Under the direction of College of Education (COE) Department of Educational Foundations (EDEF) Professor Donald Brent Edwards Jr., students from UH Mānoa along with public and private school teachers from across Hawaiʻi completed a summer study abroad program in Barcelona, Spain. Four EDEF doctoral students contributed to program leadership: Davide Samulski, Akie Kozuka, Patricia Grillet and James Parker.
With a focus on the historical evolution and contemporary challenges facing education related to immigration, socio-economic inequality, gentrification, ethnic and language diversity, religious intolerance, climate change, and gender discrimination, the 35 participants earned six credits for the one-month program. The courses and field experiences established parallels and points of connection between Hawaiʻi and the region where Barcelona is located (Catalonia). Both regions have experienced colonization and are characterized by unique cultural and language traditions.
“Pedagogically, this program drew on a range of resources and approaches, from guest speakers to documentaries, museum visits, walking tours, group presentations, small group discussion, and full-day excursions within and outside of Barcelona,” said Edwards. “The focus on education was solidified through multiple visits to schools of different types. From museums and historic squares to guided walking tours, every step was meaningful!”
Creating a dynamic community, participants explored approximately 30 historic sites, including Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, the Gracia neighborhood, the Catalonia National Art Museum, Montserrat, and more, navigating the area by metro, coach, and on foot. For their assignments, students produced analytic reflections, oral presentations, and lesson plans that brought the academic, personal, and experiential dimensions of the program into conversation.
“Students repeatedly expressed their appreciation for the fact that the program included but also went beyond the typical tourist sites to engage with the deeper context and contemporary challenges facing Barcelona and its education system–challenges with which we are grappling in Hawaiʻi and the rest of the United States,” said Edwards. “In this way, the program was a window through which participants could understand how different societies experience, understand, and respond to shared problems.”
For more information or to participate in the 2027 program, please contact Professor Edwards (donalde@hawaii.edu).
Check out more highlights from the trip
Here’s what some participants had to say:
Frankie (UH Mānoa Undergraduate Sociology Major)
The Barcelona study abroad program was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Within the month of the program, I grew extremely close with my peers and professors and fell in love with Barcelona. The excursions the leaders planned were wonderful. I specifically loved visiting Montserrat and the trips to surrounding towns. I value the relationships I’ve made through this program and the cultural immersion through studying in this city. I encourage anyone considering this program to apply and see how much you’ll learn and grow!
Zoe Zepeda (UH Mānoa Undergraduate English Literature Major)
In this truly transformative program to the historic and culturally rich land of Cataluña, I gained a much deeper understanding of what being a global citizen looks like with community at the heart of it. The program’s blend of rich cultural immersion, historical insights helped me recognize that this process of learning never comes to an end even as my trip does, that it is not just a temporary shift but a continual pursuit, a dedication to flee from stagnation and never get too comfortable in patterns of this circle we call life. To learn from and share with a plethora of communities and identities different from your own is the greatest blessing, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of and learn from one as transformative and meaningful as this.
Ittai Wong (Teacher & EDEF PhD Student)
It is not hyperbole to say this program is life changing. Barcelona became more than a city; it became curriculum, community, and mirror. Through lectures, excursions, friendships, and conversations never written into the syllabus, I learned to slow down, practice kilo, and stay long enough to truly see. As I learned to read Barcelona, I began to reread Hawaiʻi, finding connections across education, language, culture, identity, and place. Professionally, I return inspired to interrogate not only what I teach, but how I teach: to center ʻike, moʻolelo, pilina, and the whole selves of my students. I left Hawaiʻi expecting to study Barcelona; I returned realizing Barcelona taught me how to study myself. If you are considering the Barcelona Program, say yes. Leave home. Get uncomfortable. Read the city. Build community. Let yourself be surprised. Let yourself be changed. Return home and discover what you carry differently. You will not return the same. Mahalo!
Adrienne Yanke (Teacher & EDCS PhD Student)
The Barcelona study abroad program was such an incredibly well-balanced, well-organized experience. As both a teacher and graduate student, the program provided countless opportunities for reflection and growth as well as exploration, immersion, and just plain fun!! We found so many connections between the struggles and successes of Catalonia and those of Hawai’i, and I left with a newfound solidarity and a renewed sense of purpose. The diversity of participants, guest speakers, and excursions provided for a well-rounded experience, allowing the opportunity for each student to connect with the program in a variety of ways. I cannot recommend this program enough!!
Betsie Cutrer (EDEF PhD Student)
During this study abroad program, learning extended far beyond the classroom, as the faculty guided us to view the surrounding streets and their residents as instructors. Throughout the month, the city of Barcelona became a text, one we were taught how to read. In this way, the program distinguished itself from others and left me not only inspired but also equipped to navigate international spaces more ethically and critically moving forward.
Tabitha Secretario-Klein (HIDOE Elementary Teacher, Mākaha, Oʻahu)
As a 25-year veteran teacher, studying abroad in Barcelona was the ultimate reminder that we never stop learning. Exploring the parallels between Catalan educational policy and our local schools in Hawaiʻi gave me a fresh, critical perspective on community-based teaching and student equity. From navigating high-level educational theories to bonding with an amazing group of educators over shared stories, this program balanced deep professional growth with unforgettable personal connection. I highly recommend this experience to any College of Education student or DOE teacher looking to earn credit while expanding their worldview!
Brooke Boss (HIDOE Elementary Special Education Teacher, ʻEwa Beach, Oʻahu)
My time in Barcelona was more than a study abroad experience—it transformed the way I think about language, identity, and education. Learning alongside local educators and exploring Catalonia’s history deepened my understanding of multilingualism, empathy, and the importance of creating spaces where every student feels a sense of belonging. I returned feeling confident in supporting multilingual learners and committed to honoring the diverse identities my students bring into the classroom. The friendships, cultural immersion, and unforgettable experiences made this an amazing journey.
Molly Phipps (HIDOE Elementary Special Education Teacher, Kahului, Maui)
I was blessed to be part of the Barcelona program this past summer, and I can say with all certainty that it was a huge milestone in my life. The content was very interesting and engaging, and not only did Dr. Edwards and the guest speakers open our eyes to what was happening in Barcelona, but how we in Hawai’i could relate to almost all of it. I truly appreciated the planned excursions, carefully thought out to connect to our content, and open us up to all the beauty and history of Catalonia. As a teacher, I loved being able to visit some of the schools and see that aspect of Barcelona life, as well as the opportunity to engage with and learn from teachers at each school. I also loved getting to see many different styles of art. I work at an arts integration school, and found many inspiring new works that I can’t wait to share and use as inspiration for lessons with my students. Overall, this trip was more than a program; it was a chance to grow, learn, make friends that turned into family, and step out of our Hawai’i bubble and experience a world that turned out to be more similar to our islands than it may appear.
