CCP’s Summer Study Abroad Programs Inspire Learning and Growth

Community College of Philadelphia’s faculty-led, short-term study abroad programs are back in full swing following a pandemic-related hiatus. Previous opportunities have brought students to several countries over the last 10 years, including Cuba, Japan, Tanzania, Cambodia, South Africa, England and Belize. The College prides itself on being able to offer these eye-opening and incredibly enriching experiences to students, which are mostly found at four-year institutions.

This summer, CCP offered study abroad programs in Ghana, India, London and Mexico. Each of the programs allowed for eight students to participate in a 10- to 12-day trip while completing a credit-bearing course related to their travels and studies. The courses ranged in topics covering various disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. “For example, in the Ghana Study Abroad trip led by the Black Studies program faculty, students focused on history, the African Diaspora and local-global community engagement. A domestic tour of Howard University and historical and cultural landmarks were a precursor to the international program to Ghana,” said Lucia Gbaya-Kanga, Study Abroad director and assistant professor of English. 

Each of the four 2025 programs covered a different topic. The Mexico trip focused on contemporary architecture; the India trip focused on business through the lens of culture, history, food and architecture. “And the London program focused on the Black experience and Black identity in London’s theater and arts scene,” Gbaya-Kanga said.

Though the topics of study and the locations change and vary, the overarching goal of these study abroad courses remain the same: to expand students’ global competence, worldview, and ways of knowing. “I think the number one thing that students ultimately discuss once they return is the impact of the program on their understanding, empathy, gratitude, things of that nature” Gbaya-Kanga said.

For many students, these trips are also the first time they are leaving the United States. “You know, it was my first time out of the country,” said, Sanaa Desper, a student who participated in the Ghana trip this summer. “So just with the process, like everything was so new. Like getting a passport, getting a visa, having to get vaccinations,” she said. Reflecting on her experience, Sanaa said, “The best way I could explain when people were asking me, it was just like I feel like a different person. Like it was just transformative in so many ways, like in the way that I think, the way that I now want to learn.”

Something that Gbaya-Kanga talks about with her study abroad program colleagues is how these experiences translate into career and workforce readiness. She’s seen the effect that these trips have had on several students and their career trajectories. “Anecdotally, a lot of our students will change their careers depending on what they've gained from this experience and lean harder into international or global affairs,” said Gbaya-Kanga.

Several students had positive feedback on how their trips impacted them:

“I believe this experience not only exposed me to further my creative research, it also allowed me to connect with an alternate experience of Black creatives, which gave me a feeling of inspiration.”

“It made me want to focus more on sustainability and bringing that in my education and career as well as learning more about other cultures and languages.”

“I actually made a career change. I’m in the Tourism and Hospitality Management program. I didn't quite know what I wanted to major in. While visiting India and all the programs and workshop we visited, I fell in love with event management.”

“It’s changed goals, outlooks and made education something I want even more.”

CCP’s study abroad programs are valuable to students in so many different and unique ways. We are proud to offer these programs to students, as well as domestic study trips each Summer I session. For more information about study abroad, visit our website or contact bgbayaka [at] ccp.edu (Lucia Gbaya-Kanga), the Study Abroad program director.