Students travel to Spain for an educational experience of a lifetime

Document Type

Media Release

Publication Date

Winter 28-8-2008

Publisher Name

The University of Notre Dame, Sydney Campus

Publication Place

Sydney

Abstract

24 students from The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle and Sydney campuses recently travelled to Spain for an educational experience of a lifetime.

The group was taking part in a special unit about the history and politics of Spain, offered by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Unit Coordinator and Associate Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Fremantle, Dr Deb Gare, said the course aimed to show students a clear presentation of the evolution of Early Modern and Contemporary Spain and its most significant historical political issues.

“By encouraging critical thinking and the interest in history and political sciences, the course guides students in pursuing further studies in these fields and other related disciplines.

“It also enables students to study a topic or subject of interest not available in a formal course and allows them to experience something totally unique in their degree,” said Dr Gare.

At the University of St Louis, Madrid, students received a ‘crash course’ on the country’s history since the time of the Romans. The course gave an overview on the periods of Imperial Spain, the French invasion, the age of liberalism, the civil war, the Franco era and the vibrant Spain of the late 20th century.

After two weeks in Madrid the group commenced a tour of the county, visiting some of Spain’s most historically and politically important sites, such as the Palace of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, the civil war memorial of the Valley of the Fallen and the Roman aqueduct of Segovia.

Third year Arts and Sciences (Politics) student from the Sydney Campus, Sarah Egan, said the four week course was one of the best adventures of her life.

“This trip to Spain, offered to us by Notre Dame, was an amazing experience. Being given the opportunity of an in-country study with 23 other students and then travelling around Spain to see what we had learnt about was incredible.

“It was great to see a culture that is so different to ours. I felt it really was an important part of my wider University experience,” said Ms Egan.

Media contact:

Moira Saunders 02 8204 4407

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