Collaborative

The proposed program in Spoleto would accommodate approximately 110 students per year: 60 across two semesters, and 50 across three or four summer programs. A range of academic units would be invited to collaborate and propose both semester-long programs as well as briefer, more focused summer offerings.

The current faculty-led program in Florence, Italy–a product of collaboration between Communication and English–includes a dynamic range of coursework related to agri-tourism, the slow food movement, travel writing, and a literary exploration of food cultures. Other enticing semester or summer combinations might bring together Art History, Studio Art, and Architecture; Classics, Archaeology, and History; or Historic Preservation and Hospitality & Tourism Management. The possibilities are limitless.

Experiential Learning & Degree Value

The effects of study abroad on the professional, academic, and personal development of participants are well documented. As Dr. Mary Dwyer, President and CEO of the study abroad affiliate organization IES, writes:

“More and more employers are realizing the extraordinary benefits of study abroad, and are seeking out graduates who have had study abroad experiences. Key jobs skills such as adaptability, global understanding and tolerance, leadership, and independence are directly fostered by learning and living abroad”.

Surveys of participants from a range of study abroad vendors have noted higher starting salaries, increased hireability, and workforce adaptability, among other benefits.