South Africa) : Reviews (Cape Town)
The following program review responses have been selected for publication by Education Abroad
Program Evaluation
Summer 2013 Participant
academics were superb, housing was ok, there was a lack of meal options which was a problem, some nights no dinner was available at all. the interaction with locals was great, the excursions were awesome, some of the African students were not on the same academic level making it challenging to work with them.
Summer 2014 Participant
My courses: The professors involved in the course make a huge difference. Dr. Morris redefined business for me in a holistic and hands on approach that I have never received in my education. Come prepared for in depth study of business for the first two weeks of the EESA program. It was taught maybe a little too quickly but most of the information students should already know. The courses are mainly there to tie everything together-- marketing, mgmt, finance, accounting, operations.
Location: Cape Town, South Africa is a magical place. During the time of the program it is a South African winter so pack for colder weather. There are beautiful mountains, lots of diversity, nice malls, and rough neighborhoods. It is a very artistic city, though during this program we didn't get the chance to go off campus and freely explore as much.
Interactions with locals: Especially in this program, you get to interact with locals a lot. Locals are at the heart of what made my experience rewarding and life changing. South African people are so light hearted and humble.
Excursions: You don't get to do this much, but in the beginning many weekends have provided/paid for excursions.
Internships/Volunteering: This is the essence of the program-- this is the life changing part of the EESA program where you get to put your learning and business/consulting skills to the test.
Location: Cape Town, South Africa is a magical place. During the time of the program it is a South African winter so pack for colder weather. There are beautiful mountains, lots of diversity, nice malls, and rough neighborhoods. It is a very artistic city, though during this program we didn't get the chance to go off campus and freely explore as much.
Interactions with locals: Especially in this program, you get to interact with locals a lot. Locals are at the heart of what made my experience rewarding and life changing. South African people are so light hearted and humble.
Excursions: You don't get to do this much, but in the beginning many weekends have provided/paid for excursions.
Internships/Volunteering: This is the essence of the program-- this is the life changing part of the EESA program where you get to put your learning and business/consulting skills to the test.
Alexis Taylor Ilyinsky,
Summer 2014 Participant
The EESA program is unlike any study abroad program offered at CU. It is a lot of very difficult work, and is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. Taking classes in the morning and consulting in the afternoon, you will learn a little bit of everything that you need to know for the business world. You will get to work with University of Western Cape students, and learn a lot from them. Weekend day excursions are planned for you to explore beautiful Cape Town, such as hiking Table Mountain and going to Robben Island.
Kaelyn Anne Purfurst,
Summer 2014 Participant
The course work was challenging, difficult, but extremely rewarding. It is real life hands on experience with entrepreneurs in an underprivileged community. Getting to develop a relationships with a few different of these people makes it all worth while when in the end you see the smiles on their faces. It was extremely rewarding to spend time with them every week for 3+ hours a week. The location of the program is idea for the program. While it is in the middle of nowhere, there are few distractions and having the transport provided for you makes it much easier to get around. If you want to go where transport is not going, it can get very expensive though. The excursions are a lot of fun. Very cool signs to see and lots of fun things to do. Overall, loved the program and would recommend it to anyone who is looking to work hard, learn more than they have ever learned, and have some fun on the side.
Megan DeLee Couper,
Summer 2015 Participant
The course is challenging and will definitely test you on your abilities to work with a diverse team but in the end is very rewarding and worth all the long nights. The location of the university is placed a good distance away from the city and the beaches but in the end is a good thing as we wouldn't of been able to produce the work we did if we had all those distractions so close. The locals are all amazing and the UWC students you work with can pose as a challenge at times as they are not always engaged in this as much as you but you can learn so much from them if you let them in. The excursions apart of the program are absolutely amazing! You get to see a lot of Cape Town in the limited time of six weeks.
Summer 2015 Participant
This is an extremely challenging program. Coursework is difficult and faculty expects nothing short of your very best. This said, this program has also been one of the most rewarding experiences. You really can make a difference in the world...and that is AMAZING! South Africa is so unique...its history is stunning, its people are so community oriented, and its natural beauty is incredible. All excursions are delightful, but remember, the majority of your time will be spent working hard to serve the client.
Kellen Philip Kopf,
Summer 2016 Participant
The courses are the hardest "classes" you will ever take and this program will likely be the hardest you'll ever have to work at anything. Unfortunately, you don't live in Cape Town, you're in a nearby suburb that isn't very scenic and is in a pretty rough area. You'll be working directly with South African students on your teams, so you'll get to know them quite well. Our excursions were very few but they were a great time. I would very highly recommend taking a trip after because you won't have time during the program.
Summer 2016 Participant
Being in a third world country and being immersed in the townships has changed my whole outlook on life something I cannot even put words to, to describe to anyone.
*Returning to CU: Program Evaluation
Summer 2013 Participant
academics were superb, housing was ok, there was a lack of meal options which was a problem, some nights no dinner was available at all. the interaction with locals was great, the excursions were awesome, some of the African students were not on the same academic level making it challenging to work with them.
Summer 2014 Participant
My courses: The professors involved in the course make a huge difference. Dr. Morris redefined business for me in a holistic and hands on approach that I have never received in my education. Come prepared for in depth study of business for the first two weeks of the EESA program. It was taught maybe a little too quickly but most of the information students should already know. The courses are mainly there to tie everything together-- marketing, mgmt, finance, accounting, operations.Location: Cape Town, South Africa is a magical place. During the time of the program it is a South African winter so pack for colder weather. There are beautiful mountains, lots of diversity, nice malls, and rough neighborhoods. It is a very artistic city, though during this program we didn't get the chance to go off campus and freely explore as much.Interactions with locals: Especially in this program, you get to interact with locals a lot. Locals are at the heart of what made my experience rewarding and life changing. South African people are so light hearted and humble.Excursions: You don't get to do this much, but in the beginning many weekends have provided/paid for excursions.Internships/Volunteering: This is the essence of the program-- this is the life changing part of the EESA program where you get to put your learning and business/consulting skills to the test.
Summer 2014 Participant
The EESA program is unlike any study abroad program offered at CU. It is a lot of very difficult work, and is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. Taking classes in the morning and consulting in the afternoon, you will learn a little bit of everything that you need to know for the business world. You will get to work with University of Western Cape students, and learn a lot from them. Weekend day excursions are planned for you to explore beautiful Cape Town, such as hiking Table Mountain and going to Robben Island.
Summer 2014 Participant
The course work was challenging, difficult, but extremely rewarding. It is real life hands on experience with entrepreneurs in an underprivileged community. Getting to develop a relationships with a few different of these people makes it all worth while when in the end you see the smiles on their faces. It was extremely rewarding to spend time with them every week for 3+ hours a week. The location of the program is idea for the program. While it is in the middle of nowhere, there are few distractions and having the transport provided for you makes it much easier to get around. If you want to go where transport is not going, it can get very expensive though. The excursions are a lot of fun. Very cool signs to see and lots of fun things to do. Overall, loved the program and would recommend it to anyone who is looking to work hard, learn more than they have ever learned, and have some fun on the side.
Summer 2015 Participant
The course is challenging and will definitely test you on your abilities to work with a diverse team but in the end is very rewarding and worth all the long nights. The location of the university is placed a good distance away from the city and the beaches but in the end is a good thing as we wouldn't of been able to produce the work we did if we had all those distractions so close. The locals are all amazing and the UWC students you work with can pose as a challenge at times as they are not always engaged in this as much as you but you can learn so much from them if you let them in. The excursions apart of the program are absolutely amazing! You get to see a lot of Cape Town in the limited time of six weeks.
Summer 2015 Participant
This is an extremely challenging program. Coursework is difficult and faculty expects nothing short of your very best. This said, this program has also been one of the most rewarding experiences. You really can make a difference in the world...and that is AMAZING! South Africa is so unique...its history is stunning, its people are so community oriented, and its natural beauty is incredible. All excursions are delightful, but remember, the majority of your time will be spent working hard to serve the client.
Summer 2016 Participant
The courses are the hardest "classes" you will ever take and this program will likely be the hardest you'll ever have to work at anything. Unfortunately, you don't live in Cape Town, you're in a nearby suburb that isn't very scenic and is in a pretty rough area. You'll be working directly with South African students on your teams, so you'll get to know them quite well. Our excursions were very few but they were a great time. I would very highly recommend taking a trip after because you won't have time during the program.
Ryan Justininao Calzavara,
Summer 2017 Participant
The EESA course is the most challenging course you will take if you are from CU. It was an amazing course where Dr. Morris taught me an unbelievable amount of entrepreneurship tactics. Cape Town is probably my favorite city in the world now. It is so beautiful and the people are incredible. It will probably break your heart though to see the poverty. The locals are the friendliest people I have ever met and they want to make you feel at home in their country. In EESA you will work as hard as you will ever work but will also have as much fun as you will ever have. Every excursion was like a new best day of my life.
Shane Michael Henderson,
Summer 2017 Participant
Cape Town is my favorite place I have yet traveled in the world, and EESA is the hardest but most rewarding program I have ever been a part of.
Jonathan Thomas McDonnell,
Summer 2017 Participant
This was the most rewarding experience that I have undertaken at CU. The intellectual content of the course kept me engaged throughout the program. Cape Town was an amazing environment that had a unique energy that I will always hold with me.
Cory Kristine Wanamaker,
Summer 2017 Participant
The program, Entrepreneurship and Empowerment in South Africa program was easily one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. I met some amazing people and I learned so many things. This program actually taught me how to do things I'll need to know in my future career. I also got to experience a true South African culture in its pure raw form. This program is not meant for people that want a normal study abroad full of partying and free time. This program is difficult, time consuming, rigorous, and stressful. However, it is also the most rewarding, exciting, entertaining, life changing, and amazing experience you will ever have. This program is a mix of study abroad, internship, and volunteer work. You really build a real personal relationship with the local people. You also get extremely close with your program group and the professors. All together, this was an amazing program and South Africa is an amazing country. I strongly recommend this program.
Josie Lynn Woods,
Summer 2017 Participant
Cape Town is absolutely incredible and working in the townships is an experience like no other. It allows you to not only help them grow as business owners, but this program contributed to a lot of my personal growth.
Jonathan Thomas McDonnell,
Summer 2017 Participant
Staff and directors were extremely dedicated and passionate about the program. They put in more effort than I have ever seen from a faculty member and I cannot thank them enough.
Cory Kristine Wanamaker,
Summer 2017 Participant
The program staff is the most dedicated staff of professors and coordinators you will ever meet. There was never a time I felt I couldn't go to someone for help when I needed it. The staff goes to the ends of the earth to help you if you're having an issue.
Ryan Justininao Calzavara,
Summer 2017 Participant
Best course I have ever taken. I wish I could do it again in a new country. The teaching by Morris and Mueller is superb and I really feel like those two can bring me to the next level of where I want to go with my education.
Shane Michael Henderson,
Summer 2017 Participant
Most I've ever learned in a class, and we only had class 10 or 15 times in a six week period.
Jonathan Thomas McDonnell,
Summer 2017 Participant
The best academic experience I have ever had. I learned so much about business and entrepreneurship.
Josie Lynn Woods,
Summer 2017 Participant
AMAZING! There is no better word to describe it. I learned more in these 6 weeks than I did in my semester long entrepreneurial environments class
Shane Michael Henderson,
Summer 2017 Participant
Working with my clients in the townships was one of the best experiences of my life.
Jonathan Thomas McDonnell,
Summer 2017 Participant
Yes, we participated in service learning in the form of business consulting. It was an extremely enriching experience that helped me apply the lessons I learned in school to a real world context. Added tremendously to the overall experience.
Jonathan Thomas McDonnell,
Summer 2017 Participant
Because we worked with students from UWC and with business owners from the townships, we received a wide range of experiences with the locals.
Cory Kristine Wanamaker,
Summer 2017 Participant
You get full on one on one interactions with locals. You literally work in some of the townships. This is the most amazing part of the program I believe because you meet some amazing people that have gone through so much, they really change your perspective on things. You are not a tourist on this program, you are a South African business consultant, and you have to get your hands dirty. It is all worth it, in the end.
Summer 2016 Participant
Being in a third world country and being immersed in the townships has changed my whole outlook on life something I cannot even put words to, to describe to anyone.
Josie Lynn Woods,
Summer 2017 Participant
I am 100000x more confident, empathetic, and motivated after this experience which will greatly help me as I finish school and start a career.
Cory Kristine Wanamaker,
Summer 2017 Participant
One of my clients worked with orphaned children in the townships. We met some amazing children and heard some incredible stories. My team was able to put on a successful crowdfunding campaign in order to put on a holiday camp for the children. My client told us that we were her miracle and the children thanked us. Overall, I will never forget them and I truly feel like I made a difference.