Hi, my name is Bentley Wong. I am a junior at the ILR school from Queens, New York City. One of the highlights of my time at ILR thus far has been the opportunity to study abroad in Dublin, Ireland. Through the unique partnership between the University College of Dublin and the ILR School, I was able to enrich my understanding of labor relations issues, particularly within the European Union context, while fostering new friendships both abroad and within the ILR School.  

Completing a semester in Dublin allowed me to immerse myself in Irish culture and Ireland’s education system. I took classes with Irish students to explore the most urgent and compelling issues of work and workplace relations affecting the 28 member nations of the European Union. During my four months in Ireland, I had the opportunity to visit the European Parliament and Commission in Brussels, Belgium, with my European International Relations Class, where we learned how policies and recommendations for all member states are introduced, debated, and implemented. This insight into the bureaucratic processes of the European Union allowed me to visualize many of the topics discussed in my ILR and Ireland courses and their broader implications across nations. Furthermore, studying labor relations from a neighboring perspective revealed much of the differences between the two largest economies' cultural and social attitudes towards organized labor.  

Overall, my semester in Dublin was an enriching experience that provided me with an international education that complements my studies at ILR. I was able to learn about the differences in labor organizations while developing important skills for assimilating into new environments and interacting with individuals of different cultural backgrounds.