Barcelona Study Abroad Experience

Mission

Barcelona Study Abroad Experience (SAE) is the leader in Barcelona Study Abroad. We provide superior quality study abroad program options in Barcelona that incorporate a strong intercultural element for our students.  All aspects of the program incorporate experiential learning and cultural immersion in order to open the eyes of the next generation of leaders to a global world.

Barcelona SAE provides the opportunities for students to grow personally, academically and globally utilizing the city of Barcelona and its components as the classroom.

Barcelona SAE strives to embed elements of social responsibility into our education abroad programs.  We encourage intensive intercultural immersion and the acquisition of critical language skills, while cultivating an appreciation for cultural differences and increased global awareness.  We hire local staff whenever possible and encourage students to participate in sustainable service learning and volunteer opportunities and assist them in finding these opportunities.

We encourage our students to:

    • Fully immerse themselves in the culture of the host country
    • Limit energy usage
    • Recycle
    • Take Public Transportation or walk
    • Purchase carbon offsets for air travel
    • Look for locally produced and environmentally friendly products
    • Join the “Green Passport” Program (www.greenpassport.us) and take the pledge!

As a Green Passport Holder I acknowledge the interconnectedness of the world’s people and the environment. I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of studying, living, working, traveling, or volunteering abroad and will try to improve these aspects of my international experience. While overseas, and when I return home, I will do my best to:

• Minimize my impact on the environment;
• Act in culturally respectful ways;
• Engage with locals and participate in the local community
• Give back to my host community(ies).

Model

Barcelona SAE combines the preeminent aspects of U.S. higher education with the empirical cultural elements embedded with life in a different country to provide top services to our clients. In this sense, our clients include the students, their parents, and the sending universities.

Program Types

Barcelona SAE currently offers an academic semester or year of direct enrolment at local universities; 4 or 6-week summer terms, internship placements, and customized programs of all lengths.

The Barcelona Semester

This flagship program provides university students with a plethora of options to receive credit towards their major, minor or general education requirements while studying in Barcelona. Additionally, students will take part in multiple cultural excursions and activities both in and outside of Barcelona. The living arrangements, support staff, and intercultural development activities are all aimed to enhance the Study Abroad Experience.

 

Barcelona SAE Staff

Rich Kurtzman, Site Director

Rich grew up in Chicago, IL, studied Spanish and Russian language and culture for undergrad before earning a Masters degree in Spanish Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition in Chicago.  His passion for everything Spain grew while studying abroad in college, but solidified when leading groups of students every summer around the country.  He has been working in Study Abroad for 12 years and in International Education in Barcelona since 2002.  Rich has taught several undergraduate courses on Spanish Culture and Global Competence and also works as a freelance Intercultural Consultant for business executives moving to Spain. He has presented at multiple intercultural conferences on the field of intercultural integration, acquiring second languages abroad and published materials on Spanish Language Learning.

"As a U.S. American living in Barcelona, I can relate to what our students experience while in Barcelona. I truly enjoy helping students learn about Spanish and Catalan culture, expand their horizons, and realize how much the world has to offer when you start looking."

Laura Moliné, Student Services Coordinator

Laura grew up in a small town in Catalonia, in the middle of the Pyrenees mountains, but when she went to Barcelona to study her BA in English and German Translation and Interpretation, she fell in love with the city and decided to stay there, where she’s been living for more than 10 years. Laura’s international experiences include studying abroad in Dublin (Ireland), Cambridge (UK) and Stockholm (Sweden), and visiting various countries in Europe and Africa, as well as spending one month in the USA working as an international education representative. In addition to globe-trotting, Laura enjoys trekking, reading, trying new foods and attempting to dance to several kinds of music.

 “I consider studying abroad one of the greatest experiences you can have, and that’s why I’m thrilled to help you make the most of your experience in Barcelona and learn as much as you can about my country and the local traditions.”

Julianna Kobs, Program and University Relations Coordinator

Julianna grew up in a suburb of St. Paul, MN and studied Psychology and Global Cultures at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.  In college, she studied abroad in Ecuador and Chile and later worked as an English Teaching Assistant in Málaga, Spain.  Julianna’s travel experiences have shaped the person she is today and she looks forward to helping students make the most of their study abroad experience in one of her favorite cities in the world, Barcelona.  In addition to traveling, Julianna loves hiking, rock climbing, and cooking.

 

 

Elena Villaescusa, Internship and Activities Coordinator

Elena was born in Girona, but has lived in a variety of cities in Spain. She has her B.A. in Advertising and Public Relations from  the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona and a M.A. in Communication, Tourism and New Technologies (e-Tourism) from the University of Barcelona. Her work experience is focused on Place Branding Online and she is the co-founder of the association International Exchange Erasmus  Student Network at UPF, which helps to welcome university students to Barcelona. She worked and studied in various countries throughout Europe and is a world traveler. Currently, she lives in the dynamic city of Barcelona, and loves languages, dancing, traveling, culture and, above all, people.

 

Lauren Prone, On-site Program Advisor

Lauren grew up in a small town near Boston, MA and studied Spanish and Psychology at Ithaca College in upstate New York.  She is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in International Education at SIT Graduate Institute and doing her practicum with Barcelona SAE.  During college, Lauren studied abroad in Seville, Spain and lived with a wonderful host family.  She also taught English in Buenos Aires, Argentina and has backpacked across Europe.  She is excited to help students prepare for a life-changing experience in one of the most incredible cities in the world!

 

 

Sara Bradshaw, Program Advisor

Sara was born in Canada and grew up on the coast of Maine. She studied Sociology at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, and is currently pursuing her Master's degree in International Education at SIT Graduate Institute. She has traveled to more than 25 countries and has lived in New Zealand and taught English in both Argentina and Nicaragua. In between dreams of new sojourns abroad, she spends her time practicing yoga, cooking, learning new languages and laughing. She is excited to apply her passion for cross cultural experiences to working with students in the advising process and helping them prepare for the experience of a lifetime!

 

 

 

Michelle McCormack, Program Advisor

Michelle was born on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Growing up on a small island, she has always had a desire to see the world. She has her B.A. in Philosophy from Emory University and will be graduating from Lesley University with a M.A. in Intercultural Relations this Summer. She studied abroad in Rome, Italy, and spent a year teaching English in Barcelona after college. Before returning to the states for her Master degree program, she spent two years working abroad in Australia and New Zealand. In addition to traveling, she enjoys hiking, skiing, cooking, knitting and spending time at the beach.