For the second year, Drexel’s English Language Center (ELC) hosted 12 students and two faculty members from Ulster University in Northern Ireland in a four-week cultural immersion program this summer to explore topics of U.S. sociopolitical culture. The curriculum included an overview of historical factors shaping the current sociopolitical environment and included workshops by local experts from academic, political and community arenas. These sessions were supplemented with visits to key institutions in the Philadelphia area to build on foundational understanding. Cultural excursions included a Phillies game, a mural arts tour, and trips to New York City and the Smithsonian Institution. 

One of the program’s highlights was a visit from Philadelphia City Commissioner Seth Bluestein, who spoke on Drexel’s campus about election integrity and shared his experiences from recent election cycles. He subsequently invited the Ulster students to join him at a July 14 press conference at City Hall, where city commissioners unveiled newly redesigned provisional ballot envelopes. This event gave students a unique, firsthand view of how local government works to enhance voter access and transparency.  

In their capstone Philadelphia Project, students reflected on how the program deepened their understanding of the historical contexts that have led to the current situation in the United States. Many noted that this experience offered a more nuanced perspective than what they typically encounter through media back home. “I learned a lot about how systems work in the U.S. and what actual life is like outside of the bias and perspective created online,” said student Anna Monaghan. “I also feel like I have learned a lot about what I want to do with my future, what I want it to look like and where I want to be. I have found a city I really love.” 

The ELC looks forward to hosting a third cohort of this program next summer.