This course serves as an introduction to the Italian language, history, and culture in order

to prepare summer program students for everyday interactions in Syracuse. Given the

intensive nature of the summer program (five weeks), students will learn essential words

and phrases needed to communicate in practical situations, such as grocery shopping,

dining out, traveling, and more. Instruction will include a mixture of lectures and

immersive visits to local sites, such as the historic Ortigia street market. Coursework will

cover key aspects of Italian customs, providing historical background for current cultural

norms and etiquette. By developing an understanding of the unique historical and

cultural context of Sicily as well as key Italian words and phrases, students are

empowered to interact with the local community in a respectful and meaningful way.

Understanding yourself; your values, goals, purpose and character strengths, is central to developing the mindset, skillset and toolset needed to thrive as a leader in complex and uncertain futures. This unit takes you on a journey of self-reflection and understanding to support you to develop options for your career and to showcase these through an authentic personal brand. The content is drawn from relevant theories and evidence with students applying the underpinning principles from these theories to develop effective self-reflective practices, interpersonal skills, self-development goals and plans, and leadership capabilities.

Innovation is the process of coming up with new and diverse ideas and ways of working. This unit provides critical tools for problem identification and value creation, a key competency for studying and working in entrepreneurial environments and innovative companies. You will learn how to investigate customer/user needs and create value propositions for them through a new business model. The combination of real-world and theoretically-based evaluation techniques taught in this subject can be applied to entrepreneurship and innovation in any context, including start-up businesses, start-up tech companies, existing businesses, public sector and social enterprise.

This interdisciplinary course aims to develop Pacific consciousness and sustainability thinking. It introduces students to the places, histories, cultures, arts, and politics of Oceania. Specific issues include migration patterns; colonial and postcolonial contexts; Pacific understandings of cultural and heritage resources and conflict over these resources; and future challenges and opportunities in the region. A unique aspect of this course is the use of a contextual pedagogy that applies Pacific navigational concepts using a ‘Vaka’ model. Navigating through specific issues and contexts to Pacific histories, current realities and future aspirations of the region, students will develop self and collective awareness, demonstrate teamwork, and engage in critical and creative thinking.