TAMIU Students Explore Belgium, Germany, and The Netherlands in Study Abroad Program
A group of 14 Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) undergraduate students from various majors and TAMIU Colleges/Schools participated in an immersive Study Abroad program this summer in Belgium, France, Germany and The Netherlands to explore their cultures and cinema histories.
The group, led by Dr. José Carlos Lozano, professor of Communication and chair of the College of Arts and Sciences department of Psychology and Communication, visited a total of 12 cities in the four countries, providing a unique opportunity to engage with the cultures and histories of each.
Cities toured included Paris (France), Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Bruges (Belgium), Utrecht, Amsterdam, and The Hague (The Netherlands), Bielefeld, Berlin, Nuremberg, and Munich (Germany).
Students benefited from classes hosted at four prestigious European universities including Antwerp University and Ghent University in Belgium, Utrecht University in The Netherlands, and Bielefeld University in Germany. The program featured lectures by renowned senior scholars from Belgium, Germany, and The Netherlands.
Dr. Lozano expressed his excitement about the program.
"This immersive Study Abroad program has expanded our students' understanding of diverse European cultures and cinema histories," he said, "It's a testament to the transformative power of international education," he said.
The program featured unique discussions and experiences for the students. In Antwerp, students engaged with the Mexican art film "Dos Estaciones" (2022) and participation in a discussion with the film's director, Juan Pablo González. Also in Antwerp, Lozano delivered a keynote speech in the Cátedra Miguel León Portilla at the Centro de Estudios Mexicanos with the topic, "1952: Film Exhibition During the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema in Six Provincial Cities.”
Dr. Philippe Meers of Antwerp University interacted with the students during a group dinner. In Ghent, Dr. Daniel Biltereyst provided a historical walking tour of the city, offering insights into its landmarks. Utrecht University's Dr. Clara Paford-Overduin shared her research on Dutch films and screened "Borgman, 2013, Alex van Warmerdam" for the class. Additionally, Bielefeld University welcomed six German students, fostering cross-cultural discussions.
Museums and attractions visited during the program included Le Museé de Montmartre (Paris), Museum aan de Stroom and Plantin Moretus Museum (Antwerp), European Union Parlamentarium, Museum of Natural Sciences (Brussels), Castle Gravensteen and Saint Bavo’s Cathedral “The Adoration of the Mistic Lamb” exhibit (Ghent), Bruges Boat trip (Bruges), Centraal Museum (Utrecht), Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam), Tier Garden Zoo (Bielefeld), Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial, Neues Museum, Pergamon Museum, Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie (Berlin), Imperial Castle and Documentation Center Nazi Rally Grounds (Nuremberg).
For more information, please contact Dr. Lozano at 956.326.3117, or email carlos.lozano@tamiu.edu.
Registration for Fall 2023 at TAMIU is currently underway. To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit https://www.tamiu.edu/reghub/.
Classes begin Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. Late registration ends Friday, Sept. 1.
As a result of actions taken by the Texas Legislature to address affordability in higher education, all resident undergraduate academic costs, including tuition, mandatory academic fees, all academic-related general fees, and college course fees, have been frozen for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years at TAMIU. The University has not raised tuition and fees since 2021.
University news and information can also be found online at tamiu.edu and on TAMIU’s social channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
