Integrative Cultural Research Project (ICRP) Description

The Integrative Cultural Research Project (often referred to by its acronym, ICRP) was created to foster greater cultural integration of study abroad participants into the everyday life of their host culture. All ICRP students, in consultation with the Resident Directors of their programs, select an activity (often a service or volunteer project, a cultural internship or the collecting of life histories) that will require them to interact closely with local people. Through a structured process of observation, interaction, research and reflection, students ideally undergo a change in perspective from “they do things this way… we do things that way” to “it makes sense to do things this way.” The ICRP is just one of the important ways in which the study abroad experience aims to create new generations of leaders endowed with the sort of transnational competence that will be necessary for functioning effectively in an increasingly interconnected world.

Although most Kalamazoo College students do an ICRP, the students in this pilot program stay in contact with their course instructor during their stay abroad via letters home. A list of their ICRPs offers a good illustration of the variety of projects that K students undertake, determined by their own interests and the resources available in their host city.

Upon their return, they are available to speak about their experiences at churches, civic organizations, professional organizations, schools, etc. To arrange a speaking engagement with one of our students, contact the course instructor.