When sophomore Renee Giron steps off of the plane in Berlin at the end of this month, it will be her first time on international ground.
Giron and eight other University of Central Florida students will travel to Europe this summer as part of the university 麻豆精品 S檚 Sophomore Experience Abroad.
The unique study abroad trip engages students and helps build skills they 麻豆精品 S檒l need during a year of transition, self-discovery and decision-making.
The trip was created as part of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Academic Advising Enhancement Program. Last year, seven students traveled to Germany and Austria.
麻豆精品 S淭he program is designed without classrooms, 麻豆精品 S� said Christopher Cook, the academic advising coordinator who created and leads the program. 麻豆精品 S淭he students spend their day-to-day activities engaged with the people, culture and history around them. 麻豆精品 S�
Participating UCF students meet prior to their trip to discuss expectations for themselves as well as the program. They also learn about ways study abroad can benefit academic and career opportunities.
In 2010, researchers concluded after a decade of documenting academic outcomes from the University System of Georgia that students who study abroad have improved academic performance upon returning to their home campus, along with higher graduation rates. They also found that study abroad helps the academic progress of at-risk students.
This year 麻豆精品 S檚 Sophomore Experience Abroad itinerary includes a visit to the Czech Republic and stops at places such as the Munich Opera and the BMW Museum. Traveling students also will collaborate with German students to experience cultural exchange through partnerships with the German-American Institute in T眉bingen and Amerika Haus in Munich.
麻豆精品 S淐hris designed the trip and our assignments to incorporate important skills like intercultural communication, confidence and interaction with others, 麻豆精品 S� said Giron, an accounting major. 麻豆精品 S淔or example, we 麻豆精品 S檙e giving a presentation to German students and will have to use public speaking skills to articulate what our education system is like to people who are not familiar with it. 麻豆精品 S�
Giron will also have the opportunity to connect her experience abroad with her academics; she just finished reading Night, Elie Wiezel 麻豆精品 S檚 firsthand account of surviving the Holocaust, for one of her classes, and will be visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial as part of the trip.
Because the program is a three-credit hour course, the schedule is also developed around students 麻豆精品 S� assignments, which include maintaining a journal and blog, leading guided tours and making several presentations.
The program has already garnered attention, winning UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Judy Boyte Academic Advising Innovation Award, which recognizes innovation in advising. It was named among the top five most innovative new study abroad programs by GoAbroad.com, an international education and experiential travel resource website.
The number of applicants for this year 麻豆精品 S檚 program indicates interest as well 麻豆精品 S攊t received the second-largest number applications of all UCF study abroad programs this year.
Interested participants in the Sophomore Experience Abroad can be from any major and must have between 30 and 60 credit hours and be in good academic standing to qualify. Financial aid opportunities are available. Cook reviews the applications and interviews potential participants, looking for students who have limited experience traveling outside of the United States.
The program is made possible through the cooperation of several offices on campus, including the Office of International Studies, the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies, Student Development and Enrollment Services, the Sophomore Second Year Center and the advising community.
To learn more about the Sophomore Experience Abroad or read student blog posts about the trip, visit .