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Learning, Culture, and Technology Leadership in Northern Ireland

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Important Dates

Tentative Travel Dates: 听June 3-17, 2026

Interest Meetings:听View on Office of Education Abroad event calendar here.

Scholarship Application Deadline:听November 2, 2025

Application and Deposit Deadline:听January 15, 2026

Program Description

Through this study abroad experience, participants will learn how culture influences education in K-12 and higher education settings. Participants will learn about Northern Ireland’s culture and politically turbulent history by exploring Belfast and other locations throughout Ireland. Participants will learn about Northern Ireland鈥檚 education system and the school integration efforts and visit multiple schools. In addition, participants will explore the impact of digital citizenship on peace building, technology integration, and school leadership.听Through听the experience, participants听will gain knowledge of how to continue听to learn the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to be听an engaged, active听global citizen.
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Highlights of the program will include visiting schools and universities around Belfast and Northern Ireland to examine instructional technology use in schools and meeting teachers, principals, and teacher educators at Stranmillis University College to discuss leadership,听assistive technology, and instructional technology integration in Northern Ireland.听 Participants will present听topics of professional development and research to听their听Irish peers.听We听will visit听museums, significant environmental sites, and murals and participate in peace building tours and other excursions highlighting Northern Ireland鈥檚 culture,听history, and natural beauty.
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Click here听to view the program itinerary.

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Faculty Leaders and听Course Offerings

Dr. Allison Freed听has planned and led study abroad experiences for 14 years and has studied abroad as an undergraduate and graduate student. She is deeply passionate about international travel and internationalizing the curriculum to support students as they live, grow, and work in a globalized world. Her research focuses on how international experiences influence how educators teach in the K-12 setting and beyond.

Courses offered by Dr. Freed:

  • CLEI 8309 Leadership and Community
  • ITEC 6368/7368 Instructional Technology Planning and Leadership
  • ITEC 6344听International Perspectives on Instructional Technology
  • EDUC 4210 Integration of Technology in Teaching and Learning
  • MSIT 3310 Learning and Development
  • ELSE 2303 Special Topics

 

 

 

Dr. Erin Shaw serves as Associate Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator for Library Media and Information Technologies at the University of Central Arkansas. Erin received her Ed.D. in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Memphis and an M.S.in Educational Media from the University of Central Arkansas. Erin spent 24 years as a Jr. High science teacher and school librarian before taking a position at UCA. Erin loves to travel- San Francisco and the Florida Keys are two of her favorite places in the states; Cayman Islands, Portugal and France are her favorites so far outside of the U.S.

Courses offered by Dr. Shaw:

  • LIBM 6325 Copyright, Intellectual Property, and Digital Citizenship
  • LIBM 6330 Global Systems of Information
  • LIBM 6390 Practicum
  • LEAD 6321 Research Methods

 

 

 

Dr. Valerie Couture is an Associate Professor in the School Counseling program at the University of Central Arkansas. Dr. Couture loves to travel and her travels have been to Mexico, Jamaica, and Canada. This will be her first time to travel to the United Kingdom! Dr. Couture is eager to share with students the opportunity to learn about education in Northern Ireland and hopes you will be a part of this adventure!

Courses offered by Dr. Couture:

  • SCCN 6360听School Counselor as Consultant
  • SCCN 6365 Educational Assessment and Measurement
  • SCCN 6380听School Counseling Intervention Strategies

 

 

 

 

CSPA 6370: Internship credit is also available to students already admitted to the CSPA program.

Program Cost

Health and Safety听

Participants registering for programs should carefully read through all health and safety information provided during the application process. In addition, participants should honestly complete the ‘Health and Safety Form’ so that any health related concerns may be adequately accommodated on study abroad programs.

Participants will be enrolled in comprehensive international insurance for the duration of programming. It is the participant’s responsibility to extend insurance cover if they stay abroad beyond UCA’s planned program dates.听For information about international insurance coverage:听/globalstudy/health-and-safety/

Participants must attend one health and safety meeting during the spring semester. Meeting dates will be announced听after the application deadlines.