With vibrant posters scattered around campus, showcases held by student ambassadors and faculty, and announcements in Paresky Commons, Learning in the World (LITW) has been ramping up its visibility and activity over the past few weeks. LITW is offering ten destinations for students to travel to over spring and summer break, including three new programs in Bali, Nepal and Vietnam.
Established in 2016 by Carmen Muñoz-Fernández, Instructor in Spanish and Chair of the Spanish Department, LITW was initially created as an umbrella organization that supported off-campus and travel-based programming domestically and internationally. Mark Cutler, Director of LITW and Instructor in Spanish, highlighted Muñoz-Fernández’s efforts in establishing the program.
“In the time that [Muñoz-Fernandez] was in this role, she set up the foundation of what we do. If we’re a clearing-house and a main office of off-campus learning or travel-based programming, she helped put in place the policies and practices to support this… She put all that into motion and set up a lot of really great partnerships with external partners as well as internal partners, and [she] created some committees that support the program,” said Cutler.
Following a temporary hiatus during the pandemic, Cutler founded the LITW Advisory Board in 2022 to craft a vision for the program. He described how they helped formalize the program’s mission statement and guiding principles.
“[The LITW Advisory Board] is a group of student veterans of programs, faculty veterans of programs, and people who come from different parts of campus with very interesting perspectives on global education…The biggest change that I’ve instituted is helping to provide a more defined, clearer, and aspirational underpinning for the programming in what we do that is guided by some values. It provides a container that people can use to create these really great ideas while still keeping everything integral and connected under this bigger umbrella of LITW,” said Cutler.
Emma Hong ’28, who plans to apply to a program in Bali or Spain, shared how her interest in LITW stemmed from hearing about other students’ positive experiences.
“People were telling me that the three weeks they spent really immersed them in the culture they were trying to learn more about, and [that] their host families were all really sweet and welcoming. A lot of people say the best way to get better at a language is to live there for a short window of time. That’s really true because you’re forced to adapt and learn in a personal and intimate way,” said Hong.
Similarly, many students who previously participated in LITW programs found their experiences memorable. Ellen Mueller ’26 described how attending an affiliate program in France during her Lower summer exposed her to an entirely new environment and culture.
“What’s cool about the program is that you really realize how different it is. I spent all of my life in the United States, and so many things are different in France. There’s a different currency, different customs. It’s so different to live it all, especially on my own without my parents. It’s something special having to start from zero and learn a new culture,” said Mueller.
Having gone on an LITW expedition to the Andes this past summer, Alex Havemeyer ’28 intends to apply to more programs this year. She encouraged students to participate in multiple programs throughout their time at Andover.
“Experience as many opportunities as you can because every trip has its own unique qualities and adventures within the specific city or the specific country that make every program unique. So [try] as many different opportunities as you can to really experience the world through first-hand immersive experiences because no two trips will be the same,” said Havemeyer.
Cutler reiterated his goals for LITW, including providing students opportunities to enhance their Andover education by exploring the world around them. He expressed his hopes to broaden the program’s reach in the future.
“We always hope that these experiences provide them an opportunity to see themselves as a part of this global community and the global ecosystem…We are really excited about these different opportunities to be exploring such diverse cultures and geographical locations. I am still very excited about this idea that we are on five continents, and I’d like to get to six and seven… Oceania is a real possibility someday, and maybe someday soon, I don’t know if Antarctica ever will be, but we can always dream,” said Cutler.
