Three ISCs were held in 2022, in Ireland, the USA and India. We also offered the first ISC Plus to South Africa.

The Ireland ISC was hosted by University College Dublin on the topic of Irish Studies. The dates were 16 to 30 July 2022.

• The course was aimed at students interested in history, culture, music, literature and politics. Trips included visiting the Book of Kells in Trinity College, visiting the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) and watching a performance of the iconic Riverdance at the Gaiety Theatre.

The USA ISC was hosted by George Mason University and had three courses as part of the Washington Summer Institute: US Government, US Law and American Culture. The dates were 2 July to 16 July 2022.

• The course was aimed at students interested in politics, law and culture. Lectures were complemented with visits to sites around the cities and region and included the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Library of Congress and US Capitol/Supreme Court.

The India ISC was organised by Think Education: Go India on the topic of Modern v Historic India. The dates were 21 August to 3 September 2022. 

• The course was aimed at students interested in business, history, politics and economy, the role of NGOs in modern issues and Indian culture. Trips included Bangalore Palace, the Art of Living International Centre and the Taj Mahal.

The South Africa ISC Plus was hosted by the University of Cape Town's Global Academy on the topic of Afropolitanism, Social Justice and Entrepreneurship. The course dates were 13 June to 15 July 2022.

• The course was aimed at students interested in history, politics and innovative initiatives communities are undertaking to seek solutions to social issues.  It included visits to Robben Island, the Slave Lodge and District Six Museum. The final week of the programme built on competencies for self-leadership and design-thinking.

Four ISCs were held in 2019. In Ghana, Russia, the USA and India.

The Ghana ISC was hosted by the University of Ghana on the topic of Ghana in the Global Imagination. The dates were 23 June to 7 July 2019 

• The course was aimed at students interested in Ghanian culture, art, history, politics, education and contemporary society and included visits to Cape Coast slave fort, Kakum Rainforest National Park, Kumasi weaving village and palace and Akosombo lake.

The Russia ISC was hosted by the Higher School of Economics in St Petersburg and Moscow on the topic of Exploring Russia: from the past of St Petersburg to Modern Moscow. The dates were 30 June to 14 July 2019.

• The course was aimed at students interested in History, Politics, Media and Economics and included visits to the Hermitage, the Church of the Spilled Blood, Red Square and a day trip to Peterhof.  

The USA ISC was hosted by Michigan State University on the topic of Leadership, Problem-solving and Entrepreneurship. The dates were 9 July to 22 July 2019.

• The course was aimed at students interested in leadership aptitude, habits and practice, community engagement, working within organizations and social entrepreneurship. It included visits community projects, a baseball game and two nights in Chicago.

The India ISC was hosted by Think Education: Go India in Bangalore, Delhi and Agra on the topic of Modern India v Historic India. The dates were 27 July to 10 August 2019.

• The course was aimed at students interested in business, history, politics and economy, the role of NGOs in modern issues and Indian culture. Trips included Banglaore Palace, the Art of Living ashram and The Taj Mahal.

Four ISCs were held in 2018.  In Mexico, the USA, South Africa and China.

The Mexico ISC was hosted by Tecnológico de Monterrey in Queretaro on the topic of Mexican Identity and Culture. The dates were 16 June to 1 July 2018 

• The course was aimed at students interested in Spanish, history, art, culture and Mexican food and included visits to the Teotihuacan pyramids and visits to four different cities.

The Washington DC ISC was hosted by George Washington University on the topic of Justice, Equality and Policy. The dates were 8 to 21 July 2018.

• The course was aimed at students interested in Politics, Law, History and Equality and included a tour of the Capital building and Supreme Court and a trip to George Washington's house at Mount Vernon.  

The South African ISC was hosted by the University of Cape Town on the topic of Contemporary South Africa: history, culture and politics.  The dates were 28 July to 12 August 2018.

• The course was aimed at students interested in history from the slave trad to Apartheid, politics, development through literature, music, television and sport.  It included visits to Robben Island, the Slave Lodge and the Cape of Good Hope.

The China ISC was hosted by Peking University in Beijing on the topic of Culture and Communication.  The dates were 11 to 25 August 2018.

• The course included Mandarin language classes as well as lectures on Chinese history, music, art and culture, philosophy and media.  Trips included Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall.

Four ISCs were held in 2017. Two were in the USA, one in Russia and one in China.

The Russian ISC was hosted by the Higher School of Economics (HSE) on a topic of Understanding Modern Russia. The dates were 18 June to 2 July 2017.

• The course had lectures on Russian history, economy, culture and society, foreign policy, international business and heritage. It included a week in Moscow, and a week in St Petersburg.

The Washington DC ISC was hosted by George Washington University on the topic of Justice, Equality and Policy. The dates were Sunday 2 to Saturday 15 July 2017.

• The course was aimed at students interested in Politics, History, Equality, and Economic development and included a tour of the Capital building and Supreme Court and a trip to George Washington's house at Mount Vernon. The dates also coincided with the 4th July celebrations.

The Michigan State ISC was hosted by Michigan State University on the topic A Sustainable Future: Leadership and entrepreneurship to help solve the world's problems. The dates were Sunday 9 to Sunday 23 July 2017.

• The course included lectures, workshops and labs on different aspects of leadership; atmospheric science; climate change; modeling; managing sustainable organisations; and environmental management and planning. It included a weekend in Chicago.

The China ISC was hosted by Peking University in Beijing on the topic of Culture and Communication. The dates were Saturday 12 to Saturday 26 August 2017.

• The course included Mandarin language classes as well as lectures on Chinese history, music, art and culture, philosophy and media. Trips included Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall.

Three ISCs were held in 2016. Two were in the USA and one in South Africa.

The Washington DC ISC was hosted by George Washington University on the topic of Justice, Equality and Policy: A Global Perspective. The dates were from Saturday 18 June to Tuesday 5 July 2016.

• The course was aimed as students interested in Politics, History, Equality, and Economic development and included a tour of the Capital building, talks by members of the World Bank and a trip to Philadelphia. The dates also coincided with the Fourth of July celebrations.

The Cape Town ISC was hosted by the University of Cape Town on the topic of Art and Culture for Social Development. The dates were from Monday 25 July to Tuesday 9 August.

• The course was aimed as students interested in History, literature, music, sport, language, politics, and included trips to a slave lodge, Table Mountain, Cape Point, Robben Island and wine tasting in Franschhoek.

The Mount Holyoke ISC was hosted in a Liberal Arts College of the same name in Massachusetts, USA and was on the topic of Social Entrepreneurship and Innovative Design. The dates were from Friday 17 June to Tuesday 5 July.

• The course was a more hands-on programme, with workshop sessions including building skills in project design and development, entrepreneurism, communication (to perfect a pitch presentation), developing a business plan, financial literacy (as a pathway to financial wellbeing and in a professional environment), design thinking and approaches, as well as packaging these skills to succeed in the workplace, whether in private enterprise or in non-profit social service organizations.
• The program included field trips to case studies to analyse local community economic development and to learn from hands-on work in technology design and ecological restoration. It also included visits to New York and Boston.

Three ISCs were held in 2015 in the USA, South Africa and Brazil. The theme for the USA course was Leadership and Community Partnership at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts and included visits to New York City and Boston.

In South Africa the theme was Post-Apartheid Cape Town: History, Politics and Culture at University of Cape Town. Students could admire the view from the top of Table Mountain, see the penguins at Boulders Bay, and visit Robben Island.

In Brazil the programme focused on Biodiversity and Sustainability, and was held at UNICAMP in Campinas. The course included a weekend in Rio.

Two ISCs were held in 2014. The first ISC took place in Cape Town in conjunction with the University of the Western Cape in South Africa, with a theme of "20 years of Democracy", focusing on international relations, human rights and the transition from Apartheid to democracy over the last 20 years. A fascinating programme and highly relevant in this region with all its turbulent history.

The second ISC of 2014 was held at Peking University in Beijing, China. The course focused on a theme of Chinese history, art, culture and language. PKU is the Ivy League of China and this course was an excellent opportunity for our students to experience this rich culture firsthand.

Mount Holyoke College in western Massachusetts was chosen to hold the inaugural ISC due to their record of academic excellence and the long standing relationship between our two universities. 

The programme consisted of a three day cultural experience in New York City with the theme of American History. The students visited the Tenement Museum to learn about early American immigrants, the 9/11 Memorial and enjoyed a harbour cruise to view the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The students then travelled to Massachusetts to begin their two week intensive academic course in Leadership and Social Change. Students also enjoyed a traditional 4th of July experience by attending a reading of the American Constitution (followed by the British Response!) before enjoying a baseball game and BBQ. The students also enjoyed a weekend visit to Boston.