Ten students from the American University of Sharjah (AUS) College of Architecture and Design (CAAD) traveled to Barcelona, Spain during the 2016 Fall Eid break for a trip organized by Camilo Cerro, Assistant Professor of Architecture. The aim of the trip was to allow students to experience in person things they had only seen in classes and books, and to take them to Barcelona's prestigious Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC).

The students met with AUS alumni currently in the master's degree program at IAAC and the program's professors. According to Cerro, this type of exposure is important for students looking to pursue their master's degree in architecture. The students also visited the offices of famous architects and designers. Currently, one AUS alumnus has a full-time job in Barcelona and a handful have completed internships there.

During the very active trip, the group experienced the city's history through visits to art and design museums, buildings and monuments, and walked at least 10 km a day.

"International trips are always a great learning experience as they directly expose you to new people, languages, cultures, customs, histories and architecture. The trip was an ultimate eye opener for me to many of those great things," said Dina Abdelrahman, a third-year student pursuing her Bachelor of Interior Design. "Barcelona had a lot to offer. With our professor's guidance, we had the chance to see important tourist sites, great architectural projects, educational institutes, different districts and local businesses. Visiting all of the above gave way to a new understanding of urban design, architecture and the symbolism within it that enriches any project," Abdelrahman added.