Tourism and Hospitality Management students from Montgomery County Community College are stamping their passports to see the world, some for the first time ever, thanks to a transfer partner school.

Eight students in the program studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic, recently as part of a course offered through transfer partner Florida International University’s (FIU) Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Students Skylar Berry, Aaron Borglum, Ruhi Haiderali, Jessica Kucharik, Zayne Perez, Ava Treski, Olivia Wellman and Jack Whitehouse visited the European city Dec. 15-23, as part of a special pilot study abroad program coordinated by Tourism and Hospitality Management Associate Professor Shawn Murray. Students traveled with 13 FIU students also enrolled in the course.

Murray said study abroad opportunities provide students with real-world experience.

“I think it’s invaluable to experience these learning labs, travel as college students and connect the dots to what they’re learning in the classroom,” he said. “It’s different from a YouTube video or textbook. Seeing it in person is lifechanging. It’s increasing a student’s cultural intelligence and metacognition.”

The hands-on learning experience featured a private walking tour of the city, including a visit to the Christmas market. Students also saw Prague Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; visited the tourism offices of Visit Czech to learn about marketing, sales and event planning; and Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel.

“It was a medieval monastery,” said Murray about Augustine. “They kept a lot of the architecture. It’s now a Luxury Hotel. Students learned about sales, marketing and hotel management.”

For many students, the experience was their first time abroad, and they were thrilled to have the chance to explore the city.

“I never thought Prague would be the first place I’d go to out of the country, but it was a special experience,” said Wellman. “Most of us didn’t have expectations. We were all blown away. Prague is full of tourism, and it’s also very old and classy. It was wonderful.”

One student who had traveled through the FIU partnership previously said they were fortunate to be able to take advantage of the chance of a lifetime.

“It was a great opportunity,” said Haiderali, who also traveled to Greece through an FIU academic learning experience in July 2024. “It was different from Greece in that it was winter, there was a Christmas village. I had never been to Europe in the winter.”

Students also learned about the Holocaust during a tour of the Terezin concentration camp.

“That’s a form of dark tourism,” said Murray. “It involves human death and suffering. Students were able to connect the dots to Germany, the Munich Agreement and think critically about what’s going on in the world now.”

Haiderali felt it was an important moment for everyone.

“It gave us time to reflect,” she said. “It was a somber moment, but we took a lot away from that experience in particular.”

The tour also included a visit to the city’s natural history museum, which includes pieces representative of Czech and Central European culture.

Wellman said Murray ensured they were getting the most from the experience.

“He was always checking up on us,” she said. “Making sure we were getting the most out of the experience academically and personally, not having our heads in our books the whole time. He’d say things like ‘Learn the language; try new food.’”

In February 2025, Wellman continued to take advantage of opportunities available through FIU, when she attended the South Beach Food & Wine Festival in Miami with MCCC students Kane Tees, and Donnell Peake.

“We worked with a lot of national and local chefs, as well as culinary and industry experts at the festival. It brings so much economic impact to Miami,” she said. “The three of us met more students from FIU and made connections. It was great.”

Haiderali, who will be graduating from MCCC this spring, said she is heading to FIU in the fall to continue studying.

“The exposure through FIU has been great,” she said, “I’m hoping to keep the momentum going.”

MCCC has a program-to-program transfer agreement with FIU, and it’s one of the top transfer schools for Tourism & Hospitality Management for MCCC students. Over the last two years, MCCC students have participated in 10 study abroad experiences through the partnership with FIU. MCCC Tourism & Hospitality Management students and recent program graduates attending FIU have participated in study abroad programs around the world including Portugal, France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Morrocco, Chile, Jamaica, Netherlands, Ireland, Greece, Bermuda, England and the Galapagos Islands. Students earn credits during study abroad programs, which apply toward their associate degree.

FIU has praised the strong partnership with MCCC.

“Our team at the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management is so grateful for our partnership with Montgomery County Community College,” said Diann Newman, Ed.D., Vice Dean, Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. “Shawn Murray has been an outstanding advocate for his students, doing a remarkable job in creating a seamless transition to FIU. We are thrilled to welcome MCCC transfer students—they become amazing Panthers!"

The partnerships like the one with FIU provide students with global and cultural perspectives that will help them excel in the industry, Murray said.  

“For MCCC Tourism & Hospitality Management majors, both corporate and strong academic partnerships are key to student success,” he said. “Our colleagues at Florida International University are not just partners but friends and the opportunities FIU provides include pilot study abroad programming, amazing transfer options, and opportunities to volunteer at mega events such as this year's South Beach Food & Wine Festival in Miami. These innovative academic and industry exposures allow our students to more effectively launch careers in the business of tourism.”    

Montco’s Tourism and Hospitality Associate of Applied Science degree puts students on the path toward a rewarding career in one of the fastest-growing industries.

The Tourism and Hospitality Management Program challenges students academically through project-based learning and innovative course work and hands-on internships, preparing them to be a confident industry leader.

For more information about the Tourism and Hospitality Management Program at Montgomery County Community College, contact Associate Professor Shawn Murray.