Mission Statement

 

Today, more than ever, there is a need for U.S. college and university students to obtain some international experience in their education. Study abroad is one of the best ways to gain that experience and help students to prepare themselves to confront the many challenges of our rapidly changing world. The Umbra Institute meets this growing demand with a unique new study abroad program in Italy. The Institute brings together US and Italian institutions of higher learning and distinguished professors worldwide to offer a diverse curriculum that fosters learning with an Italian and local community focus. At Umbra we feel that students should not only study a variety of courses in art, art history, international studies, literature and more, but also immerse themselves in the Italian culture, learn to speak the language, and study and interact with students from Italy and other parts of the world.

 

In support of this philosophy, the Umbra Institute was founded in Perugia, the heartland of Umbria, a city not only rich in treasures of art, architecture and historical significance, but also internationally recognized as a city of learning with its two distinguished universities and many academies of art and music. Perugia is above all a university town. The ancient Etruscan city rests far off the beaten path, with the rolling hills of Umbria and Tuscany at its doorstep. Yet within an 80-mile radius we find Rome, Florence, Siena, Assisi, Cortona and the many hilltop towns of the region. It is difficult to think of a more suitable backdrop for study abroad in Italy.

The Institute is committed to:

 

• Providing our students with a safe, enjoyable and rewarding educational experience in an embracing Italian environment that inspires and encourages participation, exploration and a desire to embrace new cultures and international experiences;

• Maintaining an international faculty of distinguished and dedicated professors dedicated to teaching excellence and scholarly pursuits and achievements;

• Offering a diversified curriculum that incorporates the immense educational resources of Italy, particularly the local region (Perugia, Umbria, Tuscany);

• Offering a wide variety of extra- and co-curricular activities designed to support the academic program;

• Bringing together an Italian, American and international community for academic exchange that fosters intellectual appreciation and tolerance, and enables students to learn and benefit from the local academic community as well as fellow program participants;

• Pursuing cooperatives and partnerships with local academic institutions and North American colleges and universities to create new international education opportunities for students, faculty and administrators;

• Giving back to the community through scholarships, donations, volunteering and sponsorship of educational activities;

• Developing in all students the skills, habits, motivation, and desire for learning and exploration that will make it possible for them to educate themselves for the rest of their lives.