Are
you looking for an unforgettable experience to travel the world and learn about
the history and culture of countries around us? Then you should sign up for the
FLEAP trip this year! You might be asking yourself, what exactly is FLEAP and
what does this trip entail? FLEAP stands for Faculty Lead Education Abroad
Programs, and this is an overseas experience in which you will travel with
Robert Morris University faculty and fellow students at your university. This
is a great opportunity; we encourage you to sign up!
If
you are looking for further information regarding the FLEAP trip, you can make
a visit to the Center for Global Engagement which is located in the Nicholson
building on campus. A majority of the marketing for FLEAP operates down there
and they are more than happy to provide you with the necessary information.
There are also faculty members on campus such as Dr. Steven Clinton who can
provide you with further details regarding the trip. Dr. Clinton is the head of
the FLEAP trips and he coordinates the activities and locations of where the
students will go. He feels it is extremely important for young students to
travel abroad to strengthen their knowledge and become more culturally aware.
There are many resources on campus you can contact to find out more.
The
overall expense for the trip is $3,500, but RMU has scholarships available for
those who apply for them. For all other personal expenses, you can utilize your
debit or credit card, and withdraw cash at the ATM machines. Many of the
students enjoy buying souvenirs to bring home to friends and family members.
Additionally, you are provided time on the trip to travel on your own so you
can purchase anything of your liking.
Over
the years, the FLEAP trip has been held at various locations across the globe.
The FLEAP trip locations are determined usually by specific and relevant
courses students are taking and also by personal preference from faculty. In
the 2019 Spring semester, students such as Anthony Puglisi and Regis Nairn
traveled with Dr. Clinton to Brussels and Antwerp in Belgium, and then they
migrated down to Southern France and even made a stop in Paris, France. Another
RMU student named Marcia Schimizzi had the opportunity to travel specifically
to Paris, France where she learned about the fashion industry market. Students
prior to these trips have even had the chance to visit Ireland! The next few
paragraphs will speak about current RMU student’s experiences on the various
FLEAP trips.
Marcia
Schimizzi is a Senior Communication major with a concentration in Public
Relations and was a part of a FLEAP trip that went to Paris, France this past
Summer 2019. We got to ask her about her
time there and about some parts of the trip where she learned something new and
parts that she really enjoyed. The trip
that Marcia was a part of was designed to suit those interested in public
relations, so the focus was on the public relations of the fashion industry in
Paris. She broadened her knowledge on a
business run somewhere else in the world, and got to see the differences in how
designs are marketed to the public, compared to how those things are done here
in the US. Marcia said “The experience was amazing and the faculty (on the
trip) were very lenient in letting us live our own lives once we would get
through the educational part of the day, but even the educational stuff I found
interesting.” Marcia’s most memorable
part of the trip? Well she was of course
thrilled to be able to personally see the Eiffel Tower.
Regis Nairn is a Senior Sport
Management major with a minor concentration in Marketing. Regis was on a FLEAP trip the Summer of 2019,
where he traveled with fellow students to Antwerp, Belgium. Regis learned that Antwerp is the diamond
capital of the world, so it made sense that he was learning a lot about the
diamond industry. He got to see a port
located in Antwerp as well where he learned all about logistics and the supply
chain of a foreign country. “It was
truly an awesome experience; I would recommend trying to be a part of a trip if
you haven’t already.” Regis also got to
visit the Southern portion of Paris where he and his group went through a
perfume workshop. He said learning about
the diamond industry was his favorite part, but actually being able to create a
sample of your own perfume was a close second for him.
Anthony Puglisi is a Senior
Marketing major at Robert Morris University and he also had the same experience
as Regis Nairn. They both got to travel to parts of Belgium and other locations
in France. Anthony spoke very highly of the trip saying it was a positive
learning experience because he got to learn about different cultures, as well
as gain experience traveling in a foreign country. I asked Anthony what his
favorite part of the trip was and he said, “just being with friends that I have
known for years, and also making new friends on the trip”. When asked what his
favorite part of the trip was, Anthony exclaimed that attending the diamond
workshop was a great experience and he also enjoyed the lecture on how luxury
goods are marketed. Some people might feel nervous about traveling overseas,
but Anthony stated that he felt completely safe traveling with friends and with
Dr. Clinton. He also liked that Dr. Clinton encourages students to go off on
their own and use the public transportation.
Evidently, the trip was an overall amazing experience for
those who went. If you’re interested in attending, be sure to register for the
FLEAP course in week 8 of the 2020 Spring semester. On the next upcoming trip,
students will get the opportunity to travel to Shanghai, China. If interested,
feel free to reach out to Dr. Clinton or stop down at the Center for Global
Engagement in the Nicholson building.
No comments:
Post a Comment