For 15 years, the Global Study Center Italy has provided UT San Antonio students with immersive international learning experiences in the historic city of Urbino. What began as a small architecture-focused program has grown into a multidisciplinary academic hub that has given more than 2,000 students the opportunity to spend a semester in one of Europe’s great cradles of literature, art and Renaissance culture.
Founded through a collaboration between UT San Antonio faculty and Italian partners, the center has evolved into a cornerstone of the university’s global engagement strategy and a flagship program within the UT San Antonio Office of Global Initiatives.
“What began as a simple ‘what if’ conversation I had with two Italian colleagues has grown into something far greater than we imagined: a lasting home for UT San Antonio in Italy, serving students and faculty from every college,” said John Murphy, professor of architecture and planning and executive director of the Global Study Center Italy.
The center launched in 2011 with a small group of architecture students as its first cohort. Today, the program hosts between 90 and 120 students each semester and supports faculty-led courses across a wide range of disciplines, including architecture, civil engineering, construction management, environmental science, biology, anthropology, political science and the humanities.
Located in the Renaissance hill town of Urbino — a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its artistic and architectural heritage — the center allows students to complete a full semester of coursework while living and studying in Italy. The program also incorporates academic excursions to cities such as Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan, helping students connect classroom learning with historical and cultural experiences.
The program’s success is supported by its longstanding partnership with the University of Urbino Carlo Bo, which provides opportunities for academic collaboration and cultural exchange.
A collection of snapshots from study abroad trips in Urbino over the past 15 years.
For UT San Antonio President Taylor Eighmy, the center represents the power of long-term global partnerships.
“Strong international partnerships elevate academic excellence, foster collaborative research, and position universities to help solve society’s grandest challenges,” Eighmy said. “For these reasons and more, I am deeply grateful to our Global Study Center Italy and its partner, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, for laying the foundation for our students to thrive.”
Architecture programs have played a central role in the center’s development from the beginning. The experience of studying architecture and interior design in Italy has offered insights to undergraduate students that simply cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom, explains Michelangelo Sabatino, Roland K. Blumberg Endowed Professor in Architecture and director of the UT San Antonio School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P).
Sabatino, whose scholarship has focused on Italian modern architecture, earned his architecture degree in Venice, Italy, so he is particularly supportive of this opportunity for SA+P students.
“Our students consistently tell us that their time in Urbino and Italy changes how they understand the potential of architects to shape the quality of daily life,” Sabatino said. “They are not only collaborating closely with their peers and faculty, but they are also experiencing centuries of architectural history firsthand. Seeing historic cities, public spaces and buildings in person allows them to appreciate scale, craftsmanship and cultural context in ways that deepen their education.”
Lisa Montoya, vice provost for global initiatives and senior international officer, said study abroad experiences help students develop skills valued in nearly every career field.
“The experience at the Global Study Center Italy requires students to navigate a new environment and engage in a new culture, which is no small task,” Montoya said. “Over time the result is improved adaptability and resilience, along with enhanced communication and problem solving, the very skills that define leadership in today’s global marketplace.”
The center’s 15th anniversary is a milestone that reflects both the program’s impact and its future potential.
“Study abroad experiences like those in Urbino are truly life-changing,” Murphy said. “They help students grow academically and personally while building the global awareness that is essential in today’s world. We’re proud of what this program has accomplished over the past 15 years and excited about the opportunities ahead.”
