KENNESAW, Ga. | Aug 16, 2024

While leading an education abroad experience to Ireland this past summer, Kennesaw State University Assistant Professor of Marketing Prachi Gala was invited to visit the historic Irish College Leuven in Belgium, where she was offered a faculty fellowship that is already leading to international education opportunities for KSU students. 

As part of Gala’s partnership with Irish College Leuven, she is launching an education abroad program in May 2025 that will see students using the 400-year-old campus as a staging ground for further exploration of European business and politics. The program will include visits to the World Health Organization, the European Union Commission, and the European Court, all based in nearby Brussels.

“This program is very different because we will be in the heart of Europe,” said Gala. “Brussels is also home to leading international organizations such as NATO, the United Nations, UNICEF and the World Bank.”

Irish College Leuven was originally established in the 17th Century as the Irish Franciscan College, which trained Franciscan priests. Today, the facility is operated by the Leuven Institute of Ireland in Europe, a non-profit organization promoting Irish culture in Belgium. The campus has become home to educational, research, and training programs since re-opening in 1984. 

Gala met with members of Irish College Leuven while she was in Dublin leading a cohort of KSU MBA students. Soon after, the institute’s leaders offered her a faculty fellowship to visit their campus in Belgium.

"I was looking for partnerships for students to gain valuable insights into European politics and how Europe functions,” Gala said. “During my visit to Dublin, I had the opportunity to meet Jeffrey Cox [Irish College Leuven’s program executive], who was impressed with my approach to study abroad programs and how I wanted them to be intense enough for graduate students to learn something impactful."

The fellowship allowed her to meet with several key individuals involved with the Irish College Leuven. She also visited dormitories and student learning environments in the college. From the experience, she developed an education abroad program that will be offered to KSU graduate students in Summer 2025, with the intention of offering it annually.

In addition to visits to important locations like NATO and the World Bank, the expected itinerary includes a day trip to Amsterdam, one of the largest ports in Europe, where students will gain insights into the continent's logistics. 

"This program becomes very unique as students go to one country but get a view of the operations, businesses, and politics of Europe," Gala said.

Students will also complete assignments to deepen their understanding of European business practices, such as developing a case study on Belgium’s political and business landscape and writing a daily journal documenting their experiences abroad. With multiple business visits scheduled each day, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of various aspects of European business and governance.

Gala’s motivation for creating these opportunities for students is personal. Having completed most her education in her home country of India, she never had the chance to explore the world through a student’s perspective. Having led four education abroad programs since coming to KSU's Michael J. Coles College of Business in 2021, she enjoys helping students broaden their horizons.

"Many students have never stepped out of Georgia, let alone the United States,” she said. “When they experience different cultures and lifestyles, it gives them a reality check and a deeper appreciation of their own lives."

Gala’s work with the Irish College Leuven is only the beginning. She is already working on developing additional partnerships with organizations around the world with the hope of providing even more students with life-changing study abroad experiences. As she looks forward to the upcoming program in Belgium, her passion for creating global citizenship among her students remains at the heart of her work. 

-Daijah Sims