Brussels Study Tour

In cooperation with the European Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh and the European and Eurasian Studies Program at Florida International University, each summer the University of North Carolina’s Center for European Studies plans a week-long study tour to Brussels, Belgium, for educators to learn about the European Union.  With funding from GTKE as well as the Center’s National Resource Centers grant from the U.S. Department of Education, CES will provide funds to support summer study tours of Brussels for K-12 educators, and faculty teaching at community colleges or minority serving institutions (Title III- or Title V-eligible institutions).  This study tour will provide you with the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge and experiences to further your understanding of Europe and the European Union.  The travel dates include a visit to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

Participants visit influential European institutions, attend high-level briefings with EU officials, and make valuable networking connections.

Grants will provide up to $1,300 toward the cost of airfare to Brussels, roundtrip train fare to Luxembourg, six (6) nights shared accommodation in our contracted four-star hotel located conveniently in Brussels’ European Quarter, and breakfasts for six (6) days. In addition, the ESC at Pitt and CES at UNC will host one group dinner during the tour. Participants will be responsible for all additional meals, any additional costs for transportation, and all incidental expenses. There will also be a non-refundable fee of $275 USD charged to all participants to cover administrative costs.

As a requirement of the grant, participants will submit a lesson plan or syllabus module in August that shows how they will incorporate what they learned into the classroom.

To get an impression of the Study Tour, please look at a sample itinerary from the 2018 tour. View lesson plans created by past participants. More information specific to each type of awardee can be found below.

TESTIMONIALS

Tour Objectives

1. The Brussels Study Tour aims to comprehensively impact the North Carolina education community in the following ways:
   1. 1. Educator impact – This trip will tangibly contribute to the educators’ professional and personal development.
      2. Student impact – The information learned and connections made on this trip will be integrated into the classroom.
      3. Community impact – The resources, information, and connections will reach the participant’s education community, including their colleagues and school systems.

Past Itineraries

• 2023 Itinerary
• 2022 Week 1
• 2022 Week 2
• 2022 Week 3

Educators from outside of North Carolina can also apply through The University of Pittsburgh.

NC K-12 Educators

NC COMM. COLLEGE, MSI/HBCU FACULTY