Michaela Walsh and Susan Stehlik CEO, Prime Time Ideas Inc and professor of Management Communication at NYU’s Stern School of Business and Rutgers University designed the curriculum. It was supported by a number of individuals and organizations, who have worked to ensure its smooth running to date.

Communication and Leadership Classes

A core component of the curriculum builds a foundation for personal growth through the first part of the training. During the last weeks, the course focuses on the application of this growth and skills to student interest, work, studies and environment through the development of an Action Plan. This is effected through: 

• Team-building 
• Leadership assessment
• Interpersonal and group communication
•  Networking
• Identifying qualities of leadership in oneself and in others
• Defining the responsibility of leadership in one’s self and community
• Effective writing

Students are encouraged to keep a personal journal, for daily reflections and Learning. Classes are supplemented with numerous exercises testing students’ perceptions of themselves and interactions with team members and facilitators. These activate discussion, providing an opportunity to practice individual English language skills.

English Language Institute (ELI) Manhattanville College

The English Language Institute maintains its distinguished history of successful language programs for a culturally diverse student base.

The staff methodology and flexibility targets the language learning needs of each individual from English Language proficiency, to confidence and competent use of the language in a variety of situations.

While at the ELI Participants have the opportunity of interacting with other students from different countries too. This kind of diversity enhances the GSL’s unique learning.

Information Technology

During the numerous hours of classes each week, students focus on different computer programs and software taking into consideration each student’s needs.

The Technology Labs are equipped with the latest information technology enabling students to learn in a practical and interactive way. Students are provided a technology manual designed for the GSL program, as well as individual CDs containing the software programs for their use after the program.

The art of developing individual websites has been key as each student gains incite into the use and need of technology. Each group of students commit a significant amount of time collectively working on the GSL website.

The www.GSLNET.org website continues to be a tool for connecting graduates, mentoring students, and allowing participants to help one another comprehend the importance of globalization and modern technology skills.

Each group of students is also expected to create 1-2 Newsletters covering their program experience and other related program subjects.

Role Model Sessions

Qn. What did you learn?

Ans. To be focused towards a dream I would like to achieve until I get it. Mary was so determined to get her law degree and to achieve this she had to make lots of sacrifices….

Individual professionals, leaders from government organizations and businesses are invited to share their stories two or three evenings each week. The sessions help fuel constructive dialogue among students on values principles and visions developing the GSL unique learning dimension. This type of personal intergenerational exchange also helps raise the comfort and confidence level of students leading to an increased flow of opinions, ideas and breakthroughs in personal and group situations.

 Extra-Curricular Activities

 As part of the learning process extra curricular activities were purposefully incorporated to help the students acquaint themselves with the host country’s culture, broaden their view of the world and relax. These include trips to cultural sites, visits to various institutions, participants’ country presentations, various cultural events, sightseeing, shopping, watching movies, as well as physical activities such as swimming, and jogging.

Dining Conventions and Etiquette

Ann Nicol a distinguished professional in formal dining conducts a practical session on Dining and Business protocol. This part of the program has been conducted for the programs in New York and is yet to be incorporated in the GSL Africa program curriculum.

GSL Traditional Trips   

The Rose Center, Museum of Natural History, New York
The Rose center, at the Museum of Natural History, integrates science, architecture, exhibition and education.  Students experience a seamless journey from the outer reaches of the Universe to the inner workings of Earth.  They also learn about the tremendous size and scope of the cosmos and our place in it, experience the creation of the universe with the Big Bang and chronicle the history of the Universe along the cosmic pathway.

Metropolitan Museum
While at the Metropolitan Museum you will learn about arts and world cultures. Explore the history and view more than 6 500 works of art from around the world. Most of participants have enjoyed this trip and learnt a lot from this trip as evidenced from trip evaluations.

New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is one of the world’s most extensive combinations of circulating, reference, and rare archival collections in its field. The Library is known particularly for its prodigious collections of non-book materials such as historic recordings, videotapes, autograph manuscripts, correspondence, sheet music, stage designs, press clippings, programs, posters and photographs.

The Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, New York.
The Val-Kill
Eleanor Roosevelt, “the first lady of the world” was born October 11, 2003.  After completing her academic training in 1902 she returned to New York and busied herself working with the city’s poor immigrants.  She got married to Franklin D. Roosevelt, her distant cousin in 1905.  Since her upbringing taught her to act as a proper society wife, Eleanor tended to the household and five children while her husband embarked on a political career.

The Women World Banking (WWB)
The Women’s World Bank was formed out of the notion that “economic access for poor women would change the way the world works.” Only twenty-nine years old, the WWB is the only women-led organization that caters to the financial needs of poor women in 23 countries of Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

The United Nations and the United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the development arm of the United Nations, which was formed during World War II. In over 166 countries the UNDP assists the UN by raising the awareness of issues from Poverty Reduction to Energy and Environment helping countries to deal with challenges by sharing solutions on the resources needed to make progress.

While at the UN students have a guided tour of the UN building. Depending on the number GSL participants with the help of the Department of Public Information at the UN students also have the opportunity a briefing on given global issues, discussed by distinguished personnel at the UN.

Pfizer Pharmaceutical Company
This year students visited Pfizer Inc. headquarters in New York, a pharmaceutical company founded in 1849. The company is dedicated to better health and greater access to healthcare for people and animals. Their purpose is to help people live longer, healthier, happier lives. A visit to this company provides students a feel of the corporate world.

Botanical Garden and Bronx Zoo
Founded in 1891, the New York Botanical Garden is one of the world’s great collections of plants, the region’s leading educational center for gardening and horticulture, and an international center for plant research. You don’t want to miss it when you attend the GSL summer program.

Bronx Zoo the world's greatest zoo -As the flagship of the largest network of metropolitan zoos in the country, the Bronx Zoo is the heart of the wildlife conservation society; they work to save wildlife and wild places around the globe.

Shopping spree
Students usually go shopping on 3-4 occasions to some of the famous and large malls around New York City. Students make a trip to the Galleria Mall close to the campus at the beginning and the end of the program. Then shopping at Woodbury Commons, you do not want to miss it while at GSL.

New York City Site Seeing
On 1-2 occasions students are taken into New York City where they get to see various famous sites around New York. To cite a few: China town, World Trade Center site, Central Park, Times Square, Empire State Building, Crystal Tower, A boat ride to statute of liberty and Grand Central.