Take the World by the Horns Begins Second Chapter Abroad
- Oct 21, 2025
- Education Abroad
- by Riddhi Bora
The University of Texas at Austin and Texas Global offer an extraordinary opportunity to the incoming class of undergraduate students: the chance to begin their journey to a world-class degree with an academic adventure abroad.
Launched in the 2024-2025 academic year, Take the World by the Horns is a competitive program that allows incoming first-year students to spend their initial college semester abroad in one of four global cities: Seoul, South Korea; Panama City, Panama; Copenhagen, Denmark; or a new option in Stockholm, Sweden, added to the program in 2025.
As the second iteration immerses students in classrooms, cultures, and cities abroad this fall, the program is cementing the University’s position at the forefront of global education and redefining the first-semester experience at a top-tier institution. Supplementing the camaraderie students enjoy with peers in their cohort, Texas Global provides support to help participants engage in campus life and share their experiences upon returning to the Forty Acres.
“The premier opportunity offered by Take the World by the Horns is already proving to elevate UT Austin student experiences to new heights,” said Sonia Feigenbaum, senior vice provost for global engagement and chief international officer. “After their immersion in an experiential learning environment abroad, these first-year cohorts return with an expanded perspective and global outlook that not only sets them up for academic and professional success but also enriches our classrooms, campus and community.”
Learning Beyond the Books
Sophomore K’Liyah Taylor’s UT journey began last fall in South Korea. Taylor traded walks down Speedway for the bustling streets of Seoul. And instead of the dining halls at Jester or Kinsolving, she enjoyed meals at local Korean restaurants such as Haekbap and 101 Namsan Tonkatsu.
Despite knowing only a handful of Korean words, which she had learned from Korean dramas and the two-week language course offered to her cohort, Taylor found she could easily navigate the city because of South Korea’s visitor-friendly environment.
In addition to the language course, Taylor took classes such as Philosophical Understanding for Science and Technology, Culture of Korea in the Korean Wave, Aesthetic Awareness in the Modern World and Business and Environmental Ethics. The learning for the courses extended beyond classroom walls, allowing students to participate in excursions related to the program's overall theme.
“We went to the Samsung Innovation Museum in Suwon and learned about the history of Samsung and how their innovative products and ideas made them one of the largest companies not just in South Korea, but in the world,” Taylor said.
Taylor and her cohort also learned about South Korea’s emphasis on group harmony and the collectivist mindset embedded in Confucian values. She immersed herself in the local culture by participating in excursions hosted by Education First, which allowed her cohort to meet and interact with South Korean college students. She also found unexpected comfort in seeing her own culture reflected in local events.
“One of my favorite parties that they had was the Halloween party,” Taylor said. “Halloween is not widely celebrated in Korea, besides [in] Itaewon District, so it was really nice to celebrate an American holiday in a different country and get to share that holiday with other people.”
Meeting a Growing Demand
Laura Caloudas, assistant director of experiential learning at Texas Global, oversees Take the World by the Horns. She explained that the program was created to offer students a broader range of opportunities in the realm of global education, earlier in their college careers.
In addition to forming bonds within their cohort, students gain important skills and traits such as flexibility, resilience, adaptability to new environments and cultural competency, all of which will serve them throughout their college careers and beyond.
“It was rewarding to see students who hadn't left home before go to a new city, learn how to navigate and start speaking in another language — and see them being brave and courageous,” Caloudas said. “I had one student say to me, ‘This is the best thing that could have happened to me. It's helped me grow and develop into a whole different person.’”
Taking the Leap
Taylor’s longtime interest and appreciation for Asian culture, and especially her interest in K-pop and Korean dramas, inspired her to choose the Seoul, South Korea: Society and Technology, Health and Well-being program. This program allows students to learn about the ways Koreans integrate technology into their lives to create a sustainable future.
After spending seven to eight years imagining what it would be like to visit South Korea, when Taylor finally reached Seoul, she felt like she was stepping into a different world.
“There would be this one district of Seoul [that] was so technologically advanced with infrastructure, it was like a metropolis. Then you would have another area or district of Seoul that had ... traditional Korean homes, which are called hanoks,” Taylor said. “That was really cool, how it still has a piece of its history within the same area.”
Building on Global Education
After returning to the United States for her second semester, Taylor continued to pursue global opportunities offered on the Forty Acres.
She participated in UT Austin's Global Career Accelerator, a semester-long online program that allows students to gain real-world experience by working virtually with top companies while earning academic credit.
Working in the program’s digital marketing track, Taylor learned about social media marketing and acquired technical skills by building a Shopify website and devising marketing ideas for companies such as Fenty Beauty.
Caloudas conducted surveys with students and received positive feedback about the career accelerator program. The surveys revealed that students appreciated the concrete skills and project-based opportunities they obtained.
“The hands-on experience is very useful for students, and some have been able to leverage it into internship opportunities after completing the program, through connections they make [within it],” Caloudas said. “It's been a very positive experience for the students who participated, in terms of building out their resumés and portfolios.”
A Final Take
After her transformative first-semester experience, Taylor said she would love to go back and undertake an internship in South Korea or in other parts of the world, including Europe. For students considering participating in the Take the World by the Horns program, she encourages them to just do it.
“It’s full of amazing opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime,” Taylor said. “Just step out of your small bubble that's your hometown, because the world has so much to offer. I can understand that it's scary stepping out of your comfort zone, but once you do, you won't regret it.”
Prospective UT Austin students interested in the program can visit the FAQs section on the Take the World by the Horns: First Semester Abroad webpage.
