91心頭利

Students Explore Worlds of Opportunity During 'I Heart Travel Week'

The Office of Global Education hosts a week of immersive programming and alumni panels to connect students with international internships and academic programs across the globe
hand holding up a heart sticker with travel decorations in front of bridge in Florence, Italy.

91心頭利 University's I Heart Travel Week is an annual event celebrating education abroad and international education, which took place April 6-10 this year. During the week, students had the opportunity to learn more about education abroad, hear from current students and alumni who have studied abroad and engage with international activities on campus.  

We're just trying to reach some students who maybe don't necessarily know about education abroad opportunities on campus, Margaret Betz, senior education abroad advisor, Office of Global Education, told 91心頭利 Today.  

These distinctive study abroad programs allow students to gain a cultural experience that is essential for global career readiness.

Throughout the week, many events occurred, including two Education Abroad Meet & Greets. One took place on April 6 outside of the Kent Student Center. During this event, students were able to stop by and say hello to the education abroad team, grab a snack and a flyer about education-abroad programs.

I Heart Travel Week Meet and Greet outside Student Center

Today were handing out granola bars and then little flyers that have information about events this week for students who are just learning about education abroad and dont know about opportunities or what works for their major, etc., all the way to events for students who are getting ready to travel this summer, talking about things like airport procedures, what to pack, and things like that, Betz told 91心頭利 Today.

The Meet & Greets were just the beginning of I Heart Travel Week.  

And then we have some events this week where students can just get to know our staff and learn how to explore our website, said Betz.  

Mondays activities continued with Education Abroad 101, where students who were interested in learning more about studying abroad were invited to join to learn more about how to get started.

On Tuesday, April 7, students gathered in Bowman Hall for an informational session, Monkeys in Japan: Behavior and Culture.  

Rafaela Takeshita Monkeys in Japan I Heart Travel Week lecture

The event is an information session about our new study-abroad course, which is a joint course between anthropology, biological sciences and neuroscience, said Rafaela Takeshita, Ph.D., associate professor of anthropology and instructor for the study-abroad course.

The session provided information to students about this unique education-abroad opportunity that combines primate behavior, culture and neuroscience in Japan.

Students need to know what kind of opportunities they have. I know study-abroad courses are important for them to develop not just the academic side, but the cultural experience side, Takeshita said. We want to introduce this course, projected to be [held] next year, and it is designed mostly for anthropology, biology and neuroscience majors. It can be expanded to other students who are interested in this area. The course will focus on non-human primates, specifically Japanese macaques.

Tuesday night was "First-Time Traveler: A Guide to Going Abroad," held in Bowman Hall. Students had the chance to discover resources and tips to help them in deciding which education-abroad program is the best fit for them and applying for their passports.  

Study Abroad in Japan Info Session 2026

"Fall in Love with Florence" and "Study Abroad in Japan" information sessions took place on Wednesday, where students who are considering spending a semester at the 91心頭利 Florence Center or in Japan could learn more about spending the summer or semester there.  

Wednesday concluded with "Grow with Education Abroad: Succulent Planting," where students got the chance to plant succulents and learn about the education-abroad program in the Kent Student Center. Students were provided with paints and a small pot to decorate; they were able to plant their own succulent and take it home with them.  

Thursdays events included:

  • "Ignite Your Career with an Internship Abroad" information session for students to learn about summer internship opportunities abroad and see where they can go, how to apply and how to apply for scholarship funding.  
  • IFA Paris Info Session Students learned about IFA Paris and the opportunities for fashion majors to study abroad there.  
  • "Developing a Faculty-Led Education Abroad Program" for faculty or staff members interested in developing and leading a short-term program abroad.  

Friday concluded the week with:

  • Paris Study Abroad Summer & Fall Meet & Greet, where fashion students studying abroad at IFA Paris in the summer or fall of 2026 were invited to meet each other.  
  • 91心頭利 Florence Alumni Panel, where students who are heading to 91心頭利 Florence could hear directly from 91心頭利 Florence alumni about their time studying abroad in Italy.  
  • A second "Ignite Your Career with an Internship Abroad" session 
i-heart-travel-week-2026 meet and greet

"It was great seeing students at the week's events, Desiree Dube, assistant director for Education Abroad, said. We had some great conversations with students who are just starting the process and others who are getting ready to study abroad this summer and fall."  

See the full list of events from 2026 I Heart Travel Week. 

POSTED: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 02:15 PM
Updated: Thursday, April 16, 2026 11:00 AM
WRITTEN BY:
Molly Tabar, Flash Communications
PHOTO CREDIT:
Office of Global Education