Florence University of the Arts (FUA) offers a unique approach to education with its Experiential Field Learning (EFL) destinations. These activities are designed to push students to explore and learn by taking them to experience important landmarks and locations around Italy. 

The EFL department offers students multiple different types of trips such as one-day destinations, or weekend activities. No matter which trip a student attends, they can be sure to experience the intricacies of Italy.

Mariana Di Labbio has been working as the EFL Coordinator for FUA for two years. Her job is to organize and manage the experiential field learning activities. While the trips offer students a nice advantage in exploring Italy, students also can gain genuine in-depth knowledge of the location from teachers. “I think that cultural integration, maybe, could be one of the main objectives, which is also in line with the FUA mission in general,” explains  Di Labbio. 

Di Labbio adds that the EFL trips truly build engagement “… you can also have the chance to see some hidden aspects of Italian culture, because we not only offer, for example, Milan or Turin or Rome, which are big cities, but also smaller towns in Tuscany.” 

One major advantage of EFL is that it offers a safe and comfortable way to explore Italy. “Sometimes we have students that are for the first time in Europe or out of the country,

so maybe they want to travel, they want to explore, but they don't feel comfortable doing that alone… doing this kind of activity through FUA, it's a good chance also to break the ice and start feeling more comfortable,” says  Di Labbio.

Besides just the comfortability of having educated staff running the experience, the academic structuring of the tours is a major benefit for students. “Thanks to FUA leaders that will be with the group, and usually FUA instructors that manage the tours… students can join the experience in a different way from what they could do going there by themselves,” assures  Di Labbio.

Staff is typically chosen based on their relations to the specific destinations.  Di Labbio adds, “If a destination includes more artistic or art history topics, we select an art history instructor. If, on the other hand, it includes, for example, more culinary topics, we select one of our chefs or one of our Apicius members.” Apicius is a world-renowned culinary program offered through the university.

Students can find information about the destinations in program packets and learn about them when selecting specific classes with an EFL component. The program is also a great way for students to step outside of their comfort zone while studying abroad. In summer one-day excursions are offered, while the fall and spring offer weekend trips. Another wonderful thing about these trips is that they engage students with places that they may want to return to. Establishing comfort is an amazing thing that FUA does. The fun thing about the summer day trips is that they are shorter, and it is typically an easy place to travel to in a short amount of time. 

The trips are seamless and enjoyable, but take a tremendous amount of preparation and organization. Di Labbio added, “Most of my work is about logistics, so designing part of EFL is made by the academic office.” EFL works directly with the academic office to ensure that trips go according to plan. 

Di Labbio added that depending on the season, the trips may vary. For instance, “A walking tour during spring is much more bearable than in July,” says Di Labbio. This is a factor that goes into planning events and this attention to detail sets EFL apart from tourist oriented trips. A walking tour in Rome might go better in the fall and spring than it would in summer. The same goes for places that might be colder in winter and more bearable in spring or summer. These aspects can enlighten students on the Italian weather patterns as well, which can be beneficial if they decide to travel on their own. The EFL destination trips are valuable in a multifaceted way. 

To learn more about EFL and sign up for the next trip, visit the Student Life & Development Website today!