Pirates take advantage of summer study abroad opportunities
East Carolina University students grabbed their passports this summer as they participated in numerous study abroad opportunities. From group trips to solo positions, students went to all corners of the globe as they explored new places that broadened their view of the world.
Abroad in Asia
In May, 10 ECU College of Business students spent two weeks in Asia learning about the business environments and local customs of South Korea and China.
Kelly Carter, a junior business management major with a concentration in human resource management from Rochester, Minnesota, made the journey. A former U.S. Air Force service member, Carter had been stationed in South Korea and was excited for the opportunity to return.
ECU College of Business students visited Tiananmen Square during a study abroad trip to China and South Korea. (Contributed photo)
“I retired from the military in April 2024, during which I had the opportunity to travel extensively, visiting 31 countries,” Carter said. “I’ve always had a deep love for travel and exploring different cultures. One of my favorite assignments was living in South Korea, so when I saw the College of Business advertising a study abroad opportunity to South Korea and China, I knew I had to apply.”
As part of their visit, the students learned about South Korean media and entertainment during a visit to Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation and visited Seoul Cosmetic Surgery, where Mona Hanson, CMO and co-founder, and her team discussed Korea’s economic success and growth of the world cosmetic industry. Students also had time with Samsung’s director of global public affairs, and the director of La French Tech Seoul. In addition, the group visited the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, the Korea Territorial Development Museum, Seoul Tower and the demilitarized zone in South Korea.
The program continued in China with the ECU students visiting the Business College of Beijing Union University before participating in local academic engagement activities. Through multiple exchange activities such as hand-making dumplings with American and Chinese faculty and students, and story sharing on how digitalization is shaping international business, students interacted with local students in Beijing. The ECU group then toured WE workspace and the HongQiao Market and attended presentations and discussions by the CEO of Translia.
Outside of Beijing, the students visited the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Great Wall, and took a Hutong Tour, including a trip to a resident’s traditional courtyard house where they learned about her family, Chinese history and cultures.
“While I initially thought I’d prefer South Korea — especially because I used to live there — China truly surprised me,” Carter said. “Visiting Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and of course, the Great Wall was unforgettable. Being there in person completely changed my perspective. The history, the hospitality and the preservation of cultural landmarks were all fascinating.”
After graduation, Carter hopes to work in human resources for the military as a contractor or a civilian employee. She believes the trip helped build skills that will benefit her career, including cross-cultural communication, teamwork and adaptability while navigating unfamiliar environments, as well as a deeper understanding and appreciation of global workplace cultures.
Discovering fashion in Europe
Fashion merchandising students in the College of Health and Human Performance visited Milan and Prague in a journey filled with immersive learning, industry insight and global inspiration.
In Milan, one of the world’s fashion capitals, the group visited the flagship stores of Gucci and Louis Vuitton. They also explored the Armani/Silos Museum, experienced the curated fashion space of 10 Corso Como, and engaged with experts at Successori REDE. Students also met with faculty and staff at the Italian fashion school Istituto Marangoni, where they learned about the school’s undergraduate and master’s programs in fashion and design.
A group of ECU fashion merchandising students stand in front of Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic. (Contributed photo)
While in Prague, the group met fashion designer Jitka Klett, who shared her journey in couture and ready-to-wear fashion, as well as her company’s merchandising strategies. Additionally, they toured museums and cultural landmarks that enriched their understanding of European history and art.
Sophomore Aniyah Hancock of Moyock was one of 12 students who went on the trip.
“I wanted to experience new cultures and designs in a real-world setting,” she said. “Not only is it more beautiful in person, but also, I knew I would gain more of an understanding by being in a new place rather than reading about it. I also wanted to step outside my comfort zone to connect with new people.”
Hancock especially enjoyed the La Triennale di Milano museum.
“This visit was very eye-opening to how art and design can address social issues and inspire change,” Hancock said. “It was the visit that allowed me to deeply think about the world and my perspectives on life. We also explored historically important pieces of architecture such as the Duomo and Prague Castle.”
Hancock said the trip helped her independence, adaptability and observation skills. She plans to apply some of the lessons learned during her time in Milan and Prague to her future projects.
“Applying sustainability to my designs, such as the ones I learned about while abroad, will help my designs enhance quality of life,” she said. “Also, being intentional about why I am designing and who I hope to reach is something I can apply in my career.”
Sustainable Tourism in Ireland
Business students in the School of Hospitality Leadership spent 12 days in Ireland studying sustainable hospitality and tourism, earning class credit. The seven undergraduate and graduate students spent time in Belfast, Derry, Donegal, Dublin and Galway as well as the Irish countryside. They visited castles, historical sites, national parks and museums, conducting an in-depth analysis of sustainable tourism initiatives, the importance of the hospitality industry to Ireland’s economy and how smaller areas of Ireland promote tourism and hospitality.
Students examine documents at the Armagh Robinson Library. (Contributed photo)
Senior Olivia Sullivan, a Charlotte native, is a hospitality management major with a concentration in lodging and a minor in business management. She enjoyed the scenic landscapes and was fascinated by Galway’s city lifestyle.
“You could tell by the atmosphere that a lot of the things the locals would say and do were natural,” she said. “They didn’t let the tourism affect their environment. The people were kind, and the culture felt so authentic and easy to pick up on.”
Sullivan said her experience further developed her understanding of the positive impacts of sustainable tourism on the local community and guests.
“I was able to see and experience things firsthand environmentally, culturally and sustainably,” Sullivan said. “This trip has improved skills that I will need in any hospitality career that I choose. This experience truly reaffirmed my passion for hospitality and further opened my eyes to what it means to be impactful, sustainable and culturally respectful while traveling.”
Classmate Jillian Waller, a hospitality management major from Cary, went to Ireland because of a combined passion for travel and learning about the hospitality of different cultures.
“The trip was truly eye-opening, not just professionally but personally,” Waller said. “I learned how deeply culture influences hospitality practices. From the welcoming Irish service style to their emphasis on guest experience, it gave me a broader understanding of what it means to create memorable guest interactions. It reinforced why I chose hospitality as my field.”
New experiences in Naples
Student Ayden Buechler traveled to Naples, Italy, to shadow a cardiologist and an orthopedic surgeon.
“My favorite surgery was an orthopedic surgery where they had to fix a pathological fracture caused by radiation therapy. I’ve never seen anything happen like that before,” said Buechler, a public health major in the College of Health and Human Performance.
Ayden Buechler shadowed a cardiologist and orthopedic surgeon during a summer study abroad in Naples, Italy. (Contributed photo)
The Doctors in Italy program launched in 2018, intended to provide transformative experiences for pre-med and health-focused students. They are immersed into clinical settings across Italy to gain more insight about healthcare in a different country, while balancing first-hand learning with new cultural experiences.
Buechler was based at Giovanni Pascale Foundation in Naples, a leading cancer center for advanced care and clinical and experimental research in southern Italy.
“I enjoyed the experience of learning about how extensive the field of oncology is,” Buechler said. “It can cover every aspect of the human body. Shadowing surgery was my favorite part, because each procedure is always a new learning experience. This opportunity was once in lifetime.”
Buechler’s summer was an unforgettable mix of challenge and discovery.
“Study abroad in Italy, though quite intimidating in my case because of the language barrier, was also a blessing to see the culture, the food and the adventures Italy has to offer,” Buechler said. “It was awesome, to say the least. I’m glad I was able to take the trip. It gave an opportunity not only to get out of my comfort zone and achieve greatness, but to be evermore passionate to broaden my horizons for learning new languages.”
Health care in Ghana
ECU students and faculty stand in front of the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra, Ghana. (Contributed photo)
Twelve students in the College of Health and Human Performance spent 16 days as part of a study abroad trip in Ghana. The trip, led by health education and promotion faculty members Dr. Leslie Cofie and Tina Marie Devlin, allowed students to experience the range of health services in Ghana.
Their trip began in the country’s southern region near the capital of Acra with visits to Elmina and Cape Coast castles. They then made their way north to Navrongo, where the premiere Navrongo Health Research Center is located. Throughout the country, visits to primary health care facilities including a Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound and a Health Center, and tertiary care facilities including district and regional hospitals were part of the itinerary. Students also learned about the slave trade and its history in Ghana.
According to Cofie, the ECU group had the exclusive privilege of visiting with a chief and his group of sub-chiefs who are the gatekeepers of public health promotion initiatives in their districts. They shared unique efforts to provide health services, establish and expand health centers, reduce maternal and child mortality through healthy nutrition and implement health prevention campaigns to reduce the spread of infectious diseases and maintain clean environments.
While there, the HHP group helped complete a well that will provide clean water access for a village.
Pirates in Germany
ECU College of Business students stand in Marienplatz during a tour of Munich. (Contributed photo)
Eleven business students spent 12 days in Germany with a focus on marketing and culture in the cities of Munich, Dresden and Berlin.
In Munich, they attended a presentation by Ines Vasconcelos, junior product line manager for motorsport apparel at Puma. The students also visited BMW World, a showroom of current and prototype vehicles, and learned about the brewing process at the oldest brewery in the world, Weihenstephan.
In Dresden, students visited Volkswagen’s transparent factory to learn about its production process. This factory is where the company tests process improvements before introducing them to the entire organization. A trip to Colditz Castle, which housed Allied prisoners during World War II, followed.
After arriving in Berlin, a panel discussion with people from both East and West Germany shed light on what life was like when the Berlin Wall separated the capital, and they also took a photo at Checkpoint Charlie. Other Berlin activities included a guided tour of the city and a discussion with Restlos Glucklich, an organization that advocates for sustainable food consumption.
Sophomore marketing major Rose Lukeba from Wake Forest said the trip was an opportunity to study abroad and gain real-world experience in her major.
“Studying abroad gave me a great opportunity to learn about how marketing and business work outside of the United States,” Lukeba said. “I know this experience will give me an open mind in the future when working with other businesses where their company culture or way of doing things is different than my own.”