Ireland: Exploring Rural Development in Ireland: Design Thinking and Placemaking

 Michael Wilcox   

This study abroad program is focused on examining the factors that have and are influencing community development in Ireland. Through a holistic and experiential approach, participants will be immersed in examples of rural and urban Ireland and set on a quest to understand how the interplay between social, political, cultural, financial, legal, and technological forces and the built, natural, educational, and health-related environments affect community vitality. Purdue students will collaborate with students from the National University of Ireland Galaway to learn more about Irish agriculture, history, economics, community development, natural resource management, and tourism through interactive field trips and community partner visits. As an immersive experience, the schedule will be flexible enough to take advantage of unique opportunities as they present themselves and robust enough to allow students to see a side of Ireland that isn't on the typical tourist itinerary. Several meetings will take place in preparation for the trip and final project development. Final projects will be presented in Ireland and at Purdue, after our return.