Learning Abroad

Posted by Alison Gamache in Students

Classes are back in session and the fall semester is already in full swing. The days are shorter, cooler, and as summer leaves us, fall is just around the corner.

Memories of vacations are posted everywhere on Facebook and it’s easy to see most college students spent the summer enjoying the extra time off, longer days and traveling. However, for many Santa Fe University of Art and Design students, traveling was not just for fun, but instead to further their education.

Creative Writing and Literature major Charlotte Renken studied in and explored London this summer.

Santa Fe University of Art and Design boasts an extensive list of study abroad options. As a current member of Laureate, the college is part of a much larger global education network. Comprised of 80 universities spread across 28 countries, with a total of more than a million students.

Current programs listed on the university’s website name locations in, but not limited to Auckland, New Zealand; Istanbul, Turkey; Milan, Italy; and London, England.

A smile crosses Charlotte Renken’s face as she recalls spending her summer vacation in the United Kingdom, studying at the University of Roehampton in London. Renken enrolled in two three-week classes: “Media City and Cultural Capital” and “Magic, Murder and Mystery.”

The University of Roehamption has students from 140 different countries enrolled, as well as extensive study abroad options for its students.
“One thing I really loved was [how] everyone seemed willing to help one another,” Renken says about London, eyes filled with excitement. One of her favorite classes was held at a variety of locations around the city, which encouraged her to explore and take The Tube all over London. She was able to visit museums and see favorite artists like Amanda Palmer at the famous Royal Albert Hall.

Students interviewed unanimously agreed that travel and studying abroad is a great way to open doors in other countries, as well as gain real world experience.

Allyson Holley, a senior in the Contemporary Music Department, traveled to the Dagara Music Center in Medie, Ghana. Holley had always wanted to find a study abroad program that was more than just related to her area of study saying she “wanted something that would stretch me a little bit.”

During her time at the Dagara Music Center, Holley noticed students were able to take lessons in gyil, djembe, and a variety of other instruments that they might not have played or has access to before.

When asked about her favorite part of the experience, she said  spending time with the people who run the center and learning about their beautiful culture was overall the most rewarding.

Creative Writing junior Chantelle Mitchell also traveled to a different country this summer, but for a different reason; she was offered an internship with a company based in Hong Kong. The company, 21 Concepts LTD is involved with editing, publishing and new media.

Mitchell worked closely with the editorial team for Crave Magazine, which is affiliated with the company. She worked on a variety of different projects; interviewing chefs and baristas around the city, reading press releases, writing articles and assisting the creative director with photoshoots. Mitchell says she is grateful that she now has “more experience in the field.”

CWL student Chantelle Mitchell gained experience in publishing through a Hong Kong-based internship.

Mitchell’s internship was arranged through Dream Careers, a global internship program that coaches participants in interviewing skills and building a great resume, then sends their resume to companies in the city of the participants choice. They also assist with housing.

Dream Careers offers custom internships in 11 different cities worldwide. Listing 29 industries ranging from, accounting to government, music and arts, even sports. The list includes giants like: Lionsgate, Make a Wish Foundation and the London Stock Exchange.

When asked what the best part of the 55-day internship was, Mitchell said “getting real experience in a professional field was amazing, but getting to explore a new city and actually live there [for a bit] was equally as rewarding.”