My experience studying in Venice

Undergraduate student, Mevin, shares his experience on the Warwick International Intensive Study Programme in Venice.

What is WIISP?

WIISP is a short-term international study programme. It allows you to study a module of your choice across a wide range of university campuses worldwide. Bringing together students from around the world from several partner institutions, it's a chance to study, network, and connect with a whole new city!

Why I chose to sign up

One of the main reasons I chose to sign up to WIISP was the fact that I could experience an international adventure, with new and old friends, while building on my degree and my work experience!

I studied Strategic Luxury Leadership for 2 weeks in Venice. With just 35 people in the module, talking and getting to know everyone was easy. I could learn about everyone’s different backgrounds and cultures. WIISP invites students from several partner institutions such as Cornell, Stellenbosch, and UNSW Sydney, so it provides a unique networking opportunity.

We would grab lunch together at authentic Venetian restaurants between lectures, go to the beach after a long day of learning, and build lifelong friendships while admiring the Grand Canal. WIISP wasn’t just about learning, it was about learning how to communicate and integrate with other people and cultures.

Studying in Venice unlocks exclusive opportunities.

As Venice is host to several luxury Maisons, as well as Fondaco dei Tedeschi luxury shopping centre, I was able to experience true Italian luxury culture in an authentic environment. Seeing the craftsmanship, customer experience, and history of Italian luxury with my own eyes is something that couldn’t be replicated over a screen.

Other activities included visits to Bella Vista winery, where I saw how professionals use their expertise to curate and craft valuable wines. WIISP allowed me to engage with tangible and memorable experiences that were invaluable to my learning.

As WIISP is an exclusive opportunity you can use to connect with professionals from several industries. Luxury employers are eager to see students who participate in academic activities related to the industry, WIISP helped me stand out from the crowd due to my hands-on learning.

What's the Venetian experience like?

Strategic Luxury Leadership runs in Venice for 2 weeks in the summer. Situated in a traditional Venetian palace, Warwick has a new state-of-the-art campus, Palazzo Giustinian Lolin, in the student district of Dorsoduro. This traditional Venetian palace hosts several rooms, carved from marble and adorned with traditional paintings and architecture. Located on the Grand Canal, you can gaze at a breathtaking view as you learn.

Observing the gondolas on the grand canal allowed me to appreciate the craftsmanship and devotion to tradition, which is the heart of both Venice and luxury industries. The environment itself contributed to my appreciation and understanding of luxury throughout the module.

Old Venice is full of experiences waiting for you to discover them in between your studies. You can try traditional plates such as cicchetti and seafood pasta, cool down with homemade gelato, and sip on Aperol spritz.

Why should I go?

You should consider a WIISP module if you want:

• Experience working in a culturally diverse, global environment
• Make friends for life
• Gain exclusive skills and knowledge

I would recommend WIISP to anyone who wants hands-on experience in a global environment. Modern workplaces are becoming more and more globalised. Working in unfamiliar environments makes you adaptable to challenges, and helps build your interpersonal skills. My time in Venice allowed me to gain an appreciation of different cultures and languages and inspired me to try new things, whether it be food, languages, or countries.

Connections are key in WIISP. You connect with new people and professionals from different backgrounds and industries. I was able to gain valuable insights into the role of people and emotions in luxury. Furthermore, I gained even more invaluable friendships which were possible due to the collaborative environment WIISP fosters.

The exclusive nature of the module allows you to stand out from others when applying for jobs, and it gives you first-hand experience of industries you’re considering entering. This helps build your soft skills in a short 2-week timespan. If you’re looking to enhance your skills, but want something different from internships, international experiences like WIISP are another alternative for you!