QMU students to study in Venice thanks to Santander funding boost
A group of ten students from QMU is embarking on a unique overseas study opportunity in Venice this month thanks to a £6,000 funding boost from Santander Universities.
The Psychology, Psychology & Sociology and Public Sociology students will spend a week in the iconic Italian city, where they will take part in a series of lectures and workshops at Ca' Foscari University of Venice.
As well as learning about the history and culture of Venice, the students will get the opportunity hear from world-class academics and experts in sociology and psychology, covering topics such as Health Inequalities and Social Care in Italy, as well as discussing the collaborative work between QMU and Ca’ Foscari, comparing Social Community planning in Italy and Scotland.
The students will also visit the San Servolo Insane Asylum Museum, where they will be given a guided tour of their exhibition entitled “Madness Locked Away”. This is comparative to the famous London asylum “Bedlam” and will give students an insight into historical aspects of mental health care with a particular focus on segregation and marginalisation of the patients within this hospital.
This is this first overseas study visit of its kind that has been made possible for QMU students thanks to the generous support of Santander Universities. Funding will cover flights and accommodation for all students.
Dr Marion Ellison, Reader in European Sociology and Social Policy at QMU and a Visiting Professor at Ca’Foscari University of Venice is leading the visit. Dr Ellison said: “We’re extremely grateful to Santander Universities for making this valuable study trip possible for students who may not have otherwise had the funds to do it themselves or travelled overseas before.
“I’ve been a Visiting Professor at Ca' Foscari University of Venice for the last two years, so I’m pleased that we’re able to build on this relationship. We have a packed schedule of lectures, workshops and educational visits planned over the week that will give students the opportunity to enrich their learning experience and expand their horizons.”
QMU Psychology student, Suzanne Ewing, is attending the trip to Venice. She said: “I’m very excited about taking my first trip abroad to a city I’ve always wanted to visit because of its rich history and amazing architecture.
“Experiencing lectures in the inspiring setting of Ca’ Foscari University and sharing knowledge and ideas about psychology and sociology will increase my confidence as a student and enhance my understanding of cultural differences as I experience it first hand."
Suzanne is a Direct Entrant who joined the second year of QMU’s BSc (Hons) Psychology programme in September 2016 after completing a HND Social Sciences at West Lothian College.
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