College Opens Campus in Dublin, Ireland

While Champlain’s Montreal campus is up and running, College administrators, staff, and faculty have been working vigorously to finalize the details of opening a campus in Dublin, Ireland, for fall semester 2008.

As a historic Georgian row house slated to become the College’s academic center is being renovated, and the student-housing plan is coming into focus, Dublin’s potential is creating a buzz across College programs. “Ireland is a mecca for those in the Business and Information Technology majors, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great opportunity for any student,” Lynda Reid, director of Champlain Abroad recruiting, says.

With Ireland’s leading employers including Microsoft, Dell, Intel, and Google, the Dublin campus could provide valuable internships for any qualified student. Internships are vital, as Champlain students are unable to work in a foreign country, Reid says.

A Champlain delegation including President David F. Finney, Provost Robin Abramson, and others visited the Dublin campus last February. The trip was fruitful and included discussions between Champlain College and University College Dublin on possible opportunities for collaboration.

Such a collaboration could offer both expanded course offerings to Champlain students and additional opportunities for immersion in the vibrant culture of the city. “It’s the vision of Champlain to have as many students as possible have an abroad experience,” Reid says. “I believe that studying abroad can provide students the experience of ‘otherness’ that is an essential key to broader thinking, intercultural understanding, and the foundation for positive global problem solving."

-- Ginger Vieira ’08