in the form of independent research projects, local involvement, and internships with various organizations. The emphasis is on cultural studies, arts, language, development and sustainability issues, and international relations, but Friends World students study a wide variety of subjects under the instruction and guidance of their advisors.

At the end of every academic semester, students submit a Portfolio of Learning, a collection of their notes, essays, and other documentation, which is then reviewed by an advisor who assesses their learning experience.

Friends World is an accredited university program. Upon completion of their requirements graduates receive a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Long Island University. Students are required to decide upon an area of concentration while they are in their 3rd or 4th year of study that relates to their senior thesis studies.

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[edit] Recent developments

After the closure of the London Centre in the spring of 2005 the Dean, Robert Glass, along with the support of the Council of Overseers began to garner support for a concept that he referred to as "Satellite Centers". A Satellite Center would be a staffed by a single (or perhaps small team) of Friends World advisors who would offer local guidance to students who feel they can operate more independently and prefer to study outside of one of the five global centers. Currently the proposed locations of Friends World Satellite Centers are Thailand and Southeast Europe.

[edit] New North American Center

Prior to the 2005 academic year the North American Center was located in Southampton, New York, United States of America and was home to the administrative operations of Friends World Program. Beginning in the Fall of 2005, FWP moved to the Brooklyn campus of Long Island University. To help encourage a well rounded experience seniors are now required to return to the North American Center to finish their studies.

[edit] Currently operating centers

[edit] Currently suspended centers

Regional centers are sometimes shut down indefinitely due mainly to lack of funds to maintain operation, although other reasons are generally given such as perceived security or health risks. As of February 2007 these include:

  • West Africa Centre, Ghana This center has been "suspended" since 2002. Let it now be declared "closed"
  • East Africa Centre, Kenya This center has been "suspended" since 1999. Let it now be declared "closed"
  • European Centre, London This center has been "suspended" since 2005. Let it now be declared "closed"
  • Middle East Center, Jerusalem This center has been "suspended" since 2000. Let it now be declared "closed"

[edit] External links

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