News and Blog

Umbra Professor Alessandro Celani, Ph.D., recently published, Victima.Words and Forms of Murdering. Throughout his book, Celani’s research, narrations, and photography seek to unveil the deepest relations between the act of being dominated by images – producing them, sharing them, and coveting them – and the act of worshiping them, admiring them, and destroying them.

Through his writing, Celani presents research that delves into imagery from the times of Roman Civilization to the present,  including 20th century paintings (Guernica by P. Picasso), cinema (W. Herzog, Kim Ki Duk and K. Kieslowski), and politics (Charlie Hebdo and religious fundamentalism).

“I think people should read it to become aware of how many certainties we take for granted and that they are nothing more than prejudices embedded in language. The more we think we are victims, the closer we are to becoming executioners,” says Celani as he describes the importance of his newest novel, and its relation to his previous book, Una certa inquietudine naturale – a work that describes how one may think they have control of their language and the images around them yet they are, instead, controlled by them.

Celani will make his first presentation of Victima during the second edition of Book Pride on April 1^st, at 4 PM, in Milan. Additional presentations will be made in the future.

International Business students learn quickly that cultural differences impact business markets and that what one country’s culture seeks, is never exactly the same as that which another culture expects.

For this reason, when business students choose to study abroad at The Umbra Institute, they are given service learning opportunities that allow them to work directly with Italian companies through courses such as IBST 380: International Business Strategy, among others.

This semester, IBST 380 students are working with Listone Giordano, a family owned, eco-friendly, flooring company. Students were given the opportunity to meet with Listone Giordano’s Production Director and International Marketing and Communications Director to discuss the company’s culture, which is based on its strong Italian values relative to tradition and quality. During this meeting, students learned how Italian companies evolve to match modern demands while never abandoning their traditional roots. Students inquired about the company’s international sales management and gathered detailed information on its use of showrooms, consultants, and other methods that the company currently uses or is considering employing in the near future.

IBST 380 students will use this information, along with other sources of more statistical information, to help Listone Giordano develop new services and technology to improve its ability to reach out to international clientele, specifically in the United States. In order to complete the project, students will need to understand cultural differences and expectations in both Italy and the U.S. to develop an international business strategy proposal that can be seen as beneficial and effective in both cultures.

To learn more about Umbra’s service learning projects, click here.

Studying abroad in Italy means becoming a part of the local community and cultivating an intercultural connection with locals. For this reason, contributing to the evolution of the local community through the conversion of urban spaces into friendly, inclusive communities is the goal of the Umbra Institute’s ESUS 310: Placemaking: Creating Sustainable Urban Spaces and Communities.

This semester, students participating in ESUS 310, also known as Urban Spaces, are continuing a complex project that previous Umbra students started in Perugia’s Borgo Bello district. The overall goal is to transform forgotten corners of the community into lively areas that can be used, year-round, for various neighborhood needs. As a continuation of this project, students are currently focusing on the renovation of a terrace that is located on Via del Cortone. Students will use the next few months to:

• work on community fundraising initiatives;

  

• collaborate with Umbra students from the ARFP 210: Fresco Painting course who will liven up the terrace by creating a vibrant afresco;
• continue to build strong alliances with major actors within the Borgo Bello district, from inhabitants to theater owners; and
• collaborate with Perugia’s administrative and political offices, such as that of the Mayor, to gain confirmation of the future logistical process for project completion.

This project is designed to give students a well-rounded experience in the world of Placemaking, a novelty design strategy that bases the design of public space on input provided directly by locals who live and work in that space.

Spring 2016 Urban Spaces’ students are currently dedicating their time to better understand the community they will be working in through scheduled meetings with representatives from the Borgo Bello community, as well as through historic and cultural tours throughout community landmarks, such as the impressive San Domenico church that rests only a short distance from the Terrace on Via del Cortone.

Read more about previous project accomplishments and future goals.

Sarah Fuller, a student in Early Childhood and Special Education as well as International Studies from Elizabethtown College, chose to attend the Umbra Institute during the Fall 2015 semester to complete a self-directed research project. Sarah’s research is to be used for a thesis project relative to her interest in international special education policy as Sarah says that her dream is “to ensure that all children, regardless of disability, have access to inclusive education”.

During her semester at Umbra, Sarah completed a qualitative case-study which she designed before her arrival. In collaboration with Dr. Christian Tarchi, Umbra professor in Education Studies, Sarah was able to conduct interviews of Perugia’s education community, including staff of the regional Office of Education, professors who work in teacher formation both in Perugia and in Florence, and other experienced educators. Throughout her time at Umbra, her goal was to learn how laws and culture interact to support inclusive education.

Sarah Fuller’s plans for the future include presenting her thesis project at education conferences and seeking further applications for her research. She plans to further develop her interest in international special education policy by pursuing graduate studies in International and Comparative Education and a career in research, advocacy, or work with an NGO.

To aid Sarah in her research, Prof. Tarchi gave her three assignments all with the aim of targeting her research design, method, and data in search of a comprehensive pattern that focused on results with practical implications. Prof. Tarchi noted that what stood out most about Sarah was that “she made every effort possible to find a key or a solution to the problem she was studying so that her study could bring some contribution, rather than being just a mere theoretical exercise”.

The Umbra Institute is proud of its research and independent study offerings for students who hold special academic interests while abroad. Research offerings include ISIR 499: Advanced Research Project and ISRM 400: Research Writing & Methodology.

For more information about research options and education coursework at Umbra, contact Umbra’s Academic Director, Francesco Burzacca, at [email protected].

An article by U.S. News has officially declared that Italy is ranked as the best country to study abroad, according to millennials from around the world. This means that Italy, in addition to being known as the home for top quality universities, is considered, internationally, as the most culturally accessible, culturally attractive, and overall enjoyable study abroad location. Other countries recognized among the top 5 study abroad locations include: Spain (2), the United States (3), France (4), and the United Kingdom (5).

If you are looking for your chance to study abroad in Italy and you are interested in living in a small, authentic, Italian city, check out Umbra’s academic offerings at www.umbra.org.

Click here to read the original article by U.S. News.

As some of you may be aware, the U.S. Embassy in Rome has recently emailed all U.S. citizens in Italy, reminding them of their right to vote in the 2016 elections

In order to ensure that you can vote in the 2016 U.S. Elections, including primaries and other elections held throughout the year, take the following steps:

1. Request your ballot by completing a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). The FPCA is accepted in all 50 states. Some states allow for the entire process to be done electronically, but, for some states, you may have to mail a paper with an original signature.

  You can get additional information about election dates and your states requirements by visiting fvap.gov

2. View your registration and ballot delivery online. States will send out ballots for primary elections at least 30 days prior to Election Day, and 45 days before federal elections.
3. Return your completed ballot either electronically or through the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. View fvap.gov for specific instructions based on your State’s requirements.

For further information about the absentee ballot process or for resources to help you research candidates and election issues, view a copy of the official statement from the U.S. Embassy in Rome, Italy.

Umbra’s Spring 2016 students arrived this past weekend to begin their Study Abroad experience in Perugia, Italy. Throughout the weekend, students were welcomed into the Hotel Giò before being shown to their apartments and taking part in a weekend of practical and academic orientation. Once the weekend ended, Umbra’s Direct Enrollment students made their way to the University for Foreigners to take their placement exams while General Studies students began a week of Intensive Italian.

Umbra’s Intensive Italian week is unique in the way that it allows for students to spend their mornings being introduced to Italian vocabulary and grammar, and their afternoons participating in an interactive cultural activity that shows them how to put their new knowledge of the language to use. During the practical activities, professors show their students how to use public transportation in Perugia, order a coffee, and more.

“It’s fun learning new tricks to get around town,” said Nell Jacobson, an Elementary Italian student, who described her thoughts after being brought to the supermarket earlier this week. In addition, Paris Parken, also taking Elementary Italian, emphasized the usefulness of reviewing the more basic vocabulary that is essential when living abroad.

Students now have the weekend to explore Perugia and the surrounding area as they get accustomed to their new home. On Monday, elective courses will begin.

The Umbra Institute would like to congratulate its Fall 2015 Museum Seminar & Practicum students as well as their professor, Dr. Antonella Valoroso, for the success of their collaboration with the Fondazione Ranieri di Sorbello. Professor Valoroso and her students spent last semester studying the operations and functions of museums, along with Italy during WWI. Their studies led to the development of an exhibit on WWI that makes use of videos, music, photos, and official documents for the Casa Museo di Palazzo Sorbello.

The display demonstrates relations between Italy and the United States during “La Grande Guerra” and will be open to the public through the end of February.

Students were in charge of selecting items to display

The Fall 2015 General Studies Program has officially come to an end. In order to reflect on their study abroad experience and share their interpretation of life in Italy with the Umbra community, students participated in a series of Community Engagement activities as a final salute to Italy.

Monday, December 7^th
Photography Art Show: The Art Show was a lovely display of images taken by students in both the Introduction to Photography and Visual Communications courses. Each image represented a unique perspective of Perugia as well as the interpretation of each student’s Study Abroad experience, as a whole. 

Tuesday, December 8^th
Theater Workshop Final Performance: In Teatro della Sapienza, Umbra’s theater club shared all it learned about theater this semester through the performance of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged & Revised). Students introduced the tragedies and comedies to a large crowd of American and Italian peers who they regularly involved in their performance in order to inspire gasps and laughs throughout the night.

Wednesday, December 9th
Fresco Painting Inauguration: Throughout the semester, Umbra’s Fresco Painting students have been studying modern and historic techniques and context relative to the Fresco Art. Students then put to practice all that they learned in collaboration with Fontenuovo, a local residency for the elderly. In honor of Fontenuovo’s 130^th anniversary, students created a lovely fresco painting of the Perugian skyline and unveiled their beautiful artwork during their end-of-semester Inauguration ceremony.

Community Engagement Presentations: These presentations were designed to allow students from thirteen courses with community engagement components to share their experiences through conference-style presentations. To learn more about the topics presented and the class that won Best Presentation, read Students End their Study Abroad Experience with Community Engagement Presentations.

WW1 According to Umbra’s Museum Interns: Throughout the semester, Umbra Museum Seminar and Practicum students have learned about the operations and functions of museums, leading to their final project: creating a WW1 exhibit in direct collaboration with the Palazzo Sorbello House Museum. This Wednesday afternoon, the Umbra community was invited to tour the exhibit and receive a personal tour provided by Umbra Museum Interns.

Urban Spaces Terrace Initiative: With support of the City of Perugia, the collaboration of the Association of Borgo Bello, and the help of the residents of Borgo Bello, Umbra’s Urban Spaces students have been working to create a common place on the terrace of Via del Cortone. Students researched various place-making methods and became involved in the community in order to understand the perfect way to meet the local need and desire for an area designed for relaxation and community. To celebrate their project, students met one last time with those in the community who are sponsoring the project, including the Sindaco, Mayor, of Perugia who shook the hand of each student and thanked them for their contributions. The project was celebrated with live music and bruschetta cooked over a fire on the terrace of Via del Cortone.  

Creative Writing Public Readings: Throughout the semester, Umbra’s Creative Writing students have been analyzing Italian literary classics in order to expand their knowledge of diverse writing methods. In order to share what they have learned, each student presented one of their favorite short stories that they wrote this semester during a public reading in the Caffé di Perugia. Stories pulled both tears and laughs from the crowd as students reflected on their time in Perugia and the fact that it is never too cold for gelato.

Thursday, December 10^th
Archaeology Museum Tours: Umbra’s Archaeological Discoveries students provided two tours through Perugia’s Museo Archeologico Nazionale; highlighting Perugian history during the Etruscan period. Each student presented a summary of their findings regarding one artifact which they had researched during the semester as they worked with the museum. Students mentioned what is still unknown to archaeologists about the Etruscans and shared the history of what has been understood of Etruscan work-life, entertainment, and death rituals. 

To read more about Umbra’s Community Engagement Initiatives, click here!