UMGC learners explore history, culture, and community across continents
Traditional Japanese ohayashi and geisha performances. A 1,200-year-old lantern festival. A Cold War-era bunker tour in Germany. Pompeii and archeological history in Italy. These experiences all take University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) learners beyond the classroom.
UMGC’s global footprint, with more than 175 classroom and service locations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and beyond, allows unique opportunities for engagement for learners, alumni, staff, and local communities.
“Education is about more than what happens in the classroom,” President Gregory W. Fowler, PhD, wrote in reflection on one such occasion in Seoul, South Korea. “It’s also about experiencing the world, learning from different cultures, and building connections that broaden our perspectives.”
Connecting with culture in Japan
At Yokota, a joint U.S.-Japan air base west of Tokyo, the Japanese Cultural Engagement Club connects UMGC learners with Japanese history and community. The student-led organization hosts virtual and in-person events, as well as opportunities for local service.
In June 2026, the club partnered with 17 on-base organizations to host about 300 people for a rare chance to experience Japanese traditions firsthand. The UMGC in Asia event featured 40 ohayashi performers and 10 geishas—traditional hostesses who entertain guests through artistic performances and music. Ohayashi are musicians who play the instruments of ancient Japan, often performing at lion dances and other traditional community events.
Stars and Stripes described it as "the first geisha exposition on base in recent memory."
The event brought a centuries-old cultural tradition to the UMGC community in a setting where such performances are seldom seen.
Joining a centuries-old tradition in Korea
Hundreds of miles to the west across the Sea of Japan, the 2026 Lotus Lantern Festival was held in South Korea from late April into May. UMGC learners, alumni, and staff were invited to participate in the 1,200-year-old event.
The annual festival celebrates the Buddha's birthday. Buddha, also called Shakyamuni, was a spiritual teacher and is regarded as the founder of Buddhism. While the festival's origins are tied to Buddha, the modern version also celebrates the arrival of spring.
Referred to as Yeondeunghoe in Korean, the Lotus Lantern Festival is listed as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity tradition.
The festival in Seoul featured weeks of celebration and reflection, including events like the colorful Lantern Parade in May as well as cultural moments revolving around regional temples, traditions, and springtime.
Exploring history firsthand in Europe
While UMGC in Asia commemorates its 70th anniversary this year, UMGC first went global in Europe. There, in 1949, two years after its founding, UMGC became the first higher education institution to teach military learners stationed in postwar Europe. Today, UMGC serves more than 37,000 active-duty servicemembers worldwide, and staffs more than 50 locations in Europe.
Full of bridges between the old and modern worlds, Europe offers learners opportunities to explore sites that connect historical events with contemporary issues, including military history. A tour of the Kindsbach bunker near Ramstein Air Base in Germany last year highlighted another immersive opportunity for UMGC learners and community members.
“Experiences like this provide context, deepen understanding, and often leave a lasting impression that extends far beyond the classroom,” said UMGC history professor Michael Mulvey, PhD.
In addition to tours of historical landmarks, UMGC in Europe offers immersive field study classes.
These courses allow learners to explore both the local history and global implications of cities including Naples, Italy, and Nuremberg, Germany. Other courses examine emerging topics such as artificial intelligence and its societal impact. Field study courses include a visit to the highlighted cities to explore historical sites and interact with the local community.
Learning through experience and connection
Michelle Fukuyama, PhD, an adjunct professor at UMGC, designed a course about the history of the Japanese Ryukyu Islands. When the course covers the archaeological record of ancient Okinawa, learners visit replicas of homes from 2,000 years ago and can climb inside them.
Some of the most lasting impacts of higher education occur beyond the classroom. The examples highlighted here represent just a few of the ways learners encounter history, culture, and community through UMGC programs and activities around the world.
Learners who study in the United States also have opportunities to explore regional events, such as the recent opening of an exhibit honoring artist Joseph Sheppard at UMGC’s global headquarters in Adelphi, Maryland.
“These global experiences help foster cultural understanding, build meaningful connections, and prepare learners to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world,” said Fowler.
Learn more about UMGC field study courses in Europe.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense information or visuals does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.