 Molly Norris (SOC/BA '07) and Alex Platkin (SPA/BA '07) participated in AU Abroad's Cuba program in the spring of 2006 (photo credit: Valerie Smith) |
Study Abroad
Study Abroad in Cuba
AU IS ONE OF ONLY A handful of U.S. universities with a license authorizing a study abroad program in Cuba. In the words of Diana Bermeo (SIS/BA '07), who spent the spring of 2006 at the university of Havana, "I had planned on studying in Madrid, but when I found out that AU had a program in Havana, it was impossible to overlook this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Launched last spring with nine students, the program is fully enrolled this spring with 12 AU students. Participants take courses focused on Cuba's history, contemporary culture, andinternational relations. They also take a Spanish language course. As AU Abroad Director Sara Dumont explained, "Of crucial help to the program has been Dr. Philip Brenner, professor at AU's School of International Service, who advised the program and the students."
The University of Havana is far less modern than AU, noted Valerie Smith (SIS/BA '08), from the spring 2006 program. Smith described how "student life revolves around political events, such as Jose Marti's birthday, since the University has played an important role in Cuba's history." Smith expressed how "members of the student organization Federación Estudiantil Universitaria were welcoming and eager to share Cuban culture and history with us."
Dr. Dumont added: "This is a crucial time in the relationship between Cuba and the U.S. and the program offers a unique window to witness crucial changes in Cuba.
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