This summer, future educators from UNC Pembroke stepped beyond the classroom into a global learning experience through a week-long study abroad trip to Italy.
As part of the Brave Scholars program, the students immersed themselves in Italian schools and culture, gaining first-hand insight into how education is approached in one of Europe’s oldest academic traditions.
For Dalton Allen, a junior social studies education major, the experience was eye-opening. One moment that stood out to him was seeing how Italian classrooms still embrace a traditional, “old-school” learning style, without computers or tablets.
“Students were writing in notebooks, reading from textbooks and using workbooks. It was refreshing,” Allen said. “What also fascinated me was that Italian students first learn about their local city’s history before moving on to national and world history. That stuck with me as a future history teacher.”
Allen, who dreams of teaching abroad in Europe after graduation, said the trip confirmed his desire to lead a classroom overseas one day.
During the visit, the group attended a lecture at the University of Bologna —recognized as the world’s oldest university—where they learned how the Italian education system supports refugee students. Their journey took them through iconic cities, including Padua, Venice and Florence, where they visited historic universities, local schools and renowned educational institutions.
Jaylyn Martinez De La Luz, a junior special education major, was especially struck by the structure and discipline she observed in Italian schools. “First-graders had beautiful handwriting and knew how to self-regulate even when the teacher left the room,” she said. “Classrooms were organized, and students worked in gender-paired rows, showing real dedication to the learning environment.”
She admired how Italian teachers stay with the same students from first through fifth grade, helping to build long-term connections. “It creates a sense of comfort and consistency for the students,” she said. “I also loved that first-graders were paired with fifth-grade mentors. It gave the younger students someone to look up to.”
As a future educator, Martinez De La Luz plans to incorporate respectful, structured routines that empower students to take responsibility and treat one another with care. “I want my classroom to mirror that sense of community and independence I saw in Italy,” she said.
Avery Arrington’s study abroad experiences deeply shaped her perspective as a future special education teacher. She was struck by the limited use of classroom technology and the inclusive approach to education, where students with disabilities remain in general education settings with in-class support.
“This experience has profoundly impacted my mindset and approach as a future educator,” said Arrington, a senior. “Observing Italian classrooms felt like stepping into a close-knit family environment, where students were not only encouraged to express themselves but were also supported by a strong sense of community.”
The Brave Scholars program is a transformative scholarship initiative launched through a historic $2.9 million grant from the Anonymous Trust. Designed to address the teacher shortage in rural southeastern North Carolina, the program supports 30 education majors recruited from Robeson, Scotland and Columbus counties, specifically in elementary and special education. For more information about the Braves Scholars program, visit uncp.edu/bravescholars.com.
