dublin ireland

In May 2027, I will lead a group of LSU students to Dublin and London for a study abroad program focused on how business really works in two of Europe’s most important economies. This program is more than a course. It is a chance to walk into the companies, industries, and cities that shape global commerce, and to see how history and innovation sit side by side.

Feel free to share this information with any interested LSU student. The study abroad application can be found here: Business in the UK & Ireland. Contact Dr. Davis, [email protected], about the trip, or Holden Carrell, [email protected], for information about travel scholarships & grants.

Academic Focus

Students will earn credit for GBUS 4991, with the classroom extending into the streets, offices, and boardrooms of Dublin and London. We will study how global firms choose where to locate, how trade and regulation shape strategy, and how industries adapt when the political ground shifts beneath them. Brexit is a living case study, and London’s financial sector is still working out what it means.

The heart of the program is a series of company visits across key industries. In Ireland, we will look at technology and innovation, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, and agriculture. In England, we will focus on finance, insurance, technology, and retail. Students will hear directly from professionals about the challenges and opportunities they face, and then connect those conversations to what they have learned in class.

The program welcomes business students and any major with an interest in international business. If you want to understand why so many American companies run their European operations from Dublin, or how London stays a global financial center, this course will build your capability and spark your curiosity.

Why Ireland and England?

Ireland has become the European home for many of the world’s largest technology and pharmaceutical companies. Its talented workforce, English-speaking business culture, and pro-business policies have turned a small island nation into a global economic powerhouse. A short flight away, London remains one of the world’s great centers of finance, insurance, and innovation. Studying both side by side lets students compare two economies that share a language and a long history but have taken very different paths, especially since Brexit.

Beyond the Classroom

Learning will continue as we explore the history and culture of both countries. In Dublin, we will walk the city’s Georgian streets and see the Book of Kells and the Long Room at Trinity College, tour Malahide Castle, and take a full day trip across the countryside to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway. In England, we will explore London on foot, spend a day at the University of Oxford, and visit the British Museum. Students will also have free time to wander, try the food, and discover each city on their own terms.

International business is not only about markets and spreadsheets. It is about people, places, and the relationships that connect them. Leading this program lets me combine teaching with a commitment to preparing students for a global workplace. My hope is that students return with a sharper understanding of business and experiences that shape their lives.