Study Abroad in Peru

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Study Abroad in Peru...

An extraordinary experience awaits for those students who choose to study in Peru! With many indigenous peoples and languages, time-honored traditions, ancient ruins, an array of architecture, and an astounding variety of flora and fauna, Peru offers compelling opportunities for study, volunteering and internships.

Peru's higher education system is heavily centered in the nation's capital of Lima. Lima boasts South America's oldest university, the Universidad Nacional Mayor De San Marcos, which was founded in 1551. Other major public universities include Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina - UNALM (La Molina National Agrarian University), Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería (National Engineering University), the Universidad Científica del Sur (Scientific University of the South) and UPC, which specializes in applied sciences. Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola is a well regarded business school, the Universidad de Lima is an important private institution, and the most prestigious medical school is the Cayetano Heredía. Modern Lima's other private institutions include the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, and the Universidad del Pacifico, Peru's leading institution for the study of business administration, accounting and economics.

More than 50 distinct groups of indigenous people live in Peru today, and the Quechua culture and language remain strong in the Andes. Quechua is Peru's second official language. Before the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century, no formal alphabet existed and forms of expression included a system of hieroglyphics called "tokapu" for chronicling its cities, leaders and society, and the "quipu," a series of knots on string used for accounting and maintaining statistics. Many Quechua words, such as llama, coca and quinoa, have entered English through Spanish.

Spanish is Peru's main official language, and Students interested in studying Spanish language and culture are drawn to Peru. Specialized programs in business, technical, scientific and medical Spanish are available for advanced and professional students through a variety of language schools. Many programs include travel to destinations such as the Sacred Valley, the mountaintop citadel of Machu Picchu and the Amazon Jungle.

Peru is a paradise for students of biology and related fields, and contains one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world, the Peruvian Amazon. The Amazon is one of four major geographic areas in Peru; the others are the Coastal Desert, the Andean ranges, and the Ceja de Selva, the cloud forest or "eyebrow of the jungle." Microclimates within these regions have permitted pockets of specialized agriculture, and also a dense concentration of unique species. Among mammals alone, alpacas, chinchillas, guanacos, jaguars, peccaries, and several dozen varieties of monkey are just a few of the species endemic to the country.

Internship programs and volunteer service in the fields of conservation, eco-tourism and environmental studies are hugely popular in Peru. In a bid to conserve the country's biological diversity, the government has encouraged initiatives including the National System of Natural Protected Areas (SINANPE) and the state natural resources entity (INRENA). Peru features more than 60 natural conservation units that include national and historic sanctuaries, game preserves, protected forests, parks and communal reserves.

Peru boasts a rich Pre-Columbian past. From the first century until the year 750, the Nasca people settled in the South, leaving behind the mysterious desert floor etchings known as the Nazca Lines. In late 2008, archaeologists discovered a lost city of the Chachapoya, or the "Cloud Forest People" - a settlement estimated to be more than 1,000 years old. The Inca Empire arose in the early 13th century and, under the leadership of Manco Capac, the ancient capital of Cuzco was established. Modern Cuzco, the oldest continuously inhabited city on the continent, is an extremely popular destination for study abroad students, particularly those interested in archaeology, history, art, culture and Incan studies.

Peru's diversity and turbulent history are visible in its art. The country's literature encompasses the indigenous texts of the past while embracing the modern in a body of renowned contemporary works including the acclaimed novels by Mario Vargas Llosa, who was also a presidential candidate in 1990. Many of Llosas' novels, including La ciudad y los perros and Conversación en La Catedral, provide commentary on Peruvian politics and society. Mario Vargas works are readily available in both English and Spanish and serve as an excellent resource for students thinking about studying in Peru.

The Peruvian Andes are ideal for adventure lovers and sports enthusiasts. The highlands feature soaring snow-capped peaks, more than 15,000 lakes and some of the world's deepest canyons. The Andean chain offers un-paralleled opportunities for whitewater rafting, hang-gliding, mountain biking, mountain climbing and trekking. Filled with restaurants and markets, the bustling city of Huaraz is a trekking metropolis where numerous shops are on-hand to rent equipment and assist with excursion itineraries.

Arequipa is an energetic, bustling city that is also known as the "White City," probably because its stately colonial buildings are made out of volcanic rock called "sillar." Against this gleaming backdrop of historical mansions and churches, artists and students enjoy the city's markets and vibrant nightlife.

Peru's best-known dish is cebiche, or raw fish marinated in lime juice, but the country's biodiversity contributes to a cuisine that is anything but one-sided, with local fish, game and vegetables available in abundance. Fusion cuisine, a recent development in many countries, is old news in Peru: African, east Asian and Italian dishes blended with local elements to form a distinctly Peruvian cuisine more than two hundred years ago.

Peru's extraordinary diversity allows students to experience the best of South America. The country's rich indigenous culture, Spanish colonial history and modern complexity promise a rewarding study abroad experience for students of all fields.

ONLINE RESOURCES
IIEPassport.org: www.IIEPassport.org
IIEPassport Study Abroad Funding: www.StudyAbroadFunding.org
National Security Education Program: www.iie.org/NSEP
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: www.iie.org/gilman
Welcome to Peru: www.peru.info

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