Verto Fall ’25 September Newsletter

Academic Updates:

As classes officially got underway, students in Buenos Aires navigated Add/Drop Week with the support of their Student Success Advisors (SSAs), adjusting their schedules to create academic plans aligned with their personal goals and interests.

Over the past few weeks, students have engaged in a variety of hands-on, experiential learning activities that brought their courses to life. In Psychology, students worked in focus groups to reflect on their perceptions of Buenos Aires and explored how personal biases shape those views. They also began developing original research questions while learning about research methods and experimental design. Diversity & Social Justice students conducted interviews with older community members better to understand how age and life experience shape perspective, while also taking part in community service — including volunteering at a soup kitchen, participating in a river cleanup, and helping with home construction.

With five levels of Spanish offered, students are preparing for upcoming experiential learning labs that will take them to local markets and on cultural excursions across the city, offering real-world opportunities to apply their language skills. Meanwhile, students in Introduction to Music explored the sounds of Buenos Aires through a neighborhood soundscape excursion, categorized everyday city sounds, attended live folklore performances, and even encountered tango dancers in the streets — an immersive way to experience the local rhythm and culture.

In Environmental Science, students rolled up their sleeves for their first lab experiments, studying aquatic ecosystems and conducting water quality analyses that apply scientific theory to real-world environmental challenges. In their Food & Cuisine course, students reflected on cultural connections to food by writing about a local Argentine dish and comparing it to meals from their own backgrounds. Next weekend, they’ll head to Barrio Chino (Chinatown) to further explore food as a lens for cultural understanding.

Finally, in Inquiry & Writing, students engaged with literature and ideas that shape global perspectives. After reading and responding to the essay “Sometimes the Tough Teen Is Quietly Reading”, they reflected on the literature that has influenced their own lives. They also discussed Chimamanda Adichie’s “The Danger of a Single Story” and are preparing to visit the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, where they will write about a chosen piece of art — connecting written analysis with visual storytelling.

Student Life Updates:

Each care team will meet once in the second week of September. They will have a space dedicated to them in the study center where they can eat pizza, unwind, and get to know each other more!

Overnight Trips (September 27–29)
Students chose between the two options:

Bariloche in Patagonia: San Carlos de Bariloche is a city in the Argentine Patagonia, located in the province of Río Negro. Surrounded by the Andes Mountains and set on the shores of the beautiful Nahuel Huapi Lake, it is famous for its breathtaking natural landscapes, alpine-style architecture, and outdoor activities.

Iguazú Falls: Iguazú Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, located on the border between Argentina and Brazil, within the Iguazú National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is made up of nearly 300 waterfalls stretching over 2.5 kilometers, surrounded by lush subtropical rainforest with a rich biodiversity, including exotic birds, butterflies, monkeys, and even jaguars.

Mate Workshop
On September 11th, SSA Lucila will host a hands-on workshop about mate. Students will learn all the traditions, tips, and tricks for making the perfect mate. From preparing the yerba (tea) to sharing it the local way, students will get to experience mate just like a true Argentinian local. They will also enjoy a classic merienda (snack) while practicing the ritual of passing the mate around!

Noteworthy Events: Argentina vs. Venezuela (September 4th)
Whether they were at the game or celebrating from afar, Verto Education Buenos Aires students got to witness history and see Lionel Messi play his last game in and for Argentina. A ton of students said it was one of the coolest, most unforgettable experiences—the kind you only get when you’re living it up as a Verto student studying abroad in Argentina!

Academic Updates:

We’ve been very impressed in Florence with how our students have started their academic classes! From day one, their energy, curiosity, and dedication have shone through. It’s been inspiring to see everyone dive into their studies with enthusiasm, making the start of the semester both exciting and rewarding.

Over the past two weeks, students have been busy with hands-on learning experiences that brought their subjects to life here in Florence. In Art and Science of Renaissance Italy, the class visited the historic Palazzo Vecchio, where they immersed themselves in the works of Giorgio Vasari and explored the grandeur of the famed Room of the 500. In Biology, students completed their first lab experiment, practicing essential techniques such as chromatography — using basil leaves, water, and alcohol to separate pigments.

Vertoans taking Studio Art visited the Botanical Garden Giardino dei Semplici for their first color studies, exploring natural color relationships and the organic structures found in botanical subjects. Perfectly timed with the total lunar eclipse on September 7, students in Astronomy tackled an ambitious project: calculating the density of the Earth. They determined the planet’s radius through the ancient Eratosthenes method and then applied Galileo’s pendulum studies to estimate its mass.

Each class offered a unique opportunity to connect theory with practice while engaging deeply with the cultural and scientific heritage of Italy. At Verto Education Florence, we believe that learning goes beyond the classroom, so all of our courses are designed with experiential learning woven directly into them. There’s a whole lot more coming up — stay tuned!

Student Life Updates:

The first three weeks of the Fall 2025 Verto Florence program have been busy and full of great moments. Discovery Week helped Vertoans settle in with essential info about housing, academics, and health & safety. A neighborhood walking tour (with a sweet granita stop!) and a pizza lunch hosted by the Care Team gave everyone a warm welcome and the chance to meet new people.

During an optional grocery shopping trip, students got a real look at how Italians shop and what everyday life in Florence looks like. This practical experience helped many feel more comfortable navigating local markets and stores. Another optional activity, the Florence Discovery Walk, combined history and fun—with plenty of gelato, of course!

Since then, students have been immersing themselves in the local culture. Optional experiences like a boat ride on the Arno River offered a peaceful way to see the city from a new angle, while visits to the Boboli Gardens and the Sant’Ambrogio Market gave students insight into Florence’s rich history and daily life.

The Care Team also began hosting volleyball games and dinners by the river — great ways to bond with classmates outside the classroom and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Weekend day trips have officially kicked off, starting with a visit to the walled city of Lucca, where students explored and rode bikes atop the ancient city walls, an unforgettable way to experience Tuscany.

Overall, it’s been a fantastic start to the Fall 2025 semester. Students are settling in, making friends, and discovering everything that studying abroad in Florence has to offer. There’s plenty more to come, and we’re excited for all the upcoming activities and excursions!

Academic Updates:

Academically, the semester is already off to an exciting start for students studying abroad in London with Verto. Comparative Politics and International Relations students took their learning beyond the classroom with a walking tour of Westminster—connecting history, politics, and culture in real time. Meanwhile, the Philosophy of Religion class visited the historic St. Paul’s Cathedral, built between 1675 and 1710, climbing all 528 steps to experience a panoramic view of the city.

Across our 92 class sections, students are thriving in state-of-the-art labs and classrooms, engaging in hands-on learning that brings complex ideas to life. These experiential moments spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and make Verto’s academic experience in London truly unforgettable.

Student Life Updates:

Our Vertoans have hit the ground running with an exciting, jam-packed first four weeks in London.

Things kicked off with Discovery Week, where students connected with their Care Teams and SSAs while settling into life abroad. After moving into their accommodations on Monday, they gathered for the Welcome Presentation before heading out on the Thames for a lively boat mixer with all 395 of their peers—what a way to start!

The rest of Discovery Week blended important information with plenty of fun, from Academic Goal Setting workshops to an energetic Sports Day, where Care Teams had their first chance to rack up points in some friendly competition.

By Week Two, classes were in full swing! Students explored their academic options, adding and dropping courses to fit both Channel School requirements and personal interests—balancing flexibility with structure in their study abroad experience in London.

Week Three brought a true taste of London life — a Tube strike! With more people walking and cycling through the city, students experienced firsthand the flexibility and resilience Londoners are known for. Classes moved online for the day, but that didn’t slow anyone down.

In fact, Group 1 packed their bags and headed north for a weekend adventure in Edinburgh! From exploring the mind-bending Camera Obscura to navigating a high-energy treasure hunt, students soaked up the history and charm of Scotland’s capital.

What an incredible start to the semester. It’s only been four weeks, and there’s already so much to celebrate!

Academic Updates:

This semester is a special one in Prague. We’re not only hosting our largest cohort of students ever, but also working with an outstanding group of faculty. This fall, 39 professors from 14 countries are teaching 24 courses across 70 sections. Many of these courses are offered multiple times to accommodate student schedules, for example, our popular Seminar in Academic Inquiry and Writing runs in 10 different sections!

As Verto’s Business & Arts hub, Prague offers the widest portfolio of business courses among all Verto Education locations. Students can choose from Introduction to Microeconomics, Introduction to Business and Entrepreneurship, Introduction to Business Analytics with Lab, and Principles of Marketing, all taught in multiple sections. These are complemented by four levels of math: Quantitative Reasoning, Pre-Calculus, Calculus I, and Elementary Statistics.

We’re equally excited about the arts. This fall, students can step into our brand-new Art Studio through Introduction to Art, where they explore drawing, painting, and sculpture. Other arts courses include Introduction to Music, History of Art II, and Introduction to Digital Photography.

And of course, experiential learning in Prague is already underway! In Weeks 1 and 2, Philosophy students visited the exhibition Women Artists: 1300–1900. Several sections of Academic Inquiry and Writing examined propaganda at the Museum of Communism or explored the city through guided walking tours. With so much more planned, this study abroad experience in Prague promises to be both busy and inspiring.

Student Life Updates:

The semester began with Discovery Week, designed to welcome students to Prague and to one another. Throughout the week, students joined interactive sessions covering everything from navigating the city’s public transport system to understanding our Code of Responsibility, all while laying the foundation for a supportive, connected community. Care Teams met daily, giving students the chance to get to know their peers and begin forming friendships that will carry them through the semester.

After Discovery Week wrapped up, students transitioned into their first two weeks of classes. They’ve been diving into their academic coursework while also settling into a routine: finding favorite cafés to study in, exploring Prague’s neighborhoods, and continuing to strengthen the connections they started building during Discovery Week.

One of the early highlights of the student life experience in Prague was our overnight trip outside the city. Students rafted down the beautiful Vltava River before arriving in the storybook town of Český Krumlov, where they explored cobblestone streets, admired historic architecture, and shared a campfire evening complete with s’mores. The next morning, we hiked through the forest, visited Vítkův Hrádek, a 13th-century castle with breathtaking views, and even tried a bit of medieval-inspired fun with archery practice. The trip was the perfect mix of adventure, cultural discovery, and community bonding.

We’re thrilled by the energy and enthusiasm students have brought to the start of the semester and can’t wait to see how they continue to grow, learn, and explore throughout their study abroad journey in Prague.

Academic Updates:

Verto Seville is off to a strong and smooth start! With 28 courses offered across 94 sections and 28 dedicated faculty members, students are settling into their routines well.

This semester also marks an exciting milestone: for the first time, Verto Seville is offering hands-on labs in Chemistry and Biology, in addition to Physics. With nine lab sections now running, this expansion significantly enhances students’ learning experiences in the sciences.

Lastly, the Seville Peer Tutor Program is set to launch in Week 3! This initiative allows students to both offer and receive in-person academic support through individual 30-minute tutoring sessions. We’re also happy to share that faculty-led math tutoring has already begun, with 10 hours of support delivered just this week. Writing tutoring sessions will start next week.

We’re proud of the energy, dedication, and collaboration shown by our team and students during these first weeks of the semester.

Student Life Updates:

We are delighted with the beautiful start to the semester that Fall ’25 has given us. You can’t imagine the joy of seeing 303 eager, smiling faces together — yes, we are a big cohort!

Arrival Day was a whirlwind of nerves and excitement, with students discovering where they would live and meeting their new roommates. Throughout that first week, the Verto Seville team dedicated itself to making Discovery Week both fun and engaging, while also providing essential information for a fantastic semester abroad in Spain. Academics, Health & Safety, and our community, organized around the Discovery Way, were among the key focus areas.

Students also enjoyed their first Care Team Circles in iconic locations such as Plaza de España and the coastal city of Cádiz, the destination of our very first day trip. On this excursion, students got a preview of what their semester in Seville will look like: rich culture, historic landmarks, a vibrant social life, and a warm, welcoming community.

Meanwhile, we also had the opportunity to celebrate Family Day. More than 50 families joined us to meet members of our staff, explore the spaces where their students live and learn, and gain insight into the academic, social, and personal growth opportunities available this semester.

With classes now underway, students are finding their rhythm — participating in activities, exploring their surroundings, and fully stepping into this exciting chapter of their study abroad journey in Seville.