Learning Hubs and Study Abroad Success

February 2025

While studying abroad is an opportunity for personal growth and exploration, it can bring forth new challenges. Many students struggle to juggle a full courseload while adjusting to new people, places, and cultures.

To help students succeed academically and thrive while in Italy, the UCEAP Art, Food, and Society winter and spring program in Rome now includes learning hubs. These are a series of hour-long meetings and workshops designed to provide students with the tools they need to succeed and make the most of their experience abroad. Learning hubs are held by Accent staff and by local faculty and experts, who bring new voices and perspectives to the student body. Hubs range in topic, but all have the goal of supporting students in this exciting and challenging semester.

Some of the hubs focus on challenges that students tend to face in the classroom, such as taking effective notes, actively participating in in-class discussions, asking questions, presenting confidently in front of their peers, and so on. Such challenges are not unique to international education, but a study abroad program is a great context for facing them. The smaller size of classes, the closer academic relationships with local faculty, and the sense of belonging to a small cohort off-campus, all can help students adopt new successful strategies and practices.

Other workshops tackle the specific challenges and opportunities of studying abroad, such as budgeting, buying food and cooking, and finding one’s path to wellness while living in another country. Some are designed to assist students in exploring the region and experiencing it to the fullest. Topics covered include discovering interesting neighborhoods beyond Rome’s city center, regional differences within Italy, the many diverse communities in the city, and more. Thanks to a focus on local dynamics and culture, students are encouraged to immerse themselves in the local setting. In one instance, students gave back to their host city by volunteering at an urban renewal project.

While most of the meetings happen in person, to encourage communication and questions, some take the form of webinars. The latter are open to UCEAP participants in other locations, such as Sicily and Paris, who can join in and benefit from conversations that apply to their experience as well.

Each cohort of students provides detailed feedback on the content and structure of the various hubs, allowing the Accent Rome team to make adjustments and match the everchanging needs of students. Thanks to these moments of group discovery and learning, students have additional tools to combine academic success and personal growth during their time abroad.

From week-long programs to full semesters, every education abroad program with Accent can be fully customized to include academic and cultural activities that match the needs of your students. To start a conversation about developing your customized program, contact us at development@accentglobal.com