Looking Back on 10 Years of EdOdyssey: On Evolving in a Rapidly Changing World

Throughout EdOdyssey’s 10 years in operation, navigating change has been a consistent theme. Global and geopolitical events. Shifting student expectations. Complexities of university partnerships. Major disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. And most recently, the shaky ground we find ourselves standing on in 2025. 

Rather than chasing trends to stay on top, we’ve taken a different approach with each new challenge that arises: Looking to the heart of EdOdyssey and leaning deeply into our mission, core values, and identity. 

THE PANDEMIC EXAMPLE

When COVID-19 threw the world into chaos, study abroad as we knew it ground to a halt. Students who were already abroad had to return home. There were no trips on the horizon. Nobody knew for how long. It impacted every single one of us, including in somber moments when we watched friends in the field lose their jobs and institutional partners forced into closing their doors. 

We knew we had to pivot. We had to get creative. 

And so we asked ourselves: How can we build programs that align with our values and tap into technology while travel is off the table? How can we invite students into international experiences still rooted in human connection during one of the most disconnected moments in recent history?

With those thoughts propelling us forward, we built a really exciting program that blended together language, culture, and health—a collaborative project that pulled from the diverse expertise of our team. We called it, “The Latinx Patient: Spanish and Culture for Healthcare.” This course was taught online during the pandemic by Peruvian professionals, allowing student to fuse their learning of critical Spanish vocabulary related to the medical field with cultural contextualization of Latin American immigrant populations in the US. 

“This actually planted seeds for some of the really unique global health programming we run now,” EdOdyssey CEO and Founder Peter McGovern said. “For example, this summer, we’re partnering with Nebraska Wesleyan University on a Latin American program focused on comparative health, where students visit private, public, and community health centers. They’ll even have the opportunity to meet, converse, and learn from a shaman to explore indigenous perspectives on care.” 

EMBRACING DOMESTIC OPPORTUNITIES

Being adaptable to change means listening. There has been an increase in the need, from both our students and institutional partners, for programs that are still place-based, but more accessible.

In response, we expanded our options for domestic study away programs. This has become one of the quickest-growing areas of our work. The US is home to many diverse cultures and rich, complex histories. Many of these local histories connect to global issues. And so students travel with us to explore diasporas and communities within the US through a distinctly global lens.

One of the most recent successful programs was “Music and the Call for Justice in New Orleans,” run in collaboration with Curry College. In a city with a layered identity and a fusion of different cultures, students had what Program Leader and EdOdyssey Director of Institutional Partnerships, Kyle Simmons, described as “an unforgettable immersion in history, music, culture, and hands-on learning.” 

We also partner regularly with Northeastern University to build transformative excursions for their Global Scholars in Boston and Oakland. We’ve recently begun to collaborate on their new NYC Scholars program too, and we’re excited to share more on this soon! 

FYEs: FILLING AN IMPORTANT GAP

In recent years, the needs of both students and institutions have evolved, and they continue to do so. Both have faced unprecedented challenges. 

As students enter their first year of university, they are living through a pivotal time that has the power to shape their next four years and far beyond. Young people are struggling in an increasingly disconnected and lonely world. Their mental health is in crisis. The need for authentic connection is real.

At the same time, higher education itself is in a state of flux. University enrollment is declining. Competition is growing. The return on investment of a traditional college degree is under scrutiny. Pressure on academic performance is rising. And the world of work is changing quickly too, which must be considered by universities. Employers are seeking graduates with a global mindset who can navigate work in an interconnected, cross-cultural world. Plus, AI is shaking things up everywhere we look.

Enter another example of our response to change, one that is timely and impactful: First Year Experiences (FYE). This is another quickly growing area for EdOdyssey, and with good reason. These programs play a strong role in easing many of the above challenges for both students and institutions. 

During this important transitional time for students, we can bring learning alive through FYEs, carve out moments for self-reflection and meaningful connection, and propel them into the rest of their college career with a stronger sense of curiosity than ever, plus a built-in community created through shared experiences. For institutions, FYEs offer an edge, helping to attract students who are looking for something a little different to give them a leg up. They increase retention rates and help universities achieve their goal of setting students up for success upon graduation.

The EdOdyssey team is particularly well-placed to deliver FYEs as they draw on our roots as educators and facilitators and deep-rooted experience in both K-12 and higher education. They encapsulate our love for creating that “EdOdyssey magic” in immersive, intentional, well-structured programs, and so this change was a natural fit for us.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

As we approach EdOdyssey’s 11th year this August, we are well-positioned to thrive in the decade ahead. We’re adaptable, nimble, relationship-oriented, and moving forward with ears and eyes wide open because there’s no map for where the world is taking us next. But we know what it takes to succeed: programs built with purpose, relationships built on trust, and a team that’s willing to work together to embrace the next challenge. Our mission, core values, and identity serve as the compass that will continue to guide us.

“Adaptability, grit, and flexibility aren’t just things we teach through travel; they’re how we’ve built EdOdyssey,” Peter said. “In many ways, we’ve grown by applying the same mindset we ask of our students: stay curious, stay open, and lean into the unknown. That’s what travel teaches you...and it’s what’s made us resilient in a rapidly changing field.”