EdOdyssey

???? Peru was one of our first study abroad destinations! Our semester program has been revamped and is now more accessible, high-impact, and exciting than ever with a total EdOdyssey program fee of $13,250, including housing. ?? Your students will find their academic home in the coastal capital of Lima where they’ll study at Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru (in Spanish with some English courses available). We encourage volunteering and community-based learning here, and many students also choose to complete an independent project. ?? They’ll live in shared apartments or with a hand-matched host family. ?? An included excursion will take them to Cusco. They’ll wander the ancient cobblestone streets where Incan and colonial influences intertwine, explore the breathtaking ruins of Sacsayhuamán, soak in the energy of the Plaza de Armas, and enjoy the colorful markets. ?? From pre-departure prep to a comprehensive orientation and in-country support to career development guidance on re-entry, we’re there every step of the journey. ?? We’ll leave you with some poetic inspiration from Lonely Planet: “Stately museums display sublime pottery; galleries debut edgy art; solemn religious processions recall the 18th century and crowded nightclubs dispense tropical beats. No visitor can miss the capital's culinary genius, part of a gastronomic revolution more than 400 years in the making. This is Lima. Shrouded in history (and sometimes fog), gloriously messy and full of aesthetic delights. Don't even think of missing it.” ?? If your students would love this experience and meet the requirements (GPA 2.5 + Intermediate Spanish), please share our program page: https://lnkd.in/dMzyBfup ?? Our application deadline for fall semester 2025 is April 15.

?? We love how enthusiastically our home city of Boston celebrates St. Patrick's Day—a nod to its deeply embedded Irish ties and heritage. Beyond the cries of “sláinte,” clinking green beers, and the rowdy, joyful crowds, there’s also a recognition of the past and present Irish Americans and their many contributions to the city. Even EdOdyssey President and Founder Peter M. McGovern has Irish ancestry. ???? A year ago, we launched Ireland as a custom program destination. It’s a country that is always popular with students, especially “heritage seekers” who are hoping to discover, understand, and form a connection with a land their ancestors called home. A 2018 report titled “Understanding U.S. Study Abroad in Ireland,” noted that “Ancestry is a significant factor in determining a study destination and of particular importance for Ireland, with an earlier study finding that almost 70% of U.S. students had some degree of Irish ancestry.” ?? But students also love that Ireland is an English-speaking destination (and the opportunity to learn a little bit of the fading Gaelic language). They love that it’s “different but not too different,” it’s easy to travel through Europe, it’s generally safe and friendly, it has a culture that students perceive as “fun” (because “craic”), and many other reasons! ???Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ?? (What better day to reach out and start planning a custom program for your students to discover Ireland?)?

? We love to learn about, and get involved in, local celebrations, festivals, and traditions when we travel. ???? This month, we’re turning our attention to Valencia, Spain, where Las Fallas is in full swing! In a country that loves a celebration, this is one of the most spectacular. For almost three weeks, the city is in party mode with music, street food vendors, parades, and a festive atmosphere day and night. ?? The excitement builds with mascletà (an incredible loud moment of firecracker explosions daily at 2pm), traditional Valencian clothing worn for certain events, an impressively large floral cloak, delicious food like bu?uelos (fried dough balls) and horchata (a sweet tiger nut drink), and a huge fireworks display before, on the final night, it culminates with La Cremà (The Burning). ?? During the festival, each neighborhood builds its own falla. Las fallas are elaborate and satirical sculptures—some more than 30 feet tall—that are set on fire at midnight the last day. They include smaller individual figures as part of the larger sculptures. These are called ninots. One lucky ninot is saved by public vote each year and added to the Fallas Museum while all the rest are set on fire with las fallas. More than 700 fallas are built across Valencia, essentially transforming the city into an open air gallery. ?? This festival has its humble roots in carpentry; just before spring, carpenters would burn wood scraps and any tools they no longer needed to honor Saint Joseph (San José), the patron saint of carpenters. Over time, this tradition evolved, scrap piles turned into sculptures, and the rest is history. ?? This year’s celebrations take place from March 1-19, 2025. ?? Tell us about a quirky festival or tradition you’ve encountered on your travels!

?? We’re proud to share that EdOdyssey is now a ViaConnect Partner! ?? If your institution is using Via TRM already, this means it couldn’t be easier to add our semester programs to your portfolio and share these impactful opportunities with your students. ?? At EdOdyssey, we believe that travel has the power to change people, and therefore change the world—something we have in common with ViaTRM, whose tagline, “Powering Global Experiences to Change Our World,” truly resonates with us, as does their focus on innovation and connection. ?? If you’re using ViaTRM and are curious about our semester programs, reach out for a chat. We’d love to tell you more!

? When you design a custom program with us, the crucial first step is a meeting with our program director in your chosen country (or countries). ?? We call it your “Start Planning” meeting. ?? This meeting kickstarts a collaborative process to ensure that your program meets all your academic goals while also addressing logistics, cultural engagement, student needs, and expectations. It’s not just a conversation, but the foundation for a successful program—we’ll be asking you important questions, digging into your vision of how your program will shape your students’ understanding of the world and their academic theme, and taking plenty of notes. ?? A bit of forward planning will set us off on the right foot, so we spoke to our Director of Institutional Partnerships, Kyle Simmons, for his top tips on how best to prepare for your “Start Planning” meeting. ?? Head over to our blog for Kyle’s advice, especially if you’re about to schedule your meeting with us: https://lnkd.in/df69i2EC

???? We’re excited to be heading up to Toronto later this month for The Forum on Education Abroad’s annual conference, March 19-21. EdOdyssey is a proud event sponsor, and will have an exhibition table too. Stop by and say hello to our President and Founder Peter M. McGovern and Director of Institutional Partnerships, Kyle Simmons. ?? We look forward to the opportunity to engage with existing and prospective partners, connect with fellow provider friends and in-bound program coordinators, exchange ideas, and take part in powerful discussions while soaking in the collective wisdom and experience that this conference always brings to light. It’s one that always promises to send us home feeling motivated, inspired, and enthusiastic about what’s ahead. ?? See you in Toronto? #ForumEA25?

???? "We are not a melting pot, but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams." – Jimmy Carter ?? One of the quickest-growing areas of our work at EdOdyssey is domestic travel for students. ?? We are lucky to live in a country so vast and diverse that it’s possible to encounter an incredible variety of lived experiences, backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, and perspectives within our own borders. Traveling across the States means exposure to a microcosm of different cultures with influence from around the globe. And there is huge value—perhaps more so in our world today than ever before—in introducing students to the “beautiful mosaic” they call home. ?? In a recent blog post, we dove into this topic in greater depth, including a deeper look at the diversity in both people and nature within our borders, how the US can be a living classroom, a special mention of how powerful these experiences can be for secondary students, and a few examples of recent EdOdyssey programs: https://lnkd.in/dj-Vp-hZ?

???? In January, a group of Bentley University graduate students met local EdOdyssey Program Leader Yuki Kudo in Tokyo. Along with faculty leaders, Susan Vroman and Bill Gribbons, they spent an action-packed week and a half in Japan learning about Japanese culture and business practices. ?? From the dynamic streets of Tokyo, their travels took them to the scenic town of Hakone, charming historical Himeji, and Kyoto—the old capital, commonly known as the country’s cultural heart. Immersive experiences like exploring castles and shrines, spending a night in a traditional ryokan, participating in a tea ceremony, and choosing lunch from the 700-year-old Nishiki Market taught them firsthand about Japanese culture. In both Tokyo and Kyoto, they engaged with local employees at Toshiba, MIXI, Indeed, KIRIN, Ohtsuka Sangyo Material Co, and a group of Americans working for SmartEd. ?? “Students really appreciated getting to see multiple sides of Japan and Japanese business culture,” Japan-based EdOdyssey Director of Program Operations Sarah Reid reflected. “From Tokyo and the incredibly formal setting with Toshiba executives to the beautiful countryside in Shiga where many corporations have their industrial production centers, the students got to see many facets of business here in Japan. The companies that met with the students were incredibly kind and eager to answer all of their questions. The students also got to experience the more spiritual and historical side of Japan, which gave them the context needed to see how modern business practices developed over time. They really did an incredible amount in a very short period of time, and every student I talked to was already making plans to come back to Japan as soon as possible.” ?? Read our full photo-packed blog post recounting their adventures: https://lnkd.in/dm3_Zgdy ?

This year’s First Year Experience (FYE) conference in New Orleans was as fantastic as we expected it would be, characterized by innovative ideas and inspiring moments?with people who are truly dedicated to FYE programming, curriculum, and the support of students?during this key period of transition. An opening plenary from Dr. Joy Gaston Gayles at NCSU provided a welcome dose of context and level-headedness important?for anyone working in higher education today. “Her insights on equity, student success, and the evolving landscape of FYE set the tone for thoughtful discussions throughout the conference,” our Director of Institutional Partnerships, Kyle Simmons, reflected. Peter M. McGovern, our President & Founder, was particularly moved by Wright State’s Professor Corey Seemiller, PhD’s talk on the “decisive decade” – the critical period between ages 14 and 24 that shapes long-term health, family, education, and career outcomes. “It was a great reminder of how important our collective work as educators is in supporting students academically, socially, and emotionally,” Peter said. He had a lot of fun presenting with Dr. Shannon Joseph Fairley-Pittman on the topic of “Reimagining FYEs” which led to some excellent questions?and?thought-provoking conversations about the evolving role of study abroad and domestic experiential learning. The theme of intentionality resonated across sessions and discussions. It’s clear that institutions are looking for innovative ways to make FYEs more impactful and accessible. In program design, student support, and institutional partnerships, a thoughtful and student-centered approach is essential. There’s a need for deeper collaboration and more intentional customization to meet the diverse needs of today’s students. We look forward to continuing these conversations and putting new ideas into practice. And as always, EdOdyssey swag was a hit! We’ve learned our lesson and promise to bring even more next year! ???PS: Here’s a great read on The Decisive Decade from Brookings:?https://lnkd.in/dFtY3pcA?

It was a gorgeous day in New Orleans; the sun was out, blue skies looked down on a beautiful campus, and spanish moss hung from branches of stately trees. It was the perfect day to enjoy a classic New Orleans snowball, and, of course, for talking about study abroad! Kyle Simmons, our Director of Institutional Partnerships, truly enjoyed engaging with Loyola University New Orleans students at their recent study abroad fair. Many stopped by our table with thoughtful questions about our semester programs in Italy, Japan, and Peru—full of enthusiasm for global learning, curious, ambitious, and sharing goals for studying abroad. “These interactions reinforced how valuable these programs are in shaping both personal and academic growth,” Kyle said. “I always appreciate the chance to connect with students face-to-face and help them take the next steps toward an unforgettable experience. I’m looking forward to seeing where their journeys take them!” A big thank you to our friends at Loyola University for their warm hospitality. We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect with students and are excited to welcome more Loyola students into our semester programs in the future.