International Study Experience in Rondine, Tuscany (Italy)

University of Western Ontario (UWO) have offered to accept up to 15 U of Guelph students for their program International Study Experience in Rondine, Tuscany.  U of Guelph students who want to participate in this program will need to be registered at UWO for the Summer 2026 semester, through the Letter of Permission (LOP) process, and will pay tuition to UWO for the program courses. Credits for the UWO course(s) can be transferred toward the U of Guelph students' degree programs through LOP if approved by their U of G Academic Advisor.  

Study abroad this summer in Arezzo, Italy at the nearby elegantly restored medieval village of Rondine Citadel of Peace. The program is aimed at any students who are interested pursuing the study of Italian language and culture at the beginning and intermediate level, along with learning about international relations, peace building, conflict resolution and intercultural competence. The association "Rondine Cittadella della pace" is an international organization established in 1997 in order to promote dialogue and conflict resolution through education, fostering social change. It is an Italian NGO nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015 for its outstanding international commitment. The core project of Rondine Cittadella della pace is the cohabitation of young women and men who come from countries in conflict and from different cultures. Rondine helps them to become global citizens, and young leaders able to develop concrete social, political and economic projects leading to social change. 

Participants will have the opportunity to study and live alongside a group of international graduate students in a Medieval Italian town where they will experience global academic engagement in a truly novel and stimulating environment. On top of the UWO courses offered, students may attend local conferences and events focusing on subjects such as human rights, international law, forced migration, war crimes, and conflict resolution. The quality of the instruction, combined with the variety of study options available and the global setting constituted by international students who are permanently on location, make Rondine an incomparable institution for this International Study Experience.

Students will also acquire language skills as they learn Italian in its original setting, and gain intercultural communication abilities that will resonate with them both in their personal lives and future professional careers,  making friends throughout the process. They will be immersed in Italian culture in the heart of Tuscany through daily interactions with native speakers, and through the screening of films, the study of pop songs, and the reading of some examples of non-fictional texts in the classroom. Throughout the week, morning courses will be followed by a lunch break with further cultural activities or time to study during the afternoon. Students will share common meals, housing in Arezzo, and be involved in sightseeing and other practical activities during the weekends. 

See photos of the program on Instagram: @rondine_at_western

Information Session at U of Guelph

TBA - check back here in late September

Field School Details

  • Instructor: Professor Pietro Pirani, UWO professor and program coordinator
  • Offered: Summer 2026
  • If you have any questions about the program, please contact Professor Pietro Pirani, UWO professor and program coordinator, and Sandra Parmegiani, Associate Professor, European Studies & Italian, University of Guelph

Program Dates 

  • May 1 - 30, 2026
  • Italian classes: Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–12:30 PM
  • Seminars: Mon–Thurs, 2:30–4:00 PM

Courses 

The program open to students from all disciplines at the University of Guelph.

ITA 1045 Italian for Travellers I (0.5 credits; 1.0 credits with Italian 1046 or Italian 3040/SJSP 2277)
The Italian for Travellers I course is an accelerated and full immersion course lasting one week, that will include 34 hours of Italian language instruction (plus 6 hours during pre-departure meetings, held during the Winter term) and will be taught as a full-time, intensive learning experience. Register for Italian 1045B, listed in the Winter term.

ITA 1046 Italian for Travellers II (0.5 credits; 1.0 credits with Italian 1045)
Students of Italian for Travellers I would also be eligible to take an additional 0.5 credit course, Italian for Travellers II, running for a further three weeks, Monday to Friday for two hours a day on average (30 hours) plus 10 hours of Rondine's weekly seminars for a total of 40 contact hours. Register for Italian 1046B, listed in Intersession.

ITA 2202 Intermediate Italian in Italy (1.0 credits)
Designed for students with a basic knowledge of Italian, the course builds upon this knowledge placing emphasis on the development of effective oral and written skills in a real-life environment. The primary objective is that students learn how to communicate their ideas with clarity in a variety of settings. The course will last four weeks, students will be in class for 4 hours a day for 5 days a week. This course has a Community-engaged learning component.
Register for Italian 2202X, listed in the Winter term.

ITA 3040/SJPS 3211 Studies at Rondine Cittadella della Pace (0.5 credits, 1.0 credits with Italian 1045)
Students will have the opportunity to attend seminars, classes, or conferences organized in Rondine which focus onvarious aspects of human rights, international law, war crimes, genocides, and conflict resolution.
The curriculum is taught in a combination of Italian (for language and culture courses) and English (for the seminar in social justice, contemporary migration and peace building). Register for Italian 3040B, listed in the Winter term.

Costs

Students should budget for the following:

  • Round-trip airfare to Italy (estimated $1200)
  • Tuition for 0.5 to 1.5 credits at University of Western Ontario - approximately $650 per 0.5 credit course
  • The International Study Experience in Rondine program fee: €3100  (includes centrally located housing with weekly cleaning, weekday lunches, excursions, bus pass)
  • Meals estimated at $600
  • Travel health insurance (estimated at $200)
  • Personal expenses (souvenirs, additional personal excursions, etc) 

Travel Grants

As U of Guelph students will participate in the program through Letter of Permission, they will not be eligible for travel grants through University of Western Ontario or through University of Guelph.

Eligibility

Students from any year may apply for the program, and must have a 68% cumulative average. For first-year students, the cumulative average will be based on first-semester grades.

The program is open to students from all disciplines at the University of Guelph, with a maximum of 15 students being accepted to the program. 

Apply to the International Study Experience in Rondine

Application Deadline: December 15, 2025

‘Students will be accepted on a first come, first served basis so it is recommended to apply as soon as possible.

For application instructions, please contact Professor Pietro Pirani, UWO professor and program coordinator, and Sandra Parmegiani, Associate Professor, European Studies & Italian, University of Guelph

 

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