Austin Community College District’s (ACC) Continuing Education Division recently welcomed 24 students from Denmark for a two-week global learning experience that brought together cultures, ideas, and creativity.
The Danish students partnered with neurodivergent students from ACC’s STEPS (Skills, Training and Education for Personal Success) Program to explore what it means to collaborate across differences and design with empathy. Working in small teams, each group developed a retail product or service designed to better serve neurodivergent consumers.
Their ideas included:
- Apps to help customers navigate restaurant menus and dining protocols
- Emotional support and emergency response apps
- Teacher training programs to better support neurodivergent learners
- Stimming-friendly office furniture
Beyond the classroom, students participated in social and cultural experiences—attending Sunday worship at Ebenezer Baptist Church; cheering at a University of Texas football game; exploring San Antonio on a riverboat tour; learning about ranching culture with horseback riding, roping lessons, and demonstrations in Bandera; and even riding the Austin Duck Tour and touring a local high school campus.
This project-based exchange was part of ACC’s Global Learning initiative, which now joins the College’s International Programs to expand global opportunities for Riverbats.
If you know a student who’s interested in the opportunity, encourage them to apply to join the Global Learning Student Ambassador Program.