On Saturday, August 19, 2023, the San Mateo County Community College District – SMCCCD Study Abroad Program hosted the Fall 2023 Barcelona Program Pre-Departure Orientation at Skyline College for the Northern California Study Abroad Consortium (NCSAC) in partnership with the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS). More than 200 attendees, including parents and students, participated in the two-hour orientation in preparation for the upcoming Semester Abroad in Barcelona, Spain. Dr. Alice Yang, Acting Director of Special International Programs, moderated the event and welcomed Skyline College Acting President Dr. Newin Orante, the program faculty, GLPS Interim Dean Zaid Ghori and the other NCSAC Deans, and AIFS representatives to welcome and share the program information with the attendees.
A cohort of 98 students, with 20 of them from SMCCCD, will study in Barcelona, Spain for the Fall 2023 semester. They will depart on September 16 and return on December 15, 2023. Other participating districts include Contra Costa Community College District, Los Rios Community College District, and Santa Rosa Junior College, with select faculty from these districts accompanying the students on their travels and learning.
The program gives students an opportunity to take courses in literature, politics, humanities, philosophy, and global studies and learn about the life and culture of Spain. Professors Jeremy Ball from the College of San Mateo, AC Panella from Santa Rosa, Scott MacDougall from Diablo Valley College, and Morgan Roxanne from American River College will teach their respective courses for the semester. The program also includes cultural activities, such as walking tours, cooking classes, and art and museum tours around Barcelona.
Congratulations to our four SMCCCD students who received scholarships for the Barcelona 2023 Program. This includes Jared S., who received the prestigious U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, and Jacob S., Nancy R., and Veronica N., who were selected for the AIFS Ambassador Scholarship. They will share their study abroad experiences via social media to document their travels and achievements throughout the semester.
SMCCD Study Abroad is a district-wide program under the Global Learning Programs and Services (GLPS) division at Skyline College. For more information about studying or interning abroad, faculty-led teaching abroad opportunities, community travel for lifelong learners, visiting international faculty presenters and student scholarship opportunities, please contact Dr. Alice Yang at yanga@smccd.edu or Kelly Li at lik@smccd.edu. You can also learn more by visiting the SMCCD Study Abroad website, or follow our Facebook page (SMCCD Study Abroad) or Instagram page (@smccd_study_abroad).
Article by Zwe Mann Kyaw | Photo by Alice Yang and Kelly Li