The Trinity-in-Trinidad Global Learning Site offers a semester or full year immersion experience in the beautiful two-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. The program examines Trinidad’s rich culture, history, and diversity through the study of art, literature, drama, music, politics, history, economics, environmental studies, and social sciences. Students can explore Hindu Trinidad or an English-speaking Islamic culture; experience the colorful traditions expressed through the music and art of the many festivals; learn about politics and social issues of the region; work with Human Rights’ NGOs; and participate in the world-famous Carnival and other festivals unique to Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad’s blend of African, Indian, European, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures expose students to complex and open discourses on race and ethnicity.

The Trinity- in -Trinidad Global Learning site began in 1997. The program is affiliated with the University of the West Indies.

The Setting

Trinidad and Tobago is a twin-island republic located in the southern Caribbean, only five miles off of the coast of Venezuela. The islands are among the most prosperous, yet under-explored of the Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago boasts the region’s most diverse culture, as well as rich natural resources and a large variety of wildlife and habitats. Equally engaging are Trinidad and Tobago’s crowded and dynamic towns and cities, where buildings and townhouses sit side by side with temples, mosques, and Catholic cathedrals. The national psyche is characterized by a strong sense of identity and a laid-back enjoyment of life. There is a tremendous music scene, from which the calypso and soca genres and the steel drum originate. The islands’ thirteen public holidays and numerous local festivals are a big part of life, culminating in the annual Carnival celebration, one of the biggest in the world. The capital of Trinidad is Port-of-Spain, a bustling city located at the western end of the island, between rainforested mountains and the gulf. Nearly a third of the island’s 1.5 million people live in and around Port-of-Spain, which is the hub of the southern Caribbean. The program is based in the suburbs of Port-of-Spain.

The Program

Course	Credits
Caribbean Civilization	1.0 credit
Festival Arts	1.0 credit each
Internship	1.0 credit
Independent Study (optional)	.50 or 1.0 credit
Hindu Trinidad (optional Trinity class)	1.0 credit
1-2 University of the West Indies Classes	1.0 credit each

The Trinity-in-Trinidad Global Site offers students the opportunity to focus their studies in a particular study track. Students can choose from Caribbean Studies, Theater and Performance, Documentary Arts and Community, Music, Hinduism, Gender Studies, Islamic Studies, Ecology & Environment, and Engineering. Students may follow these tracks, combine elements of different tracks, or pursue an individually-designed course of study.

All students enroll in the program’s core courses, Caribbean Civilization and Festival Arts, which are taught by Trinity-appointed faculty on-site. Students also do an internship in a local cultural organization, institution, or school. Many options are available, including positions in local steelbands, theater companies, labor unions, human rights organizations, children’s homes, and women’s organizations. It is also possible to do an independent study with a local filmmaker, photographer, musician, artist, or local cultural or political leader. For their remaining classes, students enroll in 1-2 regular courses of their choice at the University of the West Indies (UWI), studying alongside their Trinidadian peers.

The University

The University of the West Indies (UWI) is a highly regarded, autonomous regional institution supported by and serving fifteen different countries in the West Indies. It has three main campuses that are based in Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad. The St Augustine Campus, in Trinidad, was established in 1960 and has schools of Agriculture & Natural Sciences; Engineering; Humanities & Education; Medical Sciences, and Social Sciences. The modern, attractive campus has excellent facilities, clubs, and student organizations. UWI offers a broad array of liberal arts courses in English appropriate for students from all majors.

Program prerequisites

The program is open to students with a minimum 2.5 grade-point average

Program dates:

Fall Semester: mid-August– late December

Spring Semester: early January – mid-May

Who’s who on-site

On-site Director- Shamagne Bertrand

Shamagne has over 25 years administrative experience in banking, law, manufacturing, human resources, and festival administration.  She holds a National Craftsman Diploma and a Diploma in Management. She is also a member of a parang group, Los Amigos Cantadores, and a patois choir, “Vini Chante”.

Assistant On-site Director - Florence Blizzard   

Florence Blizzard is a former Secondary School teacher who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History and English from the University of the West Indies, as well as a teaching certificate. She taught History and English for thirty-one years. She has an interest in photography and videography and is an experienced archivist and documentalist.

Housing and meals

Students are housed off-campus in apartments located across the street from the Trinity program house and within walking distance of the University. The apartments are fully furnished with kitchen facilities. There are many nearby shops and restaurants, where students can also take their meals.

Expenses/ Financial Aid

Students participating in the Trinidad Global Learning Site are billed for the Trinity Comprehensive Fee which covers tuition, room, board, excursions, activities, and miscellaneous fees. Students who receive financial aid from Trinity College will have that aid transferred to the Global Learning Site semester. Application for the transfer of financial aid must be made early and in consultation with the Office of Financial Aid.

Application Information

All Trinity students who wish to study away are required to submit a Request for Approval to Study Away by the first week of December of the academic year prior to study. Upon approval, students need to submit a program application by the next September 15. Applications are available in the Office of International Programs in 66 Vernon Street. Once accepted, all students will receive a program handbook that includes details on visas, finances, health issues, and other relevant information.

For general questions, contact:

Office of International Programs

Trinity College

66 Vernon Street

Hartford, CT 06106

Phone: 860-297-2005

Fax: 860-297-5218

oip@trincoll.edu

For academic questions, contact:

Professor Milla Riggio, Department of English, Trinity-in-Trinidad Faculty Director, (860) 297-2467, milla.riggio@trincoll.edu

Associate Professor, Pablo Delano, Studio Arts

Associate Professor, Janet Bauer, International Studies; Women, Gender, & Sexuality

Associate Professor Luis Figueroa, History & International Studies

Associate Professor Vijay Prashad, International Studies

Associate Professor Brigitte Schulz, Political Science and International Studies

Assistant Professor Eric Galm, Music

Associate Professor Joan Morrison, Biology

Program Highlights

·         Students participate in excursions in and around the island of Trinidad, as well as Tobago

·         The country has a rich ecology that includes tropical rainforests, wetlands, mountains, and beautiful remote beaches.

·         The program provides students with opportunities to participate in community service, internships, and independent studies

·         Students from all majors can tailor the program to meet their individual needs and interests.