The Leadership for Social Good Study Abroad Program in Central and Eastern Europe offers students a unique opportunity to engage with global civil society while developing leadership skills for high-impact work. Through hands-on collaboration with a social sector organization in Budapest, Hungary, students will gain firsthand experience tackling real-world challenges in social enterprise and sustainable development. This immersive experience enhances cross-cultural competencies, deepens understanding of global social issues, and empowers students to contribute meaningfully to organizations driving change.
Study Abroad

Now accepting applications for Summer 2026.
Early application deadline November 1st, 2025
Beyond making a direct impact, this program sets students apart in the job market by equipping them with leadership, problem-solving, and global collaboration skills—all highly valued across industries. Whether pursuing careers in entrepreneurship, nonprofits, corporate social responsibility, international development, or social innovation, participants will gain the expertise needed to work effectively in diverse, global settings. Join our program to build your skills, expand your perspective, and make a lasting difference! Learn about the impact of the program here.
The program takes students to Prague, Czech Republic, Vienna, Austria, and Budapest, Hungary. 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 not only develop students’ abilities to make a positive contribution to organizations dedicated to creating social value and addressing the needs of society, but also equip them with practical knowledge. 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, ensuring they are well-prepared for their future endeavors.
We invite you to browse a collection of student internship videos and browse the student blogs from previous years.
As you consider applying for this study abroad program please review this document to familiarize yourself with the essential functions required for successful participation.
Program Director/Faculty | Dori Pap | dori.pap@ilsi.gatech.edu |
Assistant Director | Nicole Little | nicole.little@ilsi.gatech.edu |
Faculty | Saba Colakoglu | saba.colakoglu@scheller.gatech.edu |
Faculty | Ken Surdin | ken.surdin@ceismc.gatech.edu |
Summer 2026 Itinerary:
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May 11 - May 21: Atlanta, introduction to the social sector through lectures, guest speakers, and site visits
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May 22: Travel day to Prague
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May 23 - May 27: Prague, with guest speakers, class, sightseeing, group activity
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May 27 - June 1: Vienna, with social enterprise site visits, sightseeing tour, free time to explore the museums and castles
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June 1 - July 12: Budapest, with classes, site visits, internships, group activities, two organized weekends, and two free long weekends
Classes in Atlanta wrap up on Thursday, May 21 (by 2 p.m.). Students have to arrive in Prague no later than 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 23.
The last academic event of the program in Budapest will conclude on Friday, July 10 (by 8 p.m.). Students may depart any time after that, and the latest by Sunday, July 12 at 10 a.m.
A detailed day-to-day schedule will be shared with participants at the beginning of the program.
During the Hungary part of the program, there will be TWO free long weekends (Fridays and Mondays off). Students may use these long weekends to plan regional trips at their own responsibility and expense. Students must follow U.S. Department of State and OIE guidance on safe travel destinations.
Contact Nicole Little at nicole.little@ilsi.gatech.edu with any questions.
Check out a video overview of the program schedule (please note that activities change slightly every summer).
The Leadership for Social Good Program is a 12-hour integrated program composed of four courses. All four courses qualify for the Leadership Minor (Business Track). Please review the Minor requirements and discuss them with your academic advisor. In addition, two of the courses (4803 and 4611) qualify for the Entrepreneurship certificate. You may also want to review the requirements for the Certificate.
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.
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.
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.
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, as well as sharing in class discussions and in leadership development groups.
Graduate students: Please contact the program directors to inquire about the option of taking these courses at the graduate level.The 2025 program fee is $7,950. Tuition is not included in the program fee. For current tuition rates and fees that apply to study abroad participants, please consult the Georgia Tech Office of the Bursar.
Expenses that our program fee covers:
- Housing in Prague (hotel), Vienna (hotel), Budapest (apartments)
- A meal stipend
- Public transportation passes in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest
- Train travel from Prague to Vienna and from Vienna to Budapest
- All program-related activities (such as: site visits, cultural activities, internship-related costs)
- Travel insurance while on the program
- Organized weekend trip to Camp Courage in Hungary
- Various organized group activities (these vary from year to year)
- Prague: sightseeing, castle tour, Jewish district tour
- Vienna: sightseeing tour, three museum visits
- Budapest: sightseeing tour, visit to thermal baths, a night at the Opera
In addition to the program fee, students should budget for roundtrip airfare (about $2,300), meals not covered by the stipend (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
- $3,750 first installment: Due February 28
- $3,700 final installment: Due April 7
Students receiving financial aid should consult the program staff about their options to extend this deadline if needed.
The $500 application fee is non-refundable once your application is approved and you are accepted into the program. If a participant cancels after the payment deadlines, any non-recoverable expenses already incurred by the program will be forfeited. Refund requests made after this period will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the timing of the cancellation and the availability of a waitlist.
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. Tuition is assessed based on residency, matriculation term and program type as outlined on the following page: Financial Information & Resources | Office of International Education. Tuition rates are posted by the GT Bursar for students based on term, level of study and degree.
When Georgia Tech students study abroad on a Tech program, their financial aid travels with them - including scholarships, grants and loans. Additionally, there are outside scholarships that students may be eligible to apply for. To learn more, please see the following resources:
- Scholarships Database (GT Login Required)
- Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
- Hope and Zell Miller Scholarships
- Schedule Scholarship Advising Appointment with EA Advisor
In order to maximize the number and the amount of support we provide, 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.
Each year the ILSI awards three to four 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. The scholarships are funded through the generosity of the Munchak and Cowan funds.
Applicants should submit a one-page statement of purpose explaining why they believe they would be a good candidate for the scholarship 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’s Munchak-Cowan scholarship have to be enrolled in the program and have their OIE application completed. Applications will be reviewed periodically, and decisions communicated in late February/early March. Early applications are encouraged.
Should you need guidance about the ILSI scholarship and have questions about the application process please reach out to Dori Pap for support.
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 “
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 andManagement 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. Please note that this is a competitive program. If you are not selected for the program and you have already paid the $500 deposit, the full amount will be refunded to your bursar’s account. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling bases after the early application deadline, and acceptance decision communicated accordingly.
We are proud and honored to work with the following business, social enterprises, and civic organizations in Hungary. Please contact Dori Pap at dori.pap@scheller.gatech.edu for more information.
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.
Watch a video of the Autistic Art collaboration.
Association of Conscious Consumers
Through their research and advocacy, the ACC team is helping consumers make informed buying decisions that decrease their ecological footprint and maximize their social impact.
Watch a video of the ACC collaboration.
Beeco
Beeco is an eco-mapping application that uses gamification to incentivize sustainable consumer habits. Learn more about their eco-compass here.
Watch a video of the Beeco collaboration.
Kompánia Foundation
Kompánia Foundation's mission is to serve kids and
young adults ages 10-24 struggling with poverty, addiction, and domestic violence. There are two parts of the Kompánia Foundation, Alter and Tanoda. Tanoda focuses more on younger kids using innovative methods to develop social skills and support their education, whereas Alter serves young adults and focuses on building positive communities.
Watch a video of the Domino Tanoda collaboration.
Firestarter
Tűzcsiholó Egyesület (Firestarter Association) supports families in which the parents grew up in state care. Their aim is to support parents so the disadvantages that result from being separated from family are not repeated in future generations. The organization's name symbolizes its goal of igniting change and empowering families to create security and stability.
Watch a video of the Firestarter collaboration.
Greenpro
Greenpro is a subsidiary of Biofilter (a family-owned, for-profit social enterprise). They provide green solutions to food waste and track their impact across the UNSDGs. Read about their programs and the company's environmental impact:
Watch a video of the Greenpro collaboration.
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
Watch a video of the No Bad Kid collaboration.
Papírsárkány Gyermekalapítvány
Papírsárkány’s (Paper Kite) primary mission is “to educate, care for, and lend a helping hand to the
well-being and equal opportunities of children growing up in state care” (“Papírsárkány Gyermekalapítvány”). While the organization prioritizes quality of life, it also places extra emphasis on education and personal development to ensure that the children can begin adulthood on equal footing and fulfill the bright futures they deserve.
Watch a video of the Papírsárkány collaboration.
Zsamboki Biokert
Zsamboki Biokert (Cargonomia) is an organic farm outside Budapest that practices regenerative agriculture and connects people to land. In the focus of their income generating model is the CSA (Community Supporter Agriculture) box, that allows people in nearby cities to enjoy fresh, seasonal, organic vegetables. They also have an education arm that collaborates with schools and universities and advocates for locally grown food consumption.
Watch a video of the Zsamboki Biokert collaboration.
Academic PartnersThe 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
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.
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
Please visit their Facebook page to learn more.
Domino Tanoda
Domino Tanoda is an afterschool program for underprivileged kids that operates in Budapest. Their goal is to provide
See a video of students discussing their Domino Tanoda internship .
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, they 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. They also served 450 families with financial education and construction technical assistance.
Watch a video of the Habitat for Humanity Hungary Collaboration.
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.
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
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See a video of a student discussing their Nem Adom Fel Cafe internship .
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.
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.
Bátor Tábor
Established in 2001, Bátor Tábor offers complex therapeutic recreation programs for children with cancer, diabetes, JRA or
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
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.
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
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
See a video of students discussing their WBC Hungary internship.
Biofilter
Biofilter was 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.
Cargonomia
Cargonomia is a group of researchers, they focus on solidarity economy , evironmental sciences and food systems, and promote the concept of regrowth.
See a video of a student discussing their Cargonomia internship.
Vilagszep
Vilagszep is committed to be present in the life of the children in the Hungarian fostercare system for the long term, and to offer them stability and a fix point where they can turn to in their everyday life full of unpredictability, insecurities, and continuous changes. They organize specialised programs that best fit the young age, the situation and the goals of these children, and so their activities are wide ranging and multi-faceted.
See a video of a student discussing their Vilagszep internship.
Carpathian Foundation
Carpathian Foundation is part of a regional network of foundations in the Carpathian region. They engage in grantmaking and programming activities. Currently the Foundation runs its programs to fulfill the following main objectives: to support local development initiatives of NGOs and communities; to support disadvantaged rural areas and vulnerable groups; to raise social awareness and to support disadvantaged youth
See a video of a student discussing their Carpathian Foundation internship.
Clean Air Action Group
The Clean Air Action Group (CAAG) – Levegő Munkacsoport - is one of the best-known environmental NGOs in Hungary. Founded in 1988 by three local green groups, it is now a national federation of more than 60 NGO’s. Their main fields of activities include research, consulting and awareness raising for greening the state budget, sustainable transport, sustainable energy policy, sustainable urban development, protection of green areas in cities.
See a video of a student discussing their Clean Air Action Group internship.