On Saturday, August 19, 2024, the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) Study Abroad Program hosted the Fall 2024 Semester in London Pre-Departure Orientation for the Northern California Study Abroad Consortium (NCSAC) in partnership with the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS). The event was held at Skyline College’s Building 12, The Farallon Room, where over 150 attendees, including students, parents, and staff, gathered to enjoy a beautiful morning view of the Pacific Coast.
Zaid Ghori, Interim Dean of Global Learning Programs and Services, moderated the event and delivered an inspiring opening speech, welcoming students and their families. Attendees were treated to breakfast pastries and refreshments. Dean Ghori shared the history of the Study Abroad program and its ongoing mission to empower students through global education and identity. He and the other three NCSAC deans and faculty warmly welcomed the attendees.
The event featured a presentation by AIFS representatives who traveled from London to participate. The representatives provided essential program details, tips, and resources to help students prepare for their upcoming journey. The orientation concluded with words of advice from Study Abroad Student Ambassador Alexa Nielson, an SMCCCD student who spent a semester abroad in London in the Fall of 2022 and transferred to Sonoma State University in the Fall of 2024.
This fall, 64 students from the NCSAC districts—Contra Costa Community College District, Los Rios Community College District, Santa Rosa Junior College, and SMCCCD—will study in London for three months. They will depart on September 5th and return on December 6th, 2024. Professor Lindsey Ayotte from Skyline College will accompany and teach the students during their time in London.
Kelly Li, Program Services Coordinator –Study Abroad, meticulously planned and hosted the event with the support of four Student Ambassadors. Semester Abroad in London is a district-wide initiative housed within the Global Learning Programs and Services Division at Skyline College.
For more information about studying or interning abroad, faculty-led abroad opportunities, community travel for lifelong learners, and student scholarship opportunities, please contact Kelly Li at studyabroad@smccd.edu or call 650-738-7098. You can also learn more by visiting the SMCCCD Study Abroad Facebook or Instagram page @smcccd_study_abroad.
Article by Zwe Mann Kyaw, and edited by Kelly Li.
