Limestone's Global Experience Program To Soon Provide Study Abroad Trip To Peru

Nearly 60 Limestone University students and chaperones will depart shortly after Christmas for a nine-day study abroad trip to Peru.

The trip scheduled for December 28-January 5 will be the first for Limestone’s Global Experience program that provides undergraduate on-campus students with the opportunity to travel to some of the most iconic locations in the world.

For those students who wish to participate, the cost of a trip as part of the Limestone Global Experience is covered in the students’ tuition. Each Global Experience destination is designed with a specific academic focus and will be chaperoned and taught by Limestone professors. Flights, ground transportation, lodging, meals, and travel healthcare insurance are covered by the University.

The highlight of the upcoming journey later this month to South America will be a visit to Machu Picchu, the fabled “Lost City of the Inca,” which was selected in 2007 as one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Machu Picchu was brought into the international spotlight in 1911 by Yale lecturer Hiram Bingham. A century later, the site continues to be one of the most desired travel destinations on the globe.

The group from Limestone will board a train from Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu and ascend its mountainous pedestal for a guided tour that will enable them to see the remnants of temples and terraces that have not been able to reveal the true purpose of Machu Picchu. Archaeologists have yet to determine why the city was abandoned so many years ago.

The site stretches over a five-mile distance, featuring more than 3,000 stone steps that link its many different levels. Machu Picchu visitors look forward to seeing the sunset over its towering stone monuments and marvel at the mysterious splendor of one of the world’s most famous manmade wonders.

The upcoming visit to Peru will also include adventures in Lima, Cuzco, Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Písac, and Sacsayhuaman. Students will visit the official residences of the president of Peru and the archbishop of Lima, government centers, a 16th-century Roman Catholic cathedral, the Korikancha Temple, the salt ponds of Maras, a historic archaeological site, an authentic artisan workshop, a Peruvian market, and much more.

“We are so excited about officially launching our Global Experience program with this incredible and once-in-a-lifetime adventure in Peru,” said Dr. Michael Scharff, Professor of Business Administration, Department Chair of Management, MBA Program Coordinator, and Director of the Global Experience. “Global programs like this can help students learn new languages, study different business and cultural customs, and even help jump start a career in such areas as international relations, international business, and healthcare.”

According to a study by the Institute of International Education, evidence indicates that students who study abroad have better grades, experience less attrition, and graduate from college at higher rates than students who do not study abroad. They also have a competitive edge on the job market. Yet, fewer than 10 percent of American undergraduates study abroad, and only one quarter of those are from underrepresented groups.

“These breathtaking trips like the one coming up to Peru offer Limestone students the opportunity to explore culture, business, commerce, and education in some of the most picturesque locations in the world,” said Limestone President Dr. Darrell Parker. “Study abroad opportunities are integral to students as they prepare to compete in an increasingly globalized workforce. This program will become a key part of teaching students to be engaged global citizens, to be adept at cultural competency, and to be better prepared for the professional and personal challenges of the 21st century.”

In the spring of 2022, Limestone’s planned Global Experience trips include a Odyssey to Greece and the Greek Isles, as well as a history of food excursion to Spain and Portugal. Other trips scheduled for the future include tours of Spain and France, Colombia, Italy, and Germany and Austria.

Accompanying photo: Machu Picchu in Peru.