Study Abroad Course Provides Hands-On Education

The Hospitality, Meeting and Travel Administration (HMTA) recently completed its first study-abroad program in which 17 students went on a 16-day exploration of Denmark, France and Germany.

"Vikings, Vistas and Vineyards," for students in "Advanced Study of Wine" and "Tour Management," was organized by Helle Sorensen, assistant professor of travel administration. Michael Wray, assistant professor of restaurant administration, participated as well.

Each day was filled with lectures and assignments. Wine students studied wine and food selection and pairing techniques of the three countries along with an in-depth look at vineyard operations. Tour management students studied and practiced how to organize, lead, guide, manage and evaluate tours.

"The class was designed to not only provide on-site experience but also hands-on education," Sorensen said.

For instance, Sorensen arranged a realistic way for students to experience Viking life on the sea. A Viking archaeologist lectured the students about 10th-century Viking ships and then students sailed along a fjord in war and cargo ship replicas. "Instead of a lecture out of a textbook, I chartered a ship." Similarly, instead of simply tasting wine, students got hands-on experience with vineyard work, including pruning, trimming, thinning, soil care, disease protection and harvesting. Along the Rhine River in Germany, tour management students practiced guide skills while visiting some of the area's most spectacular castles, built on the cliffs high above the river.