SNHU started its partnership with Florence University of the Arts (FUA) in 2012. Every academic year, around 50 SNHU students choose to study abroad in Florence.
There are 31 SNHU students studying abroad at FUA this semester and more than 21 students applied for the Fall semester 2017. “FUA is SNHU’s main partner,” said Stefano Parenti, the director of Study Abroad/Exchange programs at SNHU.
FUA campus is located in the center of Florence where students can find art exhibits, restaurants, shops, entertainments and much more within walking distances.
One of its most iconic sights is Duomo, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome whose main engineer was an Italian architecture and painter, Giotto di Bondone. “It’s a gold city,” said Parenti.
Florence is home to many master pieces of Renaissance art and architecture. “I loved Florence! The architecture was amazing and every day I found a new building or coffee shop that was unique,” said Lauren Johnson who studied abroad in Florence in Spring Semester 2016.
Students have the options to either live in apartments or participate in the FUA Connecting Culture Program, where families will “adopt” these students through the university’s “Family Club.” This program allows them to become fully engaged in the culture of their temporary homes.
“People were always welcoming and cared to listen to my story of what I was doing in Florence,” said Johnson.
FAU also emphasizes experiential learning through cultural integration projects that connect classroom learning with the city and community itself.
FUA will be a good choice for students in Culinary Management, Fashion Merchandising Management, Hospitality, marketing and Sport Management degree programs. All of these programs, except Culinary Management are for Degree in Three (Di3) students.
Both students and Office of Study Abroad encourage students to study abroad in order to experience different cultures, traditions and lifestyles. “I think that studying abroad should be on the top of every college student’s “to-do-list.” It is an incredible experience,” said Johnson.
