Location

Lusaka, Livingstone, Mazabuka, Zambia

Program Description

The Study Abroad program to Zambia is interdisciplinary, catering to students from various fields, including political science, arts and humanities, social sciences, international studies, engineering, and business. Students will explore the most important global issue, i.e., critical minerals, through a political economy lens.

The three-week program is a hands-on educational, cultural, and professional experience that incorporates two weeks of internship and research, as well as a week of immersion in lectures and sociocultural exchange with communities in Lusaka, Mazabuka, and Livingstone, Zambia. This specially designed course will enhance students' understanding of critical minerals from an economic, political, and public policy perspective. Centering on accountability, the course will challenge students' knowledge of Africa and its role in the critical minerals race, allowing them to develop objective perspectives on the continent and its respective countries. It will also stimulate the interests of students who plan a career in politics, policy, engineering, and business. During the program, students will tour a critical mineral mine for educational purposes and visit Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, as part of their excursion. Additionally, students will visit selected national museums and cultural villages, including the Lusaka and Livingstone Museums, as well as Kabwata Cultural Village.

Students will attend lectures at the Southern African Institute of Policy Analysis and Research (SAIPAR) on Zambia's politics, economics, social, and cultural affairs, spanning from pre-colonial to colonial, independence, and post-independence periods to the present day. They will also work as interns for two weeks in nonprofits (both local and international), some government agencies, and private sector institutions engaged in the critical minerals value chain. SAIPAR will arrange these internships as part of the agreement with JMU.

At the end of the program, students will:

• Gain general knowledge of Southern Africa and a specialized understanding of politics, economic, social, and cultural affairs in South Africa and Zambia.

• Understand the politics and policies surrounding critical minerals.

• Acquire skills through practical work experience in the public and/or non-profit sector in a developing country context.

• Acquire transcultural and social skills and appreciate the significance of various cultures through the museum learning experiences at African cultural and national heritage sites such as Lusaka and Livingstone Museums, visits, and cultural exchange. 

• Establish contact and be exposed to networks of students at SAIPAR’s Cornell and other University of Chicago study abroad programs.

The program will include lectures, an internship, research experience, cultural exchange, and social visits. Below are the highlights of the program:

• Course topics: African Politics and the International Political Economy of Africa. This will take the form of lectures delivered in an academic setting. Dr. Sombo Muzata will teach the classes, and guest lectures will be facilitated by experienced experts who will provide a broad introduction and overview of the history and regional, political, and economic landscape of Africa and Zambia. The lectures will also consider the international and economic relations of the Southern African region, as well as Zambia's relations with the outside world, including the USA, the European Union, China, and Russia. The political economy of Africa will include lectures on the structure and functioning of the economies of developing countries. These lectures will focus on the economic structure and economics of the Southern African region, particularly in Zambia. Discussions will cover the critical mineral extractive industries, agriculture, politics, and economic activity in Zambia. Additionally, the diversification of economies will be discussed, as will economic inequality and economic mismanagement, which manifest as debt distress, among other topics, with a focus on the political economy.

• Seminars with the US Embassy Political Affairs offices in Zambia to understand the new US-Africa trade strategy.

• Internships will provide students with hands-on experience in a developing country.

• Cultural exchange, community, and museum visits will cover the social and cultural aspects of the program and include visits to families and national and cultural heritage sites.

Education, experience, and exposure:

• Education: Enhanced understanding of Southern Africa and Zambia, including an appreciation of natural and historical sites alongside students from Cornell, the University of Virginia, and the University of Chicago

• Experience: Close intercultural collaboration with African colleagues in learning, work, and living environments

• Exposure: Connection to global networks beyond the USA and appreciation of the USA's foreign engagements

The study's topic is crucial for the green energy transition, and the USA aims to lead this effort. Understanding it through a bottom-up approach can improve our students' perspectives. Furthermore, the collaboration between two Virginia-based institutions, JMU and UVA, will serve as a best practice in partnership and will strengthen students' networking.

Location Description

Zambia is a country of immense potential, boasting natural beauty and economic promise. Strategically located in the heart of Southern Africa, surrounded by Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe as neighbors, and a two-hour flight from South Africa, Zambia offers a stable political environment that has earned it a spot on the list of the most peaceful countries in Africa. The country boasts a youthful and educated population, as well as a wealth of untapped natural resources. Zambia is home to the Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and 20 officially designated national parks, including the South Luangwa, Kafue, and Lower Zambezi, which are ranked among the finest in the world for safari experiences. The country has over 72 indigenous languages, with seven officially recognized regional languages and English as the official language. In Zambia, tradition and modernity coexist, creating a unique cultural identity.

Director

Sombo Muzata | muzatasx@jmu.edu | Department of Political Science

Brian Williams | bnw9q@virginia.edu | Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at University of Virginia

Accommodations

Accommodations will be provided for students through furnished apartments and houses with internet access, full kitchens, and laundry services.

Students will be in shared double rooms. Transportation will be provided and shared, i.e., all will be driven together on program-related activities.

During orientation week, lunch will be provided. A stipend will be given to cover weekly meals i.e., breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Additional Items to Consider

American citizens are eligible for a 90-day visa-free stay period. See the list at the Zambia Department of Immigration for other countries: https://www.zambiaimmigration.gov.zm/nationals-who-dont-require-visa/

Vaccinations are required to travel to this country. Yellow fever is recommended and others that the students' healthcare provider may recommend based on status.

Three online sessions lasting 1hour 30 minutes each will be held prior to departure. Dates are April 10, 17 and 24. Students are required to do pre-online session work for a total of 2 hours 15 minutes before each session.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 2.8

Open to juniors, seniors and graduate students

Open to non-JMU students

Open to all majors

Good academic standing, enthusiastic about learning about Africa and its role in the era of global critical minerals.