The first Forum on Education Abroad Conference in Europe was held in Dublin to great acclaim, Dec. 5 to 7. Among the many highlights, Arcadia University hosted an evening reception for its European partners and American colleagues on Dec. 6 at the newly renovated Smock Alley Theater in Temple Bar.

Dr. Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland, opened the conference with an invigorating speech, and Dr. Colin Ireland, former Resident Director of Arcadia in Ireland, gave the keynote address at the Plenary Session.

Ireland, who published several scholarly articles and book reviews throughout the year, was introduced by Dr. Liam O’Dochartaigh, who highlighted Arcadia University’s long-standing commitment to study abroad in Ireland and to high academic standards in international education. Ireland’s remarks were followed by a warm response from Dr. Michael Woolf from CAPA.

Lorna Stern, Associate Vice President Arcadia University; Dr. William Anthony, Director, Study Abroad Office at Northwestern University; and Ulrike Kind from the Department of International Affairs at Bonn University presented on global issues surrounding sustainability and on Arcadia’s program in Germany: Renewable Energy: Policy and Development.

Dr. Tom Kelley, Resident Director of Arcadia in Ireland, and his team (including Gráinne Hand, Jessica Leonard and Kate Jones of  Arcadia’s Dublin Center) organized the Arcadia reception at the Smock Alley Theater in the heart of Dublin to celebrate the 60,000 student to study abroad with Arcadia—an exciting milestone achieved this semester.

Dr. Patrick Sutton, the Director of the Theater Program at Trinity College Dublin, directs the Smock Alley Theater and gave an illuminating speech about its 400-year history to the many guests from Arcadia’s Irish and European partners, as well as U.S.-based colleagues and friends. Dr. Jan Sanders, Regional Director of Mediterranean Programs, and Dr. Hamish Thompson, Resident Director, Edinburgh Study Center, also attended.

The reception and the venue proved entertaining with music provided by expert Irish fiddle players and the lyrical voice of Dr. Liam O’Dochartaigh raised in song in typical Irish sean nos style.