Leuven Study Trip 2025
Tuesday, 18 March, 2025
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The UCD Languages European Study Trip (18–20 March 2025) took 19 SLCL students to the heart of European governance and multilingualism in Leuven and Brussels, Belgium.
On the first day, they explored the historic Irish College before a thought-provoking lecture on the role of languages in European society, delivered by Professor Peter Flynn of KU Leuven. Day two offered an immersive experience at the European Commission’s DG SCIC, where students stepped inside interpretation booths and attended the high-profile midday press briefing on the White Paper on Defence. The final day provided an in-depth look at the EU’s political executive, culminating in a visit to the European Parliament’s Hemicycle (chaperoned by Jim Maher, UCD alumnus and Senior Policy Advisor at the EP), where key decisions shaping Europe are made. A concluding visit to the Flemish Parliament underscored Belgium’s intricate linguistic and political landscape, leaving students with a clearer understanding of the deep connection between language and governance in Europe today.
Jason Gavin, Interpreter at the European Commission, emphasised the high demand for Irish within the EU’s 24 official languages, stating that the Commission would "snap [our students] up" upon graduation. Michael Scanlon, Lecturer at the European Parliament and UCD alumnus, reinforced this urgency, noting that many Irish interpreters and translators in Brussels are now retiring, yet Irish replacements remain scarce. This creates an exciting and pivotal moment for UCD graduates — "opportunities are there for the taking", he insisted, waiting for those ready to seize them.
(Text by: Matthew Hilborn)
A massive thank you to Matthew Hilborn and Sherry Ishak for leading the trip to Leuven this year and to Tara Plunkett for planning and organisation.