Study Abroad

Read about the career impact of our program in this article. Summer 2023 program is currently full, email Dori Pap for waitlist information.

The Leadership for Social Good Study Abroad Program in Central and Eastern Europe offers interested students the opportunity to gain insight into global civil society, learn about the challenges of creating and leading effective and sustainable social enterprises, and make a positive impact by working closely with a non-profit organization in Budapest, Hungary. The program is led by Dori Pap, Bob Thomas, Nicole Little, and Ken Surdin.

The program takes students to Prague, Czech Republic, Vienna, Austria, and Budapest, Hungary. This program introduces students to the concept of “sustainable communities” and is affiliated with Serve-Learn-Sustain.

During the 10-week program (9 weeks abroad), students earn 12 management credits through a combination of lectures, case studies, readings, guest speakers, and direct engagement with a non-profit organization. Participants explore and impact several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through curricular and experiential offerings, students build their understanding of the realities of social entrepreneurship and the leadership that it takes to develop strong civil societies.

The Central and Eastern Europe experience will develop students’ abilities to make a positive contribution to organizations dedicated to creating social value and addressing the needs of society. Whether a student's future plans involve starting or working for a non-profit, a social business, or a for-profit company, this program will provide them with theoretical and hands-on knowledge of the international social sector.

We invite you to browse a collection of student internship videos and read the latest article about the program.

These are the UNSDGs that our program explores in-depth through our class discussions and project work.

Leadership for Social Good Study Abroad Information

Program Director	Dori Pap	dori.pap@ilsi.gatech.edu
Assistant Director	Nicole Little	nicole.little@ilsi.gatech.edu
Program Professor	Dr. Robert "Bob" Thomas	robert.thomas@ilsi.gatech.edu
Program Professor	Ken Surdin	ken.surdin@cesimc.gatech.edu

May 5 - May 19, Atlanta: Introduction to the social sector through lectures and site visits
May 22- May 29, Prague: Lectures by experts and exploring this beautiful city and its culture
May 29 - June 14, Budapest: Coursework, internship, one organized weekend trip, and various cultural events
June 14-June 18, Vienna: Site visits to non-profits, museum and castle visits, and sightseeing;
June 18 - July 9, Budapest: Coursework, internship, one organized weekend trip, and various cultural events

Classes in Atlanta wrap up on Friday, May 19 (by 2pm). Students have to arrive in Prague the latest by afternoon Monday, May 22. Lodging in Prague is available from 3pm on May 21. In the event a student arrives to Prague earlier they may be able to stay at the same lodging, but are responsible for covering the cost.

The last academic event of the program in Budapest will conclude on Friday, July 7 (by 8 pm). Student may depart any time after that, and the latest by Sunday, July 9 at 10 am.

During the European portion of the program, students will have most weekends free (except for the organized weekend trip to Camp Courage), and the schedule will allow for two long weekends as well. Students may use these long weekends to plan additional regional trips at their own responsibility and expense.

Contact Nicole Little at nicole.little@ilsi.gatech.edu with any questions.

The Central and Eastern Europe Abroad Program is a 12-hour integrated program composed of four courses:

MGT 4803 - Business Fundamentals for Social Entrepreneurs

This course is designed to teach students how to apply fundamental business skills in organizations that seek to create social value. Most business courses are focused on creating economic value through for-profit organizations. Business skills are also critical in organizations that are tasked with creating social as well as economic value. The ability of students to apply this knowledge and skills will help them attract and manage the human and financial capital needed for success.

This course can be counted towards the Entrepreneurship Certificate, the General Management ILSI Cluster concentration or the Leadership Minor (Business track).

See Syllabus

MGT 4611 – Integrative Management Analysis (Internship course)

Students will be actively engaged in addressing management challenges and opportunities of a non-profit organization in Hungary. In small groups, students will work with the leadership team on projects to enhance the capacity of the non-profit to better serve its constituents.

See Syllabus

This course can be counted toward the Leadership Minor (Business track), Entrepreneurship Certificate, or Leading and Managing Human Capital concentration.

MGT 4192 - International Impact Forum

The purpose of this course is to expose students to and facilitate a dialogue with, individuals and organizations that have had an impact in the international sector. Through site visits and presentations by guest lecturers, students will learn about the country and the European Union-specific challenges and opportunities which non-profit organizations face in Central and Central, and Eastern Europe.

See Syllabus

This course can be counted toward the Leadership Minor (Business track)

MGT 4803 - Leadership Development

The purpose of the Leadership Development (LD) course is to enable students to prepare themselves to become leaders of organizations, to exercise leadership, and to embark on paths of personal leadership development. The LD class requires personal curiosity, reflection from students, and personal openness, sharing in class discussions, and in leadership development groups. Credits go toward:

BSBA majors: MGT electives or Leading and Managing Human Capital concentration electives
All other majors: Leadership Minor (pending decision), Entrepreneurship Certificate, or free electives.

Graduate students: Please contact the program directors to inquire about the option of taking these courses at the graduate level.

Expenses that our program fee covers:

Housing in Prague (hotel), Vienna (hotel), Budapest (apartments)
Breakfasts in Prague and Vienna, lunches during the weekdays in Budapest, and a couple of other group meals (i.e., welcome dinners in each city) will be listed on the schedule
Public transportation passes in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest
Travel from Prague to Vienna and from Vienna to Budapest
All program-related travels (i.e., to site visits and organized weekend trips)
Travel insurance while on the program
Organized weekend trip to Camp Courage in Hungary
Various organized group activities (Subject to change based on availability)
- Prague: Sightseeing, a tour of castles, scavenger hunt in the city
- Vienna: Sightseeing tour, two museum visits
- Budapest: Sightseeing tour, thermal baths, House of Terror museum, a night at the Opera, Jewish district tour

In addition to the program fee, students should budget for roundtrip airfare (about $1,800), meals not covered by the program fee (about $1,000), and lodging, if needed, during the Atlanta portion. There are several scholarships available on campus for studying abroad.

Program fee payment schedule:

$500 deposit fee: Due at the time of application*
$3,250 first installment: Due February 28
$3,200 final installment: Due April 7

Students receiving financial aid should consult the program staff about their options to extend this deadline if needed.

If the program is canceled for unforeseeable reasons outside of our control, students will receive a full refund of program fee payments made up to that time. If a student wishes to withdraw from the program for personal reasons, the deposit of $500 will be non-refundable if they withdraw after February 1, 2023. If a student wishes to withdraw from the program for personal reasons after February 28, 2023, the deposit and the first installment will be nonrefundable.

All Georgia Tech students have access to scholarships listed on the Office of International Education website. We encourage all of our applicants to consider those opportunities in parallel with the ILSI program-specific scholarships. In order to maximize the number and the amount of support we provide to our students with financial needs, we will announce our scholarship amounts after students have heard from other scholarship sources they have applied to. Please note that for any study abroad the total amount of awards cannot exceed the overall cost of the program.

The ILSI offers three types of scholarships for students with financial obstacles, who have a strong desire to participate in the program, and who demonstrate a deep commitment to creating social value through their work in the program.

A number of Early Application Scholarships will be awarded if applications are submitted by November 1.
The Munchak Scholarship supports up to four participants with $1,000 each.
The Cowan Scholarship is awarded in the amount of $4,000 to one student each year.

Applicants should submit a one-page statement of purpose explaining why they believe they would be a good candidate for the scholarships offered by ILSI. The letter should include what other sources of financial support the student is pursuing, and the amount they hope to receive through ILSI. In addition, the applicant should provide a recommendation letter from a professor, mentor, or academic advisor.

The statement and letter should be emailed to Dori Pap at dori.pap@scheller.gatech.edu.

Students applying for ILSI scholarships have to be enrolled in the program and have their OIE application completed. Munchak and Cowan Scholarship applications will be reviewed on January 15, and if funds are still available, again on February 15. Early applications are encouraged.

Tedd Munchak Scholarship

An entrepreneur at heart, Tedd Munchak (of Hungarian origins) was the co-founder of the highly successful carpet manufacturer Trend Mills. Munchak’s company grew to be one of the largest carpet manufacturers in the country before it was sold to Champion International in 1969. After the sale of his business, Munchak spent the next 20 years as a “one-man venture capital fund," investing in a diverse array of businesses ranging from pro sports to snack foods. Munchak claimed to have retired in the late 1990s, but his counsel was sought by many until his death.

His mentee and good friend, Georgia Tech alum Don Chapman (IM’61), has endowed a Chair in his name at the Scheller College of Business. Currently, the Tedd Munchak Chair supports innovative endeavors that enhance the human condition and students who demonstrate a commitment to creating social value and a desire to learn about the application of business principles to the social sector.

Joel Cowan Scholarship

Georgia Tech alum (IM ’58) and long-time Tech supporter Joel Cowan is a Professor of the Practice for the Scheller College of Business.

He founded Georgia's Peachtree City, serving as the town's first mayor from 1959 to 1963. Cowan also has developed such projects as Phipps Plaza, Snapfinger Woods, and Palmetto Dunes. He is a member of the Society of International Business Fellows and the Carter Center's Board of Councilors. Cowan has shifted his focus in recent years from real-estate development to international activities. His focus is on the emerging economies of Central and South Asia, Russia, and China. His non-profit contributions in these same regions include education and leadership training. He was the co-founder of the Central Eurasia Leadership Academy in Istanbul. He was also the founding chairman of both the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District.

Cowan holds a bachelor's degree in Industrial Management from Georgia Tech and has served on both the Scheller College of Business and Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts advisory boards. He is a trustee emeritus of the Georgia Tech Foundation and was a member of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia from 1990 to 1995.

The program is open to all Georgia Tech and other University System of Georgia students who are in good academic standing. The program is designed for a small group so we encourage students who are truly interested in this program to apply early.

The early application deadline is November 1.

We make application decisions in three phases: The week after the early deadline, at the end of the fall semester in December, and, if space is still available, by the final application deadline of February 15.

Please follow these steps for a successful application:

Review all the material available on the website to be able to make a well-informed decision about how this program will fit your academic and personal goals.
All prospective applicants are required to schedule an in-person meeting with Dori Pap (contact dori.pap@ilsi.gatech.edu with at least three day/time options for a meeting) before filling out the OIE application. Her office is in the Scheller College of Business, Suite #4153 (the ILSI Suite). Take the main elevators to the 4th floor and as you exit, walk straight ahead down the hallway, past the Ray C. Anderson Center and the Technology and Management office. The ILSI will be next door on your left.
Next, fill out the OIE online application form and pay the $500 deposit. Please use the “Eastern Europe Summer Program Deposit (IMAH)” to pay this deposit.
Finally, submit a one-page letter (via email to Dori Pap) that addresses the following three subjects:
- What is your interest in social entrepreneurship (do you have any experience in this field, or what made you interested in learning about it)?
- What are the areas of social need that are of special interest to you (i.e. environment, education, health, etc.)?
- Describe your skills (technical or otherwise) that you believe could make a meaningful contribution to a non-profit organization that you will work with.
Your application is considered final when all the above steps are completed.

Summer 2019

To learn more about what the group did over the summer read through their blog entries.

Internship Videos

Students are asked to create short videos about their internships.

Photos

See an album of recent photos highlighting the program experience. Alternatively, you can visit our local gallery.

More Resources

Social entrepreneurship is an exciting and increasingly popular area of study and a revolutionary model for addressing many of the problems that communities, people, and the environment face both locally and globally. To find out more about this topic and the beautiful countries that are part of this program, check out some of the links below or visit the program faculty who will be happy to provide you with more information.

What is a Social Entrepreneur - Ashoka Foundation

Countries

We are proud and honored to work with the following social enterprises in Hungary. They add tremendous value to our students’ learning experience and we are grateful for their involvement.

We would like to have our students serve as interns in your organization. Please contact Dori Pap at dori.pap@scheller.gatech.edu for more information.

Adni Joga (Giving Yoga)

Adni Joga is a social enterprise that provides access to the physical and mental benefits of yoga to those who would otherwise not be able to experience calmness through movement and breath. AJ works with an increasing number of vulnerable groups to fulfill their mission of building communities where people are accepting of themselves and of each other.

See video of a student discussing their Adni Joga internship.
Please visit their Facebook page to learn more.

Autistic Art

Since 2006, Autistic Art has helped support the autistic housing facilities throughout Hungary. Autistic Art organizes art programs for the youth who live in these housing facilities. Through this program, effective therapy is provided for the participants and financial support is generated by selling the art to be used as designs for luxury products such as scarves and chocolate.

See a video of a student discussing their Autistic Art internship .

Biofilter

Biofilter is one of the first certified Bcorps in Hungary. Their mission is to support the circular economy by providing sustainable environmental solutions to food waste management with a special focus on used cooking oil. Biofilter safely recycles food waste and used cooking oil into biodiesel and biogas diverting millions of tons of food waste from landfills and creating jobs and sustainable products in the process.

See a video of a student discussing their Biofilter internship.
Please visit their Facebook page to learn more.

Domino Tanoda

Domino Tanodo is an afterschool program for underprivileged kids that operates in Budapest. Their goal is to provide fun, safe, and educational programs that promote positive outcomes for youth in the area. They offer a wide range of activities including hip hop and art classes.

See a video of students discussing their Domino Tanoda internship.
Please visit their Facebook page to learn more.

From Street to Homes

The purpose of From Street to Home is to enable as many homeless people as possible to move into social rented, sustainable housing in Budapest, Hungary. The association combats homelessness with the Housing First method where they clean up and rent out vacant apartments at a reduced price. In addition to placing participants into homes, they also provide extensive job placement services.

See a video of a student discussing their From Street to Homes internship.

Habitat for Humanity Hungary

Habitat for Humanity Hungary was established in 1996. In that year, former president of the United States Jimmy Carter, and his 500 volunteers, built ten homes within a week in Vác. Following this massive building effort, affiliates were founded in several communities around Hungary. To date, we have served 850 families at ten different locations. About 150 families moved into a new Habitat home, and about 250 families participated in different repair and renovation projects. We also served 450 families with financial education and construction technical assistance.

The International Platform for Neurodiversity

The International Platform for Neurodiversity (IPN) is a start-up civil society organization in Budapest, Hungary. Neurodiversity is an all-encompassing term for intellectual disabilities. IPN aims to advocate for the inclusion of neurodivergent individuals in all aspects of society. They hope to create a network of neurodivergent self-advocates across the EU. Current self-advocacy networks are often run by third parties such as parents or professionals rather than neurodivergent people themselves. This self-advocacy network differs from already existing organizations by putting neurodivergent individuals in the driver’s seat. The International Platform for Neurodiversity believes that if an organization is to best support the neurodivergent community, it should be operated and managed by neurodivergent people themselves.

See a video of a student discussing their International Platform for Neurodiversity internship.

Knorr-Bremse

The Knorr-Bremse Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of braking systems and supplier of additional sub-systems for rail and commercial vehicles. For more than 110 years now the company has pioneered the development, production, marketing and servicing of state-of-the-art braking systems. In 2016, Knorr-Bremse reported sales of approximately EUR 5.5 billion and employed some 25,000 people worldwide.

See a video of students outlining their Knorr-Bremse internship.

Nem Adom Fel Café

A Nem Adom Fel Café, which translates to “Never Give Up”, is a cafe in Budapest that employs people with disabilities, both physical and mental. The service is unfailingly friendly and provides a great environment for studying, reading, or simply grabbing a quick coffee to-go.

See a video of a student discussing their Nem Adom Fel Cafe internship.

No Bad Kid

Since 2003, No Bad Kid has been teaching, assisting and caring for children and young people who have been labeled as "problematic" because of their behavior, while paying special attention to working with families and educators. The Foundation currently has three areas of activity: Institutional Development, Direct Work with Children's Groups, and Training and Counseling. The use of experience pedagogy as a tool and the widespread sharing of knowledge are of utmost importance in their work.

See a video of a student discussing their No Bad Kid internship.
Please visit their Facebook page to learn more.

Roots and Wings Foundation

The aim of Roots and Wings Foundation's work is to initiate profound social change in Hungary by supporting bottom-up initiatives that enhance individual initiative and responsibility and strengthen trust and solidarity in society. One of the main tasks in their work is to create a diverse activist/intellectual community working for community foundations. To do this, Roots and Wings Foundation provides customized and motivating financial, professional and human support, strengthens people-to-people contacts, and provide concrete opportunities for joint work.

See a video of students discussing their Roots and Wings Foundation internship.

Teach for Hungary

Közös Többszörös (Teach For Hungary) is a new startup social enterprise based in Budapest. Their mission is to improve educational opportunities for disadvantaged children in Hungary by recruiting, training, and placing exceptional professionals for two years as full-time fellows in high-need schools.

See a video of a student discussing their Teach for Hungary internship.
Please visit their Facebook page to learn more.

Academic Partners

The success of our program is enhanced by our collaboration with:

Cornvinus University

Corvinus University of Budapest (CUB) is an independent Hungarian state university specializing in the field of economic sciences. The Faculty of Business Administration (FBA) is the largest among the six CUB faculties and is home to 6,500 students – almost half of the entire CUB student population. Corvinus FBA is the center of education and research in business, economics, finance, management and organization, management sciences and management practice. It provides education at BA/BSc, MA/MSc, postgraduate, MBA and PhDlevels in the fields of management, marketing and media, international business, finance and accounting, business economics, business law, information technology, and ‘tourism and hospitality.' The mission of the FBA is to educate responsible business leaders and advance knowledge to promote the progress of global business and society in the Hungarian-speaking world as well as the broader global community.

Serve-Learn-Sustain

Serve-Learn-Sustain (SLS) provides students with a multitude of learning and co-curricular opportunities designed to help them combine their academic and career interests with their desire to improve the human condition. The result? Georgia Tech students will help build healthier, more sustainable communities where people and nature thrive, in Georgia, the United States, and around the globe. And more Georgia Tech grads will pursue careers and lives filled with meaning.

We are proud and honored to have worked with the following social enterprises in Hungary. They added tremendous value to our students’ learning experience and we are grateful for their involvement.

We would like to have our students serve as interns in your organization. Please contact Dori Pap at dori.pap@scheller.gatech.edu for more information.

Alternate Consulting Hungary

Alternate CSR Consulting is a micro-consultancy formed to help companies and their managers achieve corporate sustainability. Their understanding of CSR (corporate social responsibility) is based on the concept of sustainable development: the art of taking stakeholder views and expectations into consideration during business decisions, resulting in win-win solutions. They inform companies of the ways in which their financial reporting can positively impact the environment and the company itself.

See a video of a student discussing their ACH internship.

Bátor Tábor

Established in 2001, Bátor Tábor offers complex therapeutic recreation programs for children with cancer, diabetes, JRA or hemophilia and for their families. Yearly, over 700 campers participate in programs that they otherwise might miss out on due to their illnesses. Be it rowing, horseback riding, archery, arts & crafts, dancing, music, sports, acting or high-ropes courses, all programs are meant to provide a feeling of success, which positively influences the kids’ self-esteem and recovery process.

See a video of a student discussing their Bator Tabor internship.

CEEweb for Biodiversity

Founded in 1994 (under the name of Central and East European Working Group for the Enhancement of Biodiversity), the mission of CEEweb for Biodiversity is the conservation of biodiversity in Central and Central and Eastern Europe through the promotion of sustainable development. CEEweb works through advocacy by influencing governmental decision-making, capacity building, networking and awareness raising. It targets its members, local, national and international decision-makers, NGOs and NGO networks, companies, and the scientific community.

See a video of a student discussing their CEEweb Internship.

Center for Independent Journalism

The Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is a non-profit and non-political organization with the aim of promoting ethical, fact-based journalism and independent media in Hungary.

See a video of students discussing their CIJ internship.

Global Growers Network

The mission of Global Growers Network (GG) is to create opportunities in sustainable agriculture in Georgia. GG grew out of the tremendous demand among international farmers, many who came to Atlanta as refugees of war, to reconnect to their agricultural heritage in their new home. GG connects local families to land, education, and markets in order to build healthier communities and strengthen our local economy.

Matyo Design

Matyo Design is a social enterprise that seeks to preserve Hungarian folk tradition, specifically the use of the floral embroidery motifs characteristic of a rural area of Hungary called Matyo. They do this by employing local, skilled women to stitch the embroidery onto modern apparel in order to simultaneously fill the market need for fashionable, usable souvenirs.

See videos of students discussing their Matyo Internship.

NESsT

NESsT works to solve critical social problems in emerging market countries by developing and supporting social enterprises that strengthen civil society organizations' financial sustainability and maximize their social impact. NESsT achieves its mission by combining the tools and strategies of business entrepreneurship with the mission and values of nonprofit entrepreneurship to support the development of social enterprises in emerging democracies worldwide.

Okoszolgalat EcoService

Okoszolgalat is the first of its kind in Hungary. They are an eco-consultant whose mission is to provide positive examples, advice, practical ideas, and professional help to as many people as possible with the hope that they will live a rational, efficient, environmentally conscious lifestyle. Their Green Corner (Zoldzug) store provides consumers with green household products, and healthy and wholesome food items.

See a video of students discussing their Okoszolgalat internship.

World Business Council for Sustainable Development Hungary

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is an organization of forward-thinking companies that galvanizes the global business community to create a sustainable future for business, society and the environment. They aim to lead in the support of companies looking to add true-value business solutions and create the conditions where more sustainable companies will succeed. WBCSD Hungary was formed in May 2005, an initiative involving Hungarian and multinational companies engaged in or committed to sustainability.

See a video of students discussing their WBC Hungary internship.