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Photo mosaic of Bentley University‘s falcon statue, made up of smaller "tile" photos taken by students during their study abroad experiences.

International Education: Appreciating the Bigger Picture

Annual photo contest celebrates the cultural — and self — discoveries of Bentley students who study abroad
by Molly Mastantuono

Since 1987, the Cronin Office of International Education has helped approximately 11,000 Bentley students broaden their horizons — both literally and metaphorically — through academically rigorous and culturally enriching international programs. 

Research indicates that college students who spend a semester or academic year living and learning in another country return home more confident, culturally competent and civically engaged. International education programs also give job-seeking graduates a competitive edge; according to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, employers view candidates who have studied abroad as better leaders, communicators and problem-solvers.  

Beyond these benefits, studying abroad is also FUN, providing endless opportunities for students to make personal connections across cultures, behold spellbinding scenery and create memories that last a lifetime. Capturing this sentiment is the goal of the university’s annual International Education Photo Contest, which encourages members of the Bentley community to share personal images that exemplify the following categories: Belonging & Beyond, celebrating cultural inclusivity; Bentley Abroad, showcasing Falcon pride overseas; and Landscapes, highlighting the scenic beauty of students’ temporary homes. This year’s contest also featured awards determined by popular vote — Falcon Favorite, selected by students, and Faculty/Staff Favorite — and a randomly selected Raffle Winner.  

After checking out this year’s winning images, be sure to explore the Office of International Education’s offerings, which include semester- and year-long exchanges with partner institutions, summer programs and faculty-led international courses for both undergraduate and graduate students. 

Application deadline for May 2024 international faculty-led courses is January 31.  

Apply by January 15 to receive early bird discount and apply for scholarships.

Explore course details

Photo of Bentley graduate student Isabel Maier, wearing a red kimono and black obi, standing at the base of a stone staircase leading to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, Japan.

Winner: Belonging & Beyond

“I dressed in a traditional kimono and took photos around the Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto while attending the Global Business Experience course, Japan’s Culture and Business Practices, in 2023.” 

Isabel Maier MSHFID ’24

Kyoto, Japan

Winner: Bentley Abroad

“This photo captures a few of the Bentley students who went on a trip to France in May 2023 during a faculty-led course with History Professor Sung-eun Choi. 

Although we didn’t know each other prior to the trip, we created lasting bonds with each other while we were there.” 

Rachel Vitko ’24

Paris, France

Eight students pose aboard bicycles and electric scooters on a street in Paris at dusk, with an illuminated Eiffel Tower standing tall in the background.
Photo of the interior of a high-speed train in Heibei, China.

Winner: Landscapes

“I took this photo while riding a high-speed train through Hebei province in northern China. 

The shutter captured the view of the fields speeding by outside the window, while the light from the sun filtering in made the colors of the photo very vivid.”

Xintong Li ’26

Hebei, China 

Falcon Favorite

“This is a photo I took while traveling in Switzerland with a group of some of my closest Bentley friends. 

The country is known for its beautiful mountains and dairy products, and the city of Interlaken is famous for its adventurous activities — like skydiving, which I was able to do while there! 

I was so happy I was able to capture so much of the Swiss beauty and culture in a single photo.”

Ashleigh Bolduc ’24 

Interlaken, Switzerland

Two cows craze in a verdant meadow nested at the feet of snowcapped mountains, while a skydiver looms overhead, a few hundred feet away from touching ground.
A person sits in the lotus pose, back to camera, within the otherworldly interior of Song Doong Cave in Vietnam.

Faculty/Staff Favorite

“Despite our small physical stature in the grand tapestry of nature, humanity wields a colossal influence that reverberates through the very fabric of the natural world.”

Quynh Nguyen ’25

Son Doong Cave in Quang Binh Province, Vietnam 

Raffle Winner

“This photo was taken at South Africa’s Pilanesberg National Park after an amazing afternoon game drive with other Bentley students. 

We traveled to the country last May to work with local companies as part of our two-week, faculty-led course, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice (DEIJ) in South Africa: Consulting to Cross-Cultural Organizational Change.”

Annie O’Brien ’23

Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa 

A sunset photo taken at Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa, featuring a tranquil lake in the foreground and gently rolling hills in the distance.

RELATED: See our 2022 International Education Photo Contest winners

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