29,000Ton Ocean Liner to be Transformed Into 1st Oceangoing Campus for University Students Worldwide

[The Straight Story]

29,000-Ton Ocean Liner to be Transformed Into First Oceangoing Campus for University Students Worldwide




The Scholar Ship -- Multicultural Study Abroad Program -- to Make Maiden
Voyage from Athens in September 2007

BALTIMORE, Feb 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/-- The Scholar Ship today
announced the lease of a 29,000-ton ocean liner that will become the first
oceangoing education program developed specifically for an international
student body. The application deadline for the September voyage is April
30.

The Scholar Ship will transform the 660-foot (201 meters) ocean liner
to accommodate 600 undergraduate and graduate students in a multicultural
academic and living environment. The ship, which will be re-named The
Scholar Ship, has 389 staterooms that can accommodate 778 students and
faculty, as well as 416 crew members. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. provides
funding and operational support for The Scholar Ship.

The Scholar Ship will make its maiden voyage in September 2007 from
Piraeus (Athens), Greece and sail westward on a compelling itinerary that
includes stops in Lisbon, Portugal; Panama City, Panama; Guayaquil,
Ecuador; Papeete, Tahiti; Suva, Fiji; Sydney, Australia; Shanghai, China;
and Okinawa and Kobe, Japan. In addition to the program's extensive onboard
curriculum, each port of call provides a distinct educational platform from
which students engage in academic field study, shore excursions, and
independent travel.

"Finding a vessel we could transform into an oceangoing campus was a
unique challenge," said Michael Bonner, chief operating officer of The
Scholar Ship. "We wanted a ship with ample public space, expansive outdoor
deck areas, comfortable staterooms, and appropriately sized rooms to
conduct classes. After nearly a year of reviewing dozens of alternatives,
we found a vessel that is ideally suited for our program. It is a classic
ocean liner with a deep-draft hull, spacious rooms and decks designed
specifically for longer global voyages."

Seven highly respected international universities have collaborated on
the development of The Scholar Ship's rigorous onboard and port programs.
The Scholar Ship's Consortium of Academic Stewards includes the University
of California, Berkeley (United States), Macquarie University (Australia),
Fudan University (China), Tecnologico de Monterrey (Mexico), Al Akhawayn
University (Morocco), University of Ghana (Sub-Saharan Africa), and Cardiff
University (United Kingdom).

"The Scholar Ship's student diversity is distinctive among shipboard
study programs," said Dr. Joseph Olander, president of The Scholar Ship and
a prolific author and esteemed university president in the U.S. and abroad.
"Of the students requesting applications, the Americas represent 36 percent
of student interest, Europe/Middle East/Africa -- 44 percent and Asia
Pacific -- 20 percent. The faculty and onboard staff are similarly
diverse."

http://www.prnewswire.com/news/index.shtml

[entanglement]

1. Needless to say, all students will be on a scholarship

:)

[wakeme2008]

2. Yipes a 40 yo ship

"Floating University Acquires Ship
The Scholar Ship, the Royal Caribbean subsidiary that offers college students a chance to take their studies to the sea, has leased the 27,670-ton, 730-passenger ship formerly known as the Mona Lisa. The vessel, originally launched some 40 years ago, will be renamed The Scholar Ship. The lease is effective for three years. " http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=1932

[Lurking Dem]

11. Why yipes?

Lots of ships and boats older than that afloat out there. I see Trumpy's from the 20's all the time for sale.

[wakeme2008]

13. The Cunard QEII was built in the 60s but it requires a lot of maintainance

to keep running. :shrug:

[Lurking Dem]

15. Depends on a lot of things.

Like when was the last refit? What was replaced outright?

Either way "lots of maintenance" is what you have on a boat of damn near any size.

[LanternWaste]

3. That is probably the coolest thing I'm going to hear all week.

That is probably the coolest thing I'm going to hear all week.

As excited as I was my first day of college (and that was in my own home town), I can't imagine what the excitement these students will be experiencing.

"Iceberg! Right and ahead...!" (Sorry, couldn't resist)

[The Straight Story]

17. I vote for offices like this

I could sail around the world while working from my PC. Heck, I work at home anyway.

It would be awesome!

[LanternWaste]

18. You and me both, buddy!

You and me both, buddy! Not that I have the advantage of working from home, mind you-- but I think I could sweet-talk the suits upstairs into a deal like this...

:)

[donsu]

4. wonderful! hope this is the first of many floating universities

aircraft carriers would make great universities too.

[jwirr]

9. Swords into Plowshares?

[krispos42]

5. Interesting idea

The students are isolated in a controlled environment. Access to alcohol, drugs, clubs, etc., will be stricly limited, as well as other non-academic distractions.

The ship could visit ports-of-call after major testing periods, for example, as a way to let the students release steam and have some fun.

Might be a good learning environment just in general, especially for the under-21 crowd.

There was some talk about making a cruise ship a permenant living community. People would live in apartments, or I guess condos would be the proper term. There would be schools, shopping, theatre, cinemas, and other types of recreation, and people could work from home via the internet.

The ship would have a helo pad for regular delievery of supplies, mail, and for commuting, if needed.

I wonder if it will ever come to fruition.

[hlthe2b]

6. They'll have wondeful multi-cultural experiences..

and likely get to experience the wonders of a ship-board Norovirus outbreak... (sorry, force of habit, given my work)...

Still, cool idea.




To whomever gave me the donation heart... Thanks so much! I'm very touched. :loveya:

[JVS]

7. Aaaghhh. think of the destruction when spring-break and shore-leave are combined

drunken sailor-college student hybrids

[Hardrada]

14. How about when it first goes below the equator, maties??

Yikes. I'll bet there is still a brig on that thing too.

[jwirr]

8. What a great idea. I suspect that many faculty from other Us will

be happy to take their sabbatical on that ship.

[Tin Man]

10. Party on, Garth !!!

:headbang:

[northzax]

12. I am a bit confused

they say it's the 'first floating campus'

and yet, I distinctly remember my college roommate going on http://www.semesteratsea.com/ourcampus.html

in 1996.

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. Probably wouldn't have gotten as much press if billed as "2nd floating campus"