ASU professor-led travel adventures take curious minds around the world

ASU’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) offers immersive, professor-led travel adventures for curious minds 50 and better. In this segment, Jared Swerzenski, director of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at ASU, highlights how learning becomes an adventure with ASU OLLI’s global educational trips—where every destination becomes a classroom, and every moment is enriched with history, culture and purpose.

“This isn’t your average vacation—it’s travel with depth, meaning, and community.”

Recent and Upcoming OLLI Travel Experiences:

Paris – Fashion and wine exploration
Taiwan – Culture and community immersion
Thailand – Service learning
Greece – Ancient Greek history and the Olympics’ birthplace
Italy – Winter studies in Renaissance art and culture
Morocco – Service lead trip
Vienna & Prague – The lives and legacies of Mozart and other great composers

Each trip is curated and led by an ASU professor, adding rich historical, artistic, and cultural insight to every itinerary. Participants don’t just visit—they understand the places they go, through guided discussions, local experiences, and shared exploration.

“This is programmed for anyone 50 or better,” Swezenski said, “…but it doesn’t mean you have to be 50 or better. We are giving opportunities to lifelong learning…and travel and community building for anyone who wants to take part in it.”

Swezenski explained how he views this program as “travel reimagined.” Taking some of the community-led expertise from ASU and pairing it with travel.

“We saw a little white space in the market and we decided that we have so many experts in the greater Phoenix area, and at ASU that could led curiosity and different opportunities within travel,” Swezenski explained.

Swezenski emphasized that the program isn’t just about doing regular sight-seeing, but enjoying the atmosphere while also learning about the history and culture of that particular location. He also explained that you don’t need to be from Phoenix to join the program, and you can be from anywhere to join OLLI.

“We don’t want to overload you with education opportunities,” Swezenski said, “…we want it to be kind of a sweetener on the travel.”