The Santa Fe University of Art and Design — formerly College of Santa Fe — was proud to welcome 88 international students to Santa Fe from Laureate schools in Mexico and Spain this semester. Additionally, four Santa Fe University of Art and Design students are spending the semester at another member of the Laureate network, Istanbul Bilgi University in Turkey.
The international students at Santa Fe are not only enjoying the classes and the superb facilities (in addition to a large residential campus, the University has one of the only active film studios on a university campus in the United States, which provides students with direct access to live film productions), but are also benefitting from the unique experience of being abroad. For many of these students, studying abroad and living on campus in dorms are first-time experiences. Students are also enjoying a different approach to teaching and learning. According to one student, there are debates in the classrooms, which is great.
John Rodriguez, director of international student support, Laura Nunnelly, senior director of Student Life and Kristiaan Rawlings, director of Campus Life, help keep international students busy and engaged during their semester abroad. The students got their first experience of New Mexico's culture and traditions at Zozobra followed up by attending the international balloon fiesta in Albuquerque.
This is the first of many semester programs that the Santa Fe University of Art & Design will be creating for international students who are looking for a unique and life changing experience. Each semester, the university will have a study-abroad program, Nunnelly said.
The students are not the only ones to benefit from an international experience. According to María Alexandra Vélez, director of public relations for Santa Fe University of Art and Design, having international students on campus brings a new energy to the campus.
Are you interested in finding out more about study abroad at the Santa Fe University or Art and Design? Contact John Rodriguez (John.Rodriguez@santafeuniversity.edu) to learn more.