Nearly a dozen students from diverse majors recently returned from the University’s campus in Prato, Italy, as part of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Department’s study abroad program. “A Taste and Tour of Italy,” a unique and immersive month-long program, enabled students to create travel blogs documenting their experiences, sharing their research, and highlighting what they learned.

While none of them had ever used ArcGIS or WordPress software before, they learned how to create an engaging online travel blog while exploring a new country and immersing themselves in the culture. Jan Jones, Ph.D., a lecturer and coordinator for hospitality and tourism management and the students’ professor, says this was an exciting and meaningful experience for students.