How do libraries, museums, schools, universities, and learning organizations strengthen communities and improve lives? Join East Carolina University for an immersive Study Abroad experience that examines how educational institutions foster lifelong learning and community development in Belize.
This interdisciplinary graduate program brings together students in Library Science, Adult Education, Educational Leadership, and related education fields to explore how formal and non-formal learning environments promote literacy, civic engagement, cultural preservation, and social well-being. Students may enroll in one of three graduate courses:
LIBS 6903 – Special Topics in Library Studies: Library Practice in a Global Context
ADED 6003 – Global Perspectives in Adult Education
LEED 7520 – Ethics and Power in Organizational Leadership
Students will engage directly with the organizations and professionals who shape lifelong learning in Belize. Through visits to libraries, museums, universities, and community education centers, students will examine how educational systems respond to local needs while preserving cultural heritage and expanding access to information.
As an English-speaking nation with a rich multicultural heritage, Belize offers students the opportunity to experience educational practices from a global perspective without a language barrier and provides meaningful opportunities to compare approaches to lifelong learning with those found in the United States.
Learning abroad transforms the course from a theoretical study into a hands-on professional experience. Students will observe library and educational practices firsthand, engage with educators and information professionals, participate in guest lectures and service-learning activities, and reflect on how cultural context influences educational leadership, information access, and community engagement. These experiences cultivate intercultural competence, professional adaptability, ethical leadership, and a broader understanding of how learning organizations serve diverse populations—outcomes that cannot be fully replicated in a traditional campus classroom.
This program is designed for graduate students and alumni in ECU’s Library Science, Adult Education, and Educational Leadership programs, as well as graduate students across the College of Education, alumni, and students from library and education programs at other universities. Students who are not currently enrolled at ECU are welcome to participate by applying for non-degree graduate status.
Whether you aspire to become a librarian, educational leader, or adult educator, this Study Abroad experience will broaden your professional perspective, strengthen your cultural competence, and prepare you to lead and serve diverse communities in an increasingly interconnected world.
TRAVEL DATES: July 9, 2027 – July 17, 2027 *course instruction may begin prior to travel and/or continue post travel.
PROGRAM LEADERs: Dr. Rita Soulen, Dr. Crystal Chambers and Dr. Christy Rhodes
Application Link: https://piratesabroad.ecu.edu/_portal/tds-program-brochure?programid=11118