Beyond the Classroom, Around the World

Experiential learning is one of the ways that LSU students deepen their mass communication knowledge by making professional connections, developing cultural understanding, and building on their technical skills. Through the Manship School of Mass Communication’s study abroad offerings, students step out of classrooms in Baton Rouge and gain real-world experience in international environments.

Each summer, students choose between interning domestically or studying abroad to build their professional resumes. This past summer, many Manship students chose to sharpen their skills across the pond in specialized programs tailored to their interests.

Here is a look at three programs Manship students participated in this summer:

LSU Global Sports Showcase:

Ever wanted to try Wimbledon’s famous berries and cream, or walk the iconic grounds of the Silverstone Formula One track? Through the Manship Global Sports program, 10 students experienced premier sporting events like Wimbledon and the British Grand Prix while honing their communication skills. The group used three social media platforms to share with their audience an insider look into international sporting events while completing individual projects to share with their professors at the end of the trip.

Beyond attending sporting events, students spoke with professionals from BBC Sport, the Women’s Rugby Union and Wimbledon’s communications team in the Wimbledon Media Centre. Students attended presentations personalized towards the group’s interests and participated in one-on-one Q&A sessions. The group also met with Marvin Sordell, a former Premier League football player who now runs a sports marketing production company founded by retired athletes.

Carlin Thierry, a public relations student, chose to create a how-to magazine for her personal project to showcase all of the things that she learned on her trip. “From how to travel internationally to how to understand formula one, I learned that there’s so much that goes into studying abroad, whether it’s for two weeks or a whole semester, every moment is valuable.”

For students looking to challenge themselves and build a portfolio in sports communication, the Global Sports Showcase offers opportunities to showcase talent and build professional networks. Stepping out of the classroom to gain hands-on experience while exploring the United Kingdom offers Manship students an unforgettable summer experience.

LSU in the UK and Ireland:

Through the LSU in the UK and Ireland program, students traveled to Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh and London to analyze and experience the intersection of culture and media abroad. Mass communications students took either Introduction to Public Relations or Public Relations and Social Media Strategy and applied their skills through collaborative social media management.

Students managed the @lsu.irelanduk Instagram and TikTok accounts and shared with their audience their own travel stories, funny moments, and things that they have learned along the way while learning how to produce content in a timely manner.

The group applied concepts taught by professor Sadie Wilkes at iconic historical locations including Stonehenge, Giant’s Causeway and Edinburgh Castle. In addition to their coursework, students met with communications professionals like Bruce Blacklaw, communications manager of National Museums of Scotland, who shared his insights into why mass communication is more than just social media posts to further students social media management understanding.

“My favorite part was getting to create content on the go,” said Elena Ramey, a public relations student. “We had to change our posting schedule a lot to accommodate the incredible opportunities we had and being able to create that content on the go was so fun!”

Throughout their multi-country journey, students developed cultural humility, and interacted with people in diverse communities. The program taught students to tailor social media content and strategy to different cultures and audiences through campaign management, communication, and balancing real-time content creation with traveling.

LSU in Salzburg:

The LSU in Salzburg program partners with the Salzburg Academy of Media and Global Change to combine real-world experience with traditional academic learning in the classroom. With a focus on civic engagement and digital literacy, the program offered a more classic study abroad structure.

Students connected with peers from across the globe; from India to Hong Kong to Argentina and heard from documentary journalists, sports media researchers, and experts in the artificial intelligence field. Students worked closely together to create a final project that demonstrated their goals and dreams regarding the communication landscape of the future from the knowledge they gained from professionals and professors they spoke to.

“On the LSU Salzburg trip I got to hear lectures from professors who specialize in research in different sectors of the media,” said Camille Milligan, a Manship School senior. “This study abroad opportunity is so unique from the others. It helped me learn so much about others as well as myself, and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it.”

Milligan and her peers worked alongside motivated students from many different backgrounds to create something that transcends cultural binaries, creating a unique experience that cannot be matched.

“I got to know the other participants really well over the course of the two weeks we stayed in Austria, and we’ve kept in touch since then,” said Milligan.

Studying abroad with Manship:

Manship study abroad programs are open to all LSU students of all majors who want to broaden their cultural understanding and build on their transferable skills. The technical and storytelling skills that Manship study abroad programs provide to students translates to every professional industry, demonstrating the academic strength and global reach of the Manship School.