Postcards from the Cultural Program

AUP’s Cultural Program has existed for as long as the University itself. For more than 60 years, students have traveled to destinations across the world, immersing themselves in diverse cultures and perspectives. Alumni often cite study trips as a highlight of their AUP experience. With the travel difficulties of the Covid-19 pandemic now behind us, the Cultural Program is stronger than ever. This year, we sent global explorers as far afield as India, Turkey and Uganda. Not only do study trips allow students to connect theory to practice in diverse international contexts, they also increase their face time with faculty, allowing intellectual discussion to take place in situ. In addition, these programs provide opportunities for genuine social interaction, as students and faculty alike build lasting memories together, while also engaging with the world.

Photo 1

Professor Stephane Treilhou (center) of the Department of Art History and Fine Arts with students on a study trip to Madrid and Toledo, Spain. Faculty mentorship is one of the Cultural Program’s most powerful and enduring benefits.

Professor Stephane Treilhou (center) of the Department of Art History and Fine Arts with students on a study trip to Madrid and Toledo, Spain. Faculty mentorship is one of the Cultural Program’s most powerful and enduring benefits.

Photo 2

For art history and fine arts students, seeing artworks displayed in the geographic and cultural contexts in which they were created helps uncover their historical and social significance.

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On this MSc in International Management (MSIM) study trip to Biella, Italy, students take on a client-focused fashion project that touches on marketing, finance and management ethics alongside themes of sustainability and complexity.

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Students learned about the history of the Lanificios, the Biella region’s renowned wool artisans. The archives contain over 30,000 fabric samples and over 10,000 architectural drawings. creations to life.

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Those studying the Middle East visit Istanbul to trace its history from the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires to modern-day Turkey. One highlight is the beautiful Hagia Sophia, which has throughout history been a church, museum and mosque.

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The month-long Sustainable Development Practicum in Auroville, India, sees students explore development communications in context, engaging with local NGO partners.

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Undergraduate students take a river safari as part of a communications and politics study trip to explore Uganda’s culture, society and environment.

Do you have Cultural Program study trip photos from your time as an AUP student?

If so, don’t hesitate to share your memories with alumni@aup.edu.