Author: Natalie Trautman | Major: Accounting | Semester: Summer 2024

Fun day inHowth

This June I had the most amazing opportunity to go overseas on a University of Arkansas faculty led study abroad trip to Dublin, Ireland. I am in the Sam Walton college of business and am majoring in accounting. I had the most amazing time and learned about the culture of the beautiful country as well as international business. Dr. Leflar and Dr. Terrell did the most amazing job showing us around Ireland, taking us on tours of the big four accounting firms and emerging us into Irish culture. It really was the best class ever!

I chose to study abroad in Ireland because so many corporations and major accounting firms have such strong roots in Ireland. I wanted to get the opportunity to learn about how these firms operate abroad and observe the differences between these firms and the different branches they have in the United States. Through the faculties international connections, we were able to take private tours of Deloitte, Ernst & Young, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. These were incredible opportunities to meet with accountants practicing in Ireland and ask them questions about things from accounting policy to daily life in Ireland. Irish people are considered the most productive workers in the world, so hearing their tips on how to improve my productivity and work ethic was inspiring.

My final project for our month abroad was to conduct a research presentation based on Irish business. I chose to research all the factors that play into the productivity of Irish workers and did a deep dive into the Irish governmental policies, employment standards, food quality, and transportation. My professors did an amazing job being a resource for me and shared information and experiences to help me to reach a conclusion. From business professors we learned from at University of Central Dublin as well as practicing accountants we met on business tours they also helped educate me on Irish policies and how employment looks different for them. I am so thankful for all the people who took time to help me come to an understanding of Irish business as well as teaching me about the culture of Ireland.

Towards the end of our month our professors took us on a trip to the west of Ireland, and it quickly became a highlight of the trip. We took a bus across the country and arrived in Westport. We had an amazing day walking around the shops and ended up taking a swim in the ocean! The next two days we spent in Galway, where we saw beautiful landscapes and stopped at a sheep farm. They demonstrated how a sheep dog can herd sheep and let us all take turns sheering one! It was an amazing experience. We had the most amazing tour guide with us who took us on gorgeous hikes and showed us all around. After we left Galway, we went to the Aran Islands which was one of my favorite days of the entire month. We rode our bikes all over the island and spent the whole day enjoying the stunning island and the sun. We took a ferry out to the Cliffs of Moher where we were lucky enough to see large groups of puffins up close! The trip out West was one of my favorite parts of our trip and I felt so lucky to be able to experience it.

I had the most incredible experience during my study abroad and would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about it. It will be an unforgettable experience.