Arcadia England

You might have heard this acronym during orientation or from a faculty member early on the term but what exactly is the CLC (or Co-Curricular Learning Certificate) and what is the incentive for participating in the programme? 

Meaningful engagement outside the Classroom

The CLC's primary purpose is to motivate students to engage with their host community and take full advantage of their study abroad experience. It more importantly provides the opportunity to accomplish this by offering a concrete and formalised way for students to participate in British life beyond the classroom and reflect upon the rich learning achieved through their engagement in local culture and communities. And, though you will not receive credit for it, the certificate will appear on your transcript.

AN ASSET IN BUILDING A STRONG RESUME

In addition to gaining an enhanced understanding of British history and culture, students who enrol in the CLC programme receive formal certification of their intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for new experiences. These traits are extremely attractive to potential employers, but are often difficult to quantify. The CLC is therefore an excellent asset in the building of a strong resume.

Imagine you are at a job interview and you are asked about your study abroad experience. Instead of a disjointed, wordy response about your travels, you will have a ready made topic to discuss via the CLC. Not only will this help you direct your own thoughts, but it will make your answer stand out in comparison to others without the certificate.

Creating your project

Students can earn a CLC by engaging in 15 or more hours of not-for-credit activity in their host community and then documenting what they learned through a brief essay, a photographic journal, a series of PowerPoint slides, a video diary, a blog post, or other medium. Students can also meet with the CLC coordinator, Dr. Chris McMillan, to discuss their project.

Some students choose to dedicate their 15 hours to participating in a set activity like volunteering once a week or joining a club or team. Alternatively, students can choose to organise themselves around a specific theme, such as attending 7 sporting events throughout the semester, spending 10 Saturday afternoons exploring local cuisine, or participating in 6 different social activities organised by a host university. 

BRITISH FOOD AND CULTURE

Past Arcadia Study Abroad student, Alejandra Lee, discussed her love for food whilst writing her final project on British Food and Culture, which incorporated her travels to Paris.

It’s safe to say Alejandra wasn't a fan of Britain’s most famous dishes; she described London’s fish and chips as tasting of ‘nothing at all’. Though she wasn't impressed by the fish and chips, Alejandra went on to describe her meals out in London as ‘amazing’ and ‘the best’. This said London’s food was no match to what she had in Paris which included pastries, crème brulee and crepes. Along with the written piece Alejandra took some great photos which complimented her description brilliantly.

get started!

Perhaps you love food, and want to spend your CLC time tasting different cuisines. Perhaps you love history, or sport, or helping the environment. Whatever your interests, the CLC is ready to accommodate you.

Your own creative input is actively encouraged, and we hope that all of our students will take part in this fantastic programme. If you would like to know more about the CLC, please contact Niki Konkel at konkeln@arcadia.edu.