Academic and Professional Excursions
Guided visits, lectures, and meetings are carefully selected to match the focus of your course and meet your individual program goals.
Let us introduce ourselves
A few words about us
Founded in 1997, CEPA has focused on building collaborative partnerships and creating meaningful study abroad experiences for students throughout Europe.
CEPA is an organization based in the U.S. and Europe that specializes in university-level faculty-led programs, open-enrollment summer and semester programs, as well as organizing high-level seminars and professional workshops.
We are proud of our expert knowledge and years of experience in university-level study abroad programming. Our success is measured by our growth, which has occurred, virtually, by “word of mouth”, due to our outstanding personalized service and flexibility.
The destinations we currently serve extend throughout Europe and also include service-learning programs in Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Peru.
In January 2026, CEPA joined Terra Education, which is a Certified B-Corp and San Diego-based global organization that operates a diverse portfolio of educational programs worldwide. It serves as the parent company of several independent organizations that develop and run immersive academic and travel programs, intentionally designed for university-level students, teens, youth, families, and active older adults.
With the CEPA as a partner, we have been able to increase global learning opportunities for Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) students.
I am impressed by CEPA’s focus on expanding access to global learning. They are amazingly supportive, innovative, flexible and allow for customization, understand student and faculty needs, and provide countless opportunities for programming.
Dr. Jill E. Blondin, Ph.D., Vice President for Global Initatives
Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
We place our partners at the heart of everything…
CEPA’s mission
Our mission is to develop and deliver education abroad programs with strong academic and cultural components in close partnership with faculty leaders and administrators at colleges and universities.
Together, we create custom designed study abroad programs that are based on the learning objectives unique to each course to reach those goals.
Through our expert knowledge of the destinations, close connections to local communities and cultures, as well as years of experience in university-level study abroad programming, we offer high-quality short and long-term programs.
It’s difficult for me to put into words the impact of CEPA on my students, and as I reflect on my response it brings tears to my eyes. At the beginning of my program every year, I tell students they will return to the USA a different person. Their minds will expand, their hearts will be filled, they gain compassion for others, and they acknowledge different approaches to life.
In these few short weeks abroad, my students laugh until their sides ache, they gain friendships that last a lifetime, and they gain confidence in themselves to travel the world with awe and wonder. Thank you CEPA for continuing your legacy of creating educational programs abroad.
Heather W. Dunn, Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor, Department of Bioengineering
Clemson University, USA
CEPA is an excellent partner who will support the international initiatives of U.S. and Canadian universities.
They have a magnificent team that will take that great idea about a faculty-led program and make it a reality.
Dr. Jon Stauff, Higher Educational Professional
South Dakota, USA
Committed to offering you the highest quality
Your Service Guarantee
Cultural Visits
Our team of study abroad specialists provide their expert knowledge and personal experience of the local and regional areas in your itinerary to design original and authentic cultural experiences.
Bilingual On-site Coordinators
The CEPA coordinator is an integral part of all CEPA faculty-led programs as it is the liaison between the faculty leader(s) and the CEPA Program Manager.
Accommodation
We carefully select accommodation on the basis of reputation, location, surroundings, and accessibility. Various accommodation options can be arranged to meet your program budget.
Meals
Food is a very important part of any culture and can be a great learning experience. We hand-pick unique and authentic restaurants so that your group can get a taste of the local cuisine while abroad.
In-Country Transportation
Depending on your itinerary and travel route, every type of transportation option is carefully evaluated and the most efficient, convenient, safe, and affordable means of transportation are arranged accordingly.
Classrooms and Meeting Facilities
We generally use meeting and conference rooms for classroom lectures, instructional meetings, and student presentations. Upon request and availability, facilities can also be arranged at local universities.
Emergency Assistance Support
At CEPA, the safety and security of our students, faculty leaders, and our employees are of the utmost importance. We provide you with emergency assistance support and have an emergency contact service available while our groups are traveling. Since we are located in Europe, we can be on-site to assist. Click here to read further information on “health and safety”.
Additional Services Upon Request
Special airfare rates for groups and individuals can be requested from our dedicated CEPA flight specialist at StudentUniverse.
Very affordable luggage, accident, and health insurance can be booked for an additional fee through CEPA.
Nature positive study abroad
CEPA voluntarily offsets the environmental impact of our study abroad programs and invests in ecosystem reforestation and biodiversity projects in Costa Rica.
A look back in time
Over 30 years in education abroad
January 1, 2026
In January 2026, CEPA joined Terra Education, which is a Certified B-Corp and San Diego-based global organization that operates a diverse portfolio of educational programs worldwide. It serves as the parent company of several independent organizations that develop and run immersive academic and travel programs, intentionally designed for university-level students, teens, youth, families, and active older adults.
November 2023 - October 2024
As part of our Climate and Nature Action Plan to compensate for the emissions and environmental impact of our study abroad participants, native trees are planted in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula through the non-profit Saimiri Foundation, and carbon offsets have been secured through UN-certified projects.
Total amount of trees planted until now: 5,175 Trees
Total offset amount: 2,643 tonnes of CO₂
Learn more
January - October 2023
CEPA has voluntarily offset 1,655 tonnes of carbon dioxide and planted 2,511 trees on behalf of our faculty leaders and students.
Learn more
2022
CEPA pledges to voluntarily offset the on-site carbon emissions created by all our study abroad programs.
2020 CEPA Goes Carbon Neutral
CEPA GmbH and CEPA Foundation Inc. sign a Climate Action Pledge and confirm their commitment to manage their CO2 footprint, to 1. Measure their greenhouse gases emissions; 2. Reduce those emissions through private action; 3. Compensate emissions through off-setting, including volunteer actions for forest restoration and Certified Emission Reductions (CER’s).
2019 CEPA Goes Green
CEPA commissioned a study of its carbon footprint by the Green Initiative, a UN Climate Neutral Program recognized consulting firm that provides advisory, training and certifications services for climate and sustainability objectives.
2018 Global Learning Collective
The Global Learning Collective (GLC) is founded as a consortium of five study abroad organizations – The Asia Institute, Athena Study Abroad, CampusB, CEPA, and EDU Africa.Our shared goal is to connect more corners of the world through this partnership of our family-run organizations focused on authentic, local, and immersive opportunities abroad.
Learn more at GLCollective.org
2017 Celebrating 20 years in education abroad
CEPA Europe, CEPA Brazil, and CEPA Asia are combined under the brand “CEPA” as even more destinations are now being offered.2016 Over 100 faculty-led programs in a single year
The milestone of running over 100 faculty-led programs in a single year is achieved! The 100th group of students in 2016 is from the University of Florida. (read more).Celebration of its 10th year of partnership running the Humber College Semester Program in Strasbourg, France (read more).
Both websites for the European Study Center (ESC) in Heidelberg and Strasbourg as well as the CEPA Foundation are relaunched.
2016 CEPA Abroad
Our company is excited to unveil a fresh design for our logo that better reflects our values and mission. The new logo features a modern aesthetic with bold colors and a sleek font, symbolizing innovation and growth.2015 10-year anniversary with West Virginia University
Celebration of the 10-year anniversary of CEPA’s partnership with the West Virginia University (Law program in Strasbourg, France).CEPA starts a collaboration with StudentUniverse to offer even better rates for international flights and an easier payment process to its university partners.
People’s Choice Award: CEPA Europe is nominated for the prestigious People’s Choice Award from the GoAbroad.com Annual Innovation Awards.
2014 New CEPA branch office in Strasbourg, France
CEPA opens its first branch office in Strasbourg, France.Kindern eine Chance, CEPA’s non-profit organisation based in Germany, begins its first charitable projects in Guatemala.
The first free webinar on Curriculum Integration is offered through the non-profit CEPA Foundation.
2013 CEPA Foundation is founded
The CEPA Foundation is created and receives its non-profit 501(c)(3) status in the United States.The first “Castle Talks” international symposium is held at the CEPA study center in Strasbourg, France.
2012 CEPA expands destinations
CEPA expands to include faculty-led destinations in Asia and Brazil. The brands “CEPA Brazil” and “CEPA Asia” are being promoted.Celebration of CEPA’s 10th year of partnership with Garnder Webb University to run its programs.
2011 New study center in Heidelberg, Germany
The European Study Center (ESC) Heidelberg is inaugurated in Heidelberg, Germany.The CEPA logo is redesigned to better reflect our mission of developing faculty-led programs with a strong academic focus.
2009 SIU Travel becomes officially CEPA Europe
SIU Travel GmbH officially changes its company name to CEPA Customized Educational Programs Abroad GmbH (CEPA Europe).CEPA begins offering group airfares.
The “EU Studies Fall semester program” in Strasbourg, France is launched with students from Georgia State University.
The first faculty-led group of students from Brazil is hosted in Europe.
2008 Semester and summer abroad programs for individual students are added to the portfolio
SIU Travel/CEPA Europe builds partnerships with prestigious European universities and begins offering direct enrollment summer and semester abroad programs in Germany, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Spain, England, and France.The first student groups from Russia (MIIT) and Kuwait (American University of Kuwait) are hosted in Europe.
2007 Celebrating 10 years of study abroad
The 10-year anniversary of SIU Travel is celebrated at its study center in Strasbourg, France – the Château de Pourtalès.2006 The brand "CEPA Europe" is born.
At the same time, SIU Travel starts offering internships for individual students and student groups as part of their faculty-led program.2004 First long-term program
The first long-term faculty-led group program is hosted for students from the Art Institutes as part of their “Odyssey Program – Summer Quarter in France, Germany and UK”.2003 First Canadian group
First group of students from Canada are hosted in France. They are from Humber College Toronto.2002 Numbers of programs are growing
Programs and partnerships are being expanded with the University of Georgia, Niagara University, Gardner Webb University, and the Art Institutes.2001 First faculty-led group
SIU Travel hosts its very first faculty-led group of American students and their faculty leader in Europe for 3 weeks. Their program is titled “Europe: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”.1997 The Beginning
Company founder and Director, Ulrike Leibrecht, is inspired to create an educational company called SIU Travel to assist faculty leaders and individual students to make all arrangements for their study abroad programs in Europe.
Terra Education Certified B Corp
Since January 1st, 2026, CEPA is a part of Terra Education, a certified B Corporation.
Certified B Corporations are a new type of corporation that use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.
B Lab, a nonprofit organization, certifies B Corporations in the same way TransFair certifies Fair Trade coffee or USGBC certifies LEED buildings.
Unlike traditional businesses, B Corps:
- Meet comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance standards;
- Meet higher legal accountability standards;
- Build business constituency for public policies that support sustainable business.
There are over 500 Certified B Corporations across 60 different industries. From food and apparel for you and your family to attorneys and office supplies for your business, B Corporations are a diverse community with one unifying goal: to redefine success in business.
Through a company’s public B Impact Report, anyone can access performance data about the social and environmental practices that stand behind their products.
CEPA Foundation
The CEPA Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 2013 to advance and enrich CEPA’s education abroad programming and its CSR initiatives in developing countries.
Through collaborative efforts like this, CEPA is making quality academic experiences accessible to all.
About
CEPA is dedicated to building collaborative partnerships and creating meaningful study abroad experiences for students throughout Europe since 1997.
Memberships / Professional Associations:
