In a session at the Forum on Education Abroad Conference in Boston, MA, our Academic Director, Marketa Lepicovsky, shared her research on using AI to create education abroad prediction models and assigning the top word categories that best predict faculty-led program success.

Read the article from The Pie News

March 8, 2022

Uli Leibrecht, Executive Director, is pleased to welcome Marketa Lepicovsky, Ph.D. as Academic Director to the CEPA team in Germany, effective March 1, 2022.

In this new management position, Marketa will provide superb leadership while introducing fresh ideas and perspectives across the entire CEPA portfolio of programs, services, and initiatives.

By overseeing and upholding CEPA’s commitment to excellence, she will foster ongoing relationships with study abroad staff, faculty, and administrators at partner institutions to continually ensure the academic quality of faculty-led, summer, and semester study abroad programs.

Marketa joins the team with more than 16 years of experience in international and higher education. Prior to joining CEPA, she managed international education and study abroad programs in both Germany and in the Czech Republic, including student services and teaching.

She earned her Master’s Degree in Art Education from Ohio University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Ohio State University. Most recently, she had the unique opportunity to live in Taiwan where she obtained a Ph.D. in Business Administration at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology.

We are excited to welcome her into this vital role at CEPA and are confident that her exceptional experience and strengths will further advance the excellence of our team and organization.

Sincerely,

Uli Leibrecht

Executive Director

CEPA GmbH and CEPA Foundation

This program is a “dream come true” for students from diverse backgrounds in foods and nutrition. Follow University of Georgia students on their nutritional tour of Greece and Italy. They get emersed in the culture and food by spending time in beautiful cities including Athens, Rome, Siena, Florence, Verona, and Bologna and by sampling the regional diversity in the food culture firsthand.

Some of the exciting planned excursions and activities include visits to the Parthenon, Coliseum, walking tours of Florence, Verona, Sienna and more. Students will tour a winery, an oil mill, a Parmigiano cheese dairy, a balsamico producer, attend a cooking classes with gourmet chefs and visit local food markets.

Follow their blog: https://chadmpaton.wixsite.com/fdns5710

In April, students from Maryville College spent two weeks in Greece enjoying breathtaking views, touring museums, and analyzing sculptures and many great pieces of architecture from the height of the Greek civilization.

Through guided visits, independent explorations, organized events, and personal interviews students were exposed to Greek culture from antiquity to the modern day.

We had such an amazing experience. There is no doubt that CEPA is providing top-notch service in value and activities. Professional, flexible, adaptable, and very personable – throughout (initial contact, planning, pre-arrangements, and during).  CEPA representatives were so accommodating to me, as a first time organizer and the program went so smoothly!!

Thank you for all the work that you have done at your end to make this happen! I’m super excited to start planning for 2021.

Irene Guerinot, faculty leader

Check out their next program:

MC Scots in Greece 2022 – Maryville College

Already planning for future programs?

Take a look at our program sample for some inspiration or start with our program development process.

Italy has a rich cultural history and entrepreneurial heritage, so it is also a great place for innovation and start-ups.

The IB495 class at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Collat School of Business spent one week in Italy exploring Bologna, Sant’Agata, Verona, Grezzana, and Milan.

The study abroad program focussed on the evaluation of the environment for innovations and entrepreneurs. It provided an insight into the culture, history, and economy of Italy. During multiple visits to businesses from the automotive, financial, architectural, as well as the food and agricultural sector students gained a stronger awareness and better understanding of Italy’s business climate and the resaons why Italy continues to be a great destination for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Take a look at the UAB in Italy study abroad blog: https://www.uabinitaly.org/about

UAB international business study abroad program in Italy UAB international business study abroad program in Italy UAB international business study abroad program in Italy

Thinking about taking your classroom to Italy?

The team at CEPA is full of ideas to make your Italian experience unforgettable.

CEPA celebrating its 100th study abroad group for 2017 from Davenport University

This June we are proud to celebrate the arrival of a group from Davenport University as our 100th study abroad group for 2017 with many more to come. We are happy to share this special moment with them.

The group arrived on June 3rd in Milan with 14 students and their faculty leaders. They were greeted with a “100th group” cake as a small surprise by their CEPA on-site coordinator, Morena.

During their “European Business and Culture Program” the group explores the heart of Europe by visiting 6 countries in 3 weeks. The program includes corporate visits to companies and institutions, such as Ducati Motorcycles in Bologna, a Swiss bank in Zurich, the European Parliament in Strasbourg as well as a broad range of cultural excursions.

We are proud to mention that Davenport University and CEPA have been running business programs throughout Europe for 10 years now and that we are honored to have this long-standing relationship with our partners at Davenport University.

faculty-led programs during fall break

Deciding on the dates for a faculty-led program in Europe can be a very difficult if not the most challenging decision of the development process. There is definitely no “one size fits all” and academic, financial, and cultural factors must all be considered.

Why you should plan your faculty-led program during the fall break:

* Pleasant weather
Autumn in Europe can be just beautiful! It may not be beach weather, but it’s pretty much perfect for a cultural visit.

* Fewer growds and shorter lines
In late-September the crowds start to thin out. It is much easier to appreciate a city’s attractions and to soak-in the local way of life.

* Local festivals
There are many small cultural and historic festivals dedicated to local history, music, art, handicrafts, food, and traditions. Attending such an event is a great opportunity to meet locals, interact with them, and learn more about their culture.

* Cheaper flights and better room rates
By the end of August, Fall pricing begins and fares drop for the less expensive season.

Let’s start the conversation today!

Send us an email to info@cepa-abroad.org or visit our website to request a custom proposal.

University of Florida at the European Study Center (ESC) in Strasbourg, France

Celebrations are in order for a group of 12 study abroad students and their faculty leader from the University of Florida. We are proud to share this event with them.

This June marks a milestone for CEPA, welcoming our 100th study abroad group so far for the year. Approximately 35 more faculty-led programs from different universities will take place throughout Europe, Asia, and Brazil this Fall and by the end of 2016.

 

During their stay at the European Study Center in Strasbourg – Château de Pourtalés, the student group from Florida were honored during an afternoon cake and coffee party by Harald Leibrecht and the team members from CEPA and the Château.

University of Florida at the European Study Center (ESC) in Strasbourg, France 100th CEPA faculty-led group in 2016

The students are staying in Europe until the end of the month, taking part in a full-spectrum program organized by CEPA. It focuses on comparative environmental politics and sustainability including visits to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, United Nations and World Trade Organization in Geneva, many castles, wineries, and organic farms in France and Germany, windfarms and solar power industries, local and organic food production, as well as cooking schools in Italy.

As part of their course requirements, the University of Florida students will be developing projects for “bringing home” to their own towns, cities, and states the best environmental and sustainability practices and policies observed and studied in Switzerland, Germany, France, and Italy.

Learn more about their study abroad program >

CEPA and Humber College Toronto celebrating 10-years anniversary at the CEPA study center in Strasbourg, France

For 10 years, Humber College (School of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism) and CEPA Europe have been running a semester abroad program in Strasbourg, France open to students with a major/minor in Culinary Management, Hospitality Management, Tourism Management, and Tourism & Hospitality Management.

During the program students reside at the historic Chateau de Portales and complete seven weeks of classroom instruction. Weekly field trips are taken to breweries, wineries, patisseries, hotels and attractions around France, including Paris.

After 10 years, we feel very honored to have this relationship with the people at Humber College. Together, we work hard to continously improve the program in order to make it an excellent opportunity for their students to connect their classroom learning with real-world experience.

Kristy Adams – Program Coordinator/Professor

CEPA and Humber College Toronto celebrating 10-years anniversary at the CEPA study center in Strasbourg, France
Kristy, Brent, Carter (12) and Griffin (9)

“The experience and CEPA changed our lives! That’s the truth.

Our family will always have the unbelievable memories to hold onto for the rest of our lives. We are so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to experience Europe. I truly cannot think of a day that goes by where our trip doesn’t touch us in some way. Whether we are looking at some of the artwork we brought back or singing our own kugelhopf song or Skyping Biggi or looking at our photos, smiles our brought to our faces each and every time.

Thank you Uli for all that you and your team provide to EVERYONE who graces the Chateau’s doors and CEPA’s programs.

WOOHOO HUMBER and CEPA!!!!

And thank you for letting me, my family and so many of us over the past 10 glorious years enjoy the ride!!!!”

All our love,
Kristy, Brent, Carter (12) and Griffin (9)