Community Engagement Opportunities at Umbra
Over 95 percent of the Umbra student body participates in community engagement each semester, stating this as one of the most rewarding aspects of their time abroad.
At the Umbra Institute, building a meaningful connection with the local community, both as a student and an active participant in the Italian culture, is an integral aspect of studying abroad. For this reason, Umbra offers students a diversified curriculum that incorporates the immense educational resources of Italy, particularly in the city of Perugia, through community engagement. Community engagement at Umbra is the cornerstone of our educational philosophy and is the collaborative process of combining academic study and work with community partners through ongoing dialogue, planning, research, and action. As a result, students benefit from intercultural exchange, language acquisition, and a more global perspective.
Umbra actively maintains vibrant, well-established relationships with its partners in Perugia—local artisan and internationally recognized companies, schools, city and regional governments, fair trade cooperatives, museums, and Italian families. This reciprocal collaboration allows students to incorporate real world practice with theoretical coursework.
Umbra students may choose from a variety of opportunities to interact with the local community, which becomes one of the most rewarding aspects of their time abroad. Offerings include community engagement seminars and practica, community-based courses, service learning projects integrated into elective courses, volunteering, independent research, extracurricular activities, language exchanges, and cooperative education opportunities (Co-Op).
Click to learn about the variety of community engagement opportunities available!
- Community Engagement Seminars and Practica
- Community-Based Courses
- Courses with Service Learning
- Study Abroad Volunteering
- Co-Ops Abroad in Italy
How Can You Participate?
During the application process, students indicate the community engagement course(s) they wish to enroll in. Once Orientation Week in Perugia begins, students are invited to attend the Community Engagement Information Session, an overview of the semester’s community engagement offerings. This is a great time for general inquiries and to ask about specific opportunities. Students can also refer to individual course descriptions for more details and requirements to enroll.
If you would like to discuss specific academic requirements or interests, please send an email to info@umbra.org.