Sustainable Ireland Study Abroad Program

ECU’s School of Hospitality Leadership is hosting an Ireland study abroad program from May 8-19, 2023. It will cost $3,720 plus airfare. There are six credits available undergraduate and/or graduate. If you have questions, contact Cynthia S. Deale at ohalloranc@ecu.edu or Robert M. O’Halloran at ohalloranr@ecu.edu. Learn more: https://piratesabroad.ecu.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=10583

There will be an interest meeting on Nov. 8th at 5:30 p.m. in 160 Rivers Building.

The theme of the program and course(s) will be sustainable hospitality and tourism. The focus of the program will be to explore the sustainable planning, development, and practices of hospitality and tourism operations. In the program, we will explore the following: unique lodging venues such as historic castles and other structures; culinary tourism activities; efforts to promote tourism, cultural and heritage tourism sites; and other tourism attractions and developments. The locations will be in Ireland and we plan to travel to multiple places within the country. The program will focus on hospitality and tourism operations in a variety of natural, sociocultural, and built environments where a balance between preservation, conservation, culture, and business is essential. Attention will be given to the triple bottom line of sustainability and how hospitality and tourism operations can balance economic, environmental, and socio-cultural sustainability.

This program is enhanced by taking place in Ireland because it provides a unique lens into a European country, through which one can experience and study sustainability, and generate topics for discussion and inquiry, that would not arise in a domestic course experience. The country of Ireland provides natural landscapes, agricultural lands, urban areas, cultural activities, historical sites, and a variety of other resources and activities that can serve as learning opportunities for our students. Experiencing Ireland’s numerous sustainable resources and activities can enhance our students’ awareness of sustainability in general, increase their practical understanding of its applications, and augment their global understanding.

Both course instructors have spent time in Ireland and they both co-led the successful study abroad trips to Ireland in 2018 and 2019. They have also come to know the director of the hospitality program at the Dublin Institute of Technology through their involvement in the International Council on Hotel and Restaurant, and Institutional Education (ICHRIE). The instructors will serve as co-facilitators of the course and bring complementary skills and backgrounds to the program. Dr. O’Halloran has considerable experience in the hospitality industry and a background in feasibility studies and financial analysis in the hospitality industry while Dr. Deale has a strong background in sustainability practices in hospitality and tourism.