Rome Center Campus on the first day of school
Author: Erin Fleming | Major: Supply Chain Management | Semester: Fall 2023
Hi, my name is Erin Fleming! I am a Junior Walton Honors Student majoring in Supply Chain Management with minors in Information Systems and Economics. I spent a semester abroad in Italy at the University of Arkansas Rome Center Program in the Fall of 2023. This program has so much to offer, and I am so glad I was able to experience it. When deciding where to study abroad, I considered the unique aspects each program provided to advance my personal, academic, and professional goals.
The classes were designed to encourage problem solving, give hands-on experience, while tapping into our critical thinking. The professors emphasized the significance and utilized being in the city center to our advantage. In each class, we took field excursions to experience what we were learning displayed in the in real life around Rome. This brought us into new parts of the city and displayed the wide variety of people, culture, and food the city has to offer. This innovative approach allowed for us to see the bigger picture and how the Romans are living in their daily lives.
\This program is extremely student centered with the importance of student success. With the small class sizes, you have the opportunity toform connections and learn from your classmates. The professors were friendly and supportive while figuring out how to navigate a new city. The professors have a wealth of knowledge and offer new insights into the discussion topics. In my case, my classmates became some of my closest friends over the semester who I would travel on weekends with. It was easy to engage and participate in class to share my ideas as it was highly encouraged by the professors.
With the central location of the Rome Center campus and all classes in one place, it made it easy to meet up with fellow classmates before and after class. My friends and I spent a lot of time during the week in the library on campus to collaborate on our class projects and assignments. The classes I took while abroad will set me up for success for my future course load at the Fayetteville campus. I have obtained a unique outlook on certain situations that I studied during my time in Italy. Not only will this make me stand out in the classroom but will differentiate my job application in the interview process for future employers.
In Italy, my roommates and I took full advantage of all the amazing food the Romans enjoy. It was always fun to go to a new area in Rome and try a local restaurant. To optimize our time, we made sure to prioritize the free weekdays and weekends in Rome by visiting as many historic museums and art galleries as possible.
The experiences and memories made outside of the classroom are invaluable and I will cherish them forever. I was fortunate enough to travel both within and beyond Italy during the free weekends. I was able to experience many different European lifestyles, cities, and cultures. All in, I traveled to 12 different countries!
This program came highly recommended to me from previous Rome Center students which pushed me to pursue this study abroad experience. I would pass along this recommendation to any students looking for an amazing study abroad program. While I didn’t know anyone else in the program going into it, I am confident that the friends and connections I made during this semester will continue to flourish while back in Fayetteville. I wish I knew how fast time flies while abroad. With all the traveling you are doing, make sure to slow down and enjoy the moment you are in. The next thing you know you will be wishing you are back in Europe enjoying your time with all your new friends!