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Seminar in Curriculum Development for International Service-Learning

Quito, Ecuador

Join colleagues from around the country in beautiful and historical Quito, Ecuador for a training seminar on how to integrate students’ international service-learning opportunities with your curriculum.

As a faculty member or administrator, you will gain:

  • Extensive knowledge – theories and practice – of service-learning pedagogy and curriculum development
  • A first-hand look at how international service-learning programs work
  • A network of like-minded colleagues committed to supporting each other
January 8th to January 15th, 2026

Course Facilitator – Dr. Tim Stanton

Dr. Tim Stanton

Dr. Tim Stanton is Engaged Scholar for Ravensong Associates and Director Emeritus of Stanford University’s Bing Overseas Studies Program in Cape Town, South Africa. The program blends coursework with service-learning and community-based partnership research in Western Cape townships and informal communities.

At Stanford, Tim helped found and direct the Scholarly Concentration in Community Health and Public Service at the School of Medicine. He helped found and acted as Associate Director and Director of the Haas Center for Public Service from 1985-1999. He has taught in African Studies, American Studies, Education, Medicine, Public Policy, and Urban Studies.

As Engaged Scholar for Campus Compact, Tim helped organize and coordinate a national US initiative on community engagement and research universities, The Research Universities Civic Engagement Network (TRUCEN). He has published numerous articles on service-learning and engaged scholarship, including a book, Service-Learning: A Movement’s Pioneers Reflect on its Origins, Practice, and Future. In Spring 2016 Tim served as Roberta Buffett Visiting Professor in International Studies at Northwestern University.

*Please contact United Planet if you are interested in having Dr. Stanton provide consulting services around global service-learning, development, and research.

Curriculum Overview

A combination of theory and practice, our curriculum is targeted toward professors and administrators looking to integrate a service-learning component into a particular university course.

Though the course is based in Quito, the curriculum focuses on applying service learning models and methods anywhere in world.  Quito gives us a space to practice and learn through experience.

  • Integrating international service experience into a course
    Planning service-learning components that enable students to interact in ways that connect with course themes; developing appropriate service placements and activities; facilitating constructive reflection; integrating theory and practice
  • Integrating course subject matter with students’ service experience
    Creating productive interaction between the subject matter and the service experience; supporting critical learning and effective service by students
  • Promoting intercultural effectiveness and humility
    Facilitating cultural adaptation between students and partner projects (conceptions of time, space, relationships, politics, work, and service itself)
  • Pedagogy
    A review of theories and practice in effective experiential teaching with a focus on praxis pedagogies, reflection strategies, “learning service,” and adult education
  • Logistics
    Everything faculty and program coordinators should know about travel, health, safety, and language

Course Logistics

Location: Quito, Ecuador

Included in the program:

  • Training materials, courses, and practicum
  • Accommodation, food, and local transport in Quito
  • Cultural activities and excursions
  • Emergency medical insurance

Course fee: $2,995*

*Please note course fee does not include international flights to and from Quito.

Optional Excursions

These excursions can be added on to the beginning or end of the course for an additional fee.

The Galápagos Islands are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are famous for their wide array of wildlife. This excursion will have you hiking, snorkeling, horseback riding, and kayaking through this exotic Ecuadorian province. [5 days]

Visit the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, a protected tropical rainforest in Ecuador which is a part of the ongoing process of conserving the Amazonian ecosystem. You will also visit two indigenous communities where you’ll learn about the historic traditions and culture of the region. [4 days]

Testimonials 

This was a great experience to hone service-learning understanding, create new tangible ideas to implement, challenge assumptions, and make such invaluable networks!
– Misty, Quito Faculty Seminar Participant

The seminar through United Planet empowered me to feel more confident about supporting faculty planning service experiences abroad.
– Kimberly, Quito Faculty Seminar Participant

The Faculty Development Seminar provided a space for practitioners in the field to collaborate and discuss best practices in regard to the ethical, reciprocal, and meaningful implementation of service-learning. The relationships formed between participants are ongoing, and will continue to strengthen our collective work in the field of service-learning as we build partnerships locally and globally.
– Kathleen, Quito Faculty Seminar Participant

Apply for the Ecuador Seminar 

Applications will be reviewed and awarded for each program seminar. Parital need based funding is available. Learn more about our Seminar in International Service-Learning Scholarship. Please make notice of financial need in the application. We look forward to reviewing and having you learn and grow!

If you have any questions, please contact us at quest@unitedplanet.org or 617-874-8041.

Have questions? We’re here for you. We’d love to help.

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