Big Pond Education

We're delighted to be part of this 🇮🇪

A spooky "Happy Halloween" from Ireland, the home of the tradition, complete with ghostly student activities in Dublin. Did you know Halloween’s roots are Irish 🇮🇪 ? The Irish Celtic festival of Samhain (“Sow-in”) literally means ‘summer’s end’ and has hugely influenced Halloween in America 🇺🇲 . 3 fun facts below about this ancient festival over here in Ireland. Are we missing any?! 🍂 The end of #October was when the light half of the year crossed into the start of the dark half of the year. It was when the fabric between both parts of the year was at its thinnest and when spirits were most likely to move into our world from theirs. 🎃 Carving turnips and other vegetables into #scary faces would ward of the spirits. It wasn’t until the tradition got to America in the nineteenth century that pumpkins and other squashes were substituted. 👻 In its efforts to convert Irish pagans, The Catholic Church observed ‘All Hallows (Holy) Eve’ on the same day as Samhain. All Hallows Eve eventually became #Halloween. Happy Halloween! #Happyhalloween ! #educationinireland

Intentionally designed education abroad in action! 🎯 Everyone who studies abroad through Big Pond is given the greatest chance possible to grow outside of the classroom. #Ireland is a wonderful location to thrive and settle in quickly. Every activity and visit we make is sense checked against how far it will take our students outside of their normal comfort zones...and to inspire them towards new ways of thinking that are healthy for them and wider society. Here, we visit a rainforest restoration project (yes - in Ireland 🍀 ) and an organic farm.

Did you know that in the first two weeks of their program, all students studying in Dublin with Big Pond meet a team of values-driven entrepreneurs? Motivated by wanting to do good for the local community and planet, Hometree is Ireland's Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project. All Big Pond students hear how their sense of mission continues to guide them. 🚀 Growing the next generation of international citizens ⚡ Inspiring budding entrepreneurs 🙌 Rooting study abroad students in their local community Big shout out to every student in the group! Service learning on the ground in action....and what's more, every student's return Atlantic flights will be offset by the trees planted at Hometree 🌳 Many thanks to the great team accompanying the group 👏 Donal Casey Sean R. McMahon Alannah Blackweir Erin Grealis Rebecca Lawlor Ava Gonglewski Abigail Wright

A new semester here in #Dublin 🇮🇪 , and that means we are just finishing up our Arrivals Week! Study & internships, faculty led programs and first year abroad – we have a lot to look forward to this year. Before the year starts, we get everyone used to Dublin...and for Big Pond that means getting to grips with our local area and community. A seafood festival at beautiful, sunny Howth (our seaside! 🌞 ), a neighborhood acclimatization tour, exploring Dublin city center 🚶♂️ and not forgetting a visit to our local soccer club, Bohemian Football Club ...our community club just a few minutes walk from our residences. #studyabroad #educationinireland

I was delighted to present virtually with my friend, colleague and CANIE Europe Chapter President Margherita Pasquini on 'Embedding Sustainability Education into Exchange Semesters' for the European Network of International Relations Officers (IROICA) staff training retreat in Estonia yesterday. Always very proud to represent Team CANIE: Climate Action Network for International Educators. During the presentation I had a chance to share the Big Pond Education sustainability story to date. This really allowed me to reflect upon how far we've come in such a short time, and how much further we have to go both as an organisation and a field! Thanks kindly to Matt Tips for the invite, and to Margherita for her leadership in making international education more sustainable! 🌎 #studyabroad #climateconsciousstudyabroad #sustainableeducation #bigzero #zeroverse #sustainableeducation

We are hiring! If you are (or know anyone) who is creative, approachable and would like to work for a mission driven, Irish education abroad provider, click to read more! We offer complementary accommodation in Dublin as part of the position and the opportunity to work with a friendly, energetic team. #studyinireland #studyabroad #gradireland #summergradfair24 #educationinireland

We are honored to have been shortlisted as a finalist for the 2024 PIEoneer Award for Sustainability International Impact. Big Pond greatly appreciates being shortlisted alongside great organizations working to deliver sustainable development initiatives in international education: AIFS, CANIE: Climate Action Network for International Educators, Challenges Abroad, CIS Abroad - Center for International Studies and University of East London. We believe community focused, planet friendly education is essential for the field and all our futures. There is a lot of unsung great practice going on in the sector. Let's all keep pushing the bar higher. The PIE, #studyabroad #internationaleducation #educationinireland #studyinireland

Happy first day of summer! That's right, the traditional start of summer here in Ireland is May 1st. Called Bealtaine, today is the day when cattle were taken to summer pastures, bonfires lit (and often danced around), homes decorated with flowers & wells guarded against mischievious fairy folk. Welcome to Ireland! Study abroad in a modern country with ancient roots. #studyinireland #educationinireland #studyabroad

We are delighted to have been formally presented as winners of the The Forum on Education Abroad's award for Advancing the SDGs Through Education Abroad. Thank you to all of our college partners whose ongoing commitment to the SDGs, whether around community, citizenship or planet make students' experiences in Ireland and on the home campus so seamless. Finally, to the team at Education in Ireland who so magnificently represent the life changing experiences that colleges, universities and education abroad organizations in Ireland continue to offer.