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UW study abroad course explores sustainable food systems in Ireland and Italy

La Dolce Vita: Exploring Ireland and Italy in Search of the History and Future of Sustainable Food Systems is a 25-day study abroad program at University of Washington that will explore sustainable food systems across Ireland and Italy in autumn 2026.

Important dates to learn more and apply

  • January 15, 2026 – UW Study Abroad Fair, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the HUB North Ballroom
  • January 21, 2026  – Information Session, 4 – 5:30 p.m. in Raitt Hall 229
  • February 2, 2026  – Information Session, 10-11:30 a.m. in Raitt Hall 229
  • February 15, 2026 – Deadline to apply

Photos from past years

Photos courtesy of the @uwladolcevita Instagram account

prosciutto, bread, cheese, and wine
touring food production
students posing for photo
Students preparing food
food market
student preparing pasta
gelato

About the Program

Preview of the La Dolce Vita Study Abroad program flyer for 2025, offered by University of Washington
View more about the itinerary in the La Dolce Vita 2026 program flyer (pdf)

La Dolce Vita: Exploring Ireland and Italy in Search of the History and Future of Sustainable Food Systems is an early fall start program exploring food in both Ireland and Italy. Through a mix of systems thinking, readings, dialogues, tours, and experiential learning to understand how factors, such as history, culture, policy, diet, lifestyle, trade, and market structure/economics, interact to drive sustainability across environmental, economic, health, and social outcomes.

Throughout the trip, the class will connect with local experts and scholars to discuss how the past and present role of history, policy, and food culture affect food systems and the important role food is playing in embracing a more sustainable future. The course will consider a variety of retail outlets, contrast production methods and policies in the E.U. and the U.S. and discuss what hinders and helps systems to learn from each other.

Read more about the itinerary in the La Dolce Vita 2026 program flyer(pdf).

Details

If interested, attend an information session, or email program co-director Alan Ismach at ismaca@uw.edu. Find information about this trip on the UW Study Abroad website.

December 17, 2025