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What Are Your Plans This Summer?

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 “Alumni of the study abroad program often tell me it is the best experience they had at Georgia Tech and later often add, the best summer of their life.” Says Thom Keel, Professor in the School of Building Construction in the College of Architecture, and director of the Study Abroad program for the School of BC.

The School of Building Construction Study Abroad kicked off in 2004 with a 12 week program in Paris. Back then, it was two professors and about 20 undergraduate students.  The program continued to grow and eventually Thom Keel took over as the sole professor and leader of the BC Study Abroad program.

In 2012, the BC Study Abroad program moved to England. A great relationship with the University of Reading’s Construction Program, along with exciting construction due to the London Olympics, led to the selection of the London area for the new Study Abroad program.

The program grew and changed. More graduate students were attending, and the program continued to evolve. Now, the majority of the students that attend the program, are graduate students from the School of Building Construction. ( Students from other majors are certainly welcome)

Keel said, “We are finding a need, and meeting it” as the program adapts to older students, Keel is finding ways to meet the needs of the graduate professional student. He’s shortened the program to 6 weeks for summer 2016, knowing that a busy graduate student, often can’t take off for the entire summer.  Keel thinks the international experience is a great fit for the graduate students and will really enhance their academic program. Students are introduced to new companies and organizations they might not meet in their career search on campus. Two attendees even expressed interest in working for one of the companies they met in the UK, and have returned to England after they were hired by this firm.

Keel promotes the Study Abroad program and hopes to have a large group for summer 2016. However, he has found that the students are the ones that tell each other. “They provide the best testimonials and convince others to attend.” Keel has had a brother recruit his younger sister, has had repeat attendees, and even a busy working mom/graduate student attend. These students then share the experience and convince other students of the quality of the experience.

Students are exposed to behind the scenes buildings and tours- that tourists would not usually see.
Prior to London Olympics, the students toured the Olympic Stadium and Olympic park-both under construction. They have also toured the Shard building while under construction (the tallest building in Western Europe) and rode the construction elevator to the top for a hard hat tour.

Keel is glad the program continues to evolve and grow. He loves introducing the students to exciting international construction projects blended with the unusual construction and history that Western Europe offers.

To learn more about Study Abroad opportunities in the School of Building Construction, please contact Professor Keel at:  thomas.keel@coa.gatech.edu

Status

  • Workflow Status:Published
  • Created By:Brenda Morris
  • Created:08/20/2015
  • Modified By:Fletcher Moore
  • Modified:10/07/2016

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