Faculty Looking Forward to Studying Abroad in Porto

Faculty Looking Forward to Studying Abroad in Porto

By Tiffany King

USG Goes Global, the study abroad program for the University System of Georgia, gives students an opportunity to expand their global perspective while earning credit. Although much of the focus is often student-centered, the faculty who travel to teach classes become students themselves as they enjoy new cultural experiences and deepen relationships with people and places abroad. This has been true for Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Carla Bluhm, and Professor of Management and Leadership Development Dr. Jim Fullerton, who will be accompanying 12 students from the College in Porto, Portugal as part of the study abroad program.

Bluhm and Fullerton are not novices when it comes to study abroad. Fullerton taught in Ireland during the summers of 2019 to 2022, and this year will mark five years for Bluhm. She taught in Paris the first three summers, and Porto for the last two. Both professors will each teach two three-credit courses.

Fullerton will have a new stamp in his passport book for Porto. He was convinced to go after hearing Bluhm talk about all the great things she experienced there.

“I am probably looking forward to it as much as the students!” he said. “It’s a challenge to teach and live with students during study abroad, but it’s a tremendously worthwhile experience for everyone.”

Fullerton believes that the best part is being with new students in a new place, enjoying shared experiences.

“Even though our feet usually get tired, our spirits usually remain high. It can be fun to be exhausted and gleeful at the same time. We will also encounter tourists from many European countries who are on holiday themselves,” Fullerton said.

Bluhm is the program director and founder of the Porto study abroad program. She has travelled to Portugal many times over the last 10 years and is familiar with the country. Bluhm thought Portugal would be a great place for students to study abroad.

“I am responsible for developing the in-country experiences, from locating accommodations for the students, reserving meals, and locating and booking field trip experiences that will deepen their academic course learning while abroad,” she said.

For the Porto program, each student is enrolled in two three-credit courses that began in Macon, at the student orientation, in mid-May. The courses will continue online until they meet in Porto on June 18 for a 14-night stay. Bluhm will arrive a few days before the students to make sure that all accommodations and arrangements are set. While in Porto, students will enjoy 11 field trips with Bluhm and Fullerton.

“Portugal is interesting because it is listed in the top six of the most peaceful countries in the world!” she said. “It is almost easier to prepare students for safety than for peace. All students are taught to be travel-savvy, but a peaceful country has its own challenges. To be with sincere and friendly people really opens them up to a new thought about life and living in a community.”

Bluhm hopes that the field trips will enhance students’ learning, and that they will feel the joys of learning in a new country, and experience that country through the lens of scholarship. For example, students in the environmental psychology class will do some bird watching.

“These kinds of experiences can ground the students in the place more firmly and take them out of the typical touristic free-floating travel mode,” she said. “I hope they grow in many ways culturally, become more culturally aware, more cuisine curious, and take on a few language challenges as they live in Porto. I hope they return to Porto and visit the friends and shopkeepers they grew to know while here, and to keep growing as global citizens, as is part of our mission at Coastal Georgia.”

Bluhm’s relations with the Porto community deepen every time she goes. She’ll soon have the opportunity to share that type of experience with students—whether at a traditional Portuguese restaurant, or during a string lesson and concert with string shop owner Tico of Porto Guitarra. Last year was her first time doing study abroad in Porto with 20 students from five USG institutions. The people of Porto were very kind and welcoming.

“Moving my Porto community into my study abroad student community taught me more about the graciousness of the Portuguese people. It taught me how wonderful our students are, how careful, respectful, and excited they were to connect with the people of Portugal, and with young people all around the world visiting Porto,” Bluhm said. “It cements my love of teaching study abroad and cements my belief in the value of it as a high-impact learning practice.”

USG Goes Global is hosting eight study abroad programs this summer: London, Paris, Madrid, Edinburgh, Waterford, Jamaica, China and Porto. In total, 18 students from the College will be learning abroad—12 in Porto, five in Edinburgh and one in Waterford.