About us:
Summit Global Education offers multi-city, academically rigorous study abroad programs that combine classroom learning with real-world, cross-cultural experiences. Founded in 2011, we lead students through immersive summer and winter break programs across Europe, Brazil, and beyond—traveling alongside professors, engaging with companies and communities, and connecting global business theory to practice. Our programs are built for students who want to think critically, adapt across cultures, and lead in a rapidly changing world.
• Traveling Multi-City Programs in Europe & Latin America
• Summer and Winter Study Abroad
Summit Global Education offers multi-city, traveling study abroad programs that combine rigorous academics with real-world, cross-cultural experiences. Our programs are designed for students who want to engage deeply with global business, innovation, and society—not just observe it from the sidelines.
Founded in 2011, Summit has led students through immersive programs across Europe, Brazil, and beyond. We offer sessions during both summer and winter breaks, making it easier for students to earn academic credit without disrupting their university schedules.
What sets us apart is our academic travel model. Students don’t stay in one city—they move across regions, guided by professors and supported by local facilitators. Each program includes structured coursework, daily debrief sessions, and curated professional and cultural visits.
Our faculty model is equally global. Professors from around the world teach alongside local university partners and often travel with students, creating a rich, comparative learning environment that reflects the international business landscape.
By integrating classroom learning with real-world engagement, Summit helps students build the skills that matter: cross-cultural fluency, adaptability, and a grounded understanding of how industries and ideas scale across borders.
Our mission
Summit Global Education prepares students to succeed and lead in today’s fast-moving global economy. Our mission is to foster cross-cultural fluency, entrepreneurial thinking, and international business competencies through immersive, multi-city programs that blend academic excellence with firsthand exposure to innovation ecosystems and global industries.
We are committed to equipping students with the practical knowledge, adaptive mindset, and global values needed not only to thrive in international careers — but to contribute meaningfully to a more connected, collaborative, and peaceful world.
What we value
- Global Leadership
Preparing students to navigate complex global challenges with confidence and adaptability by engaging with diverse industries, cultures, and innovative practices. - Cultural Understanding
Promoting empathy, respect, and appreciation for cultural diversity to foster meaningful cross-cultural connections and a deeper understanding of global perspectives. - Academic and Professional Excellence
Delivering rigorous programs that seamlessly blend academic learning with professional experiences, empowering students to enhance their careers and academic achievements. - Innovation in Education
Continuously evolving our programs to explore how creativity and innovation drive success in global markets, delivering immersive experiences that connect theory with real-world applications. - Personal Growth
Encouraging self-discovery, independence, and resilience by challenging students to step out of their comfort zones and grow in dynamic, international environments. - Collaboration and Networking
Building environments where students, professors, and industry leaders collaborate, exchange ideas, and form lasting personal and professional networks. - Sustainability and Responsibility
Encouraging students to engage thoughtfully with global challenges by promoting sustainable practices and responsible global citizenship.
“There is no doubt that I would recommend the Summit Program. I thought the flow of the program as perfect, not too overwhelming but always something to do. It’s important to find that balance in a study abroad program and I think Summit has managed to do so. I truly believe this is one of the best programs out there. Thanks again!”
William Croghan, Miami University
“I would recommend this program to other students. I really liked the structure and how well we were able to view and capture all aspects of the country of Brazil. Something that surprised me were how nice Brazilians were. Everyone was really patient and willing to go the extra mile for us. These past three weeks have been amazing!”
Kelly Marin, Seton Hall University
“I would 100% recommend this program to other Iowa students. I have learned so much about Brazil and will carry that with me for the rest of my life. Brian and Leo, my professors, are nothing but professional in the classroom and make for a great learning atmosphere. Outside of the classroom, they are fun and friendly; The perfect mix!”
Ryan Burton, University of Iowa
Recent University Partnerships & Course Locations:
Courses have been hosted at leading institutions across Europe and Latin America, including:
About:
BRIAN BUTLER, FOUNDER, SUMMIT GLOBAL EDUCATION
Brian Butler is the founder of Summit Global Education, an organization known for its multi-city, faculty-led study abroad programs that integrate academic learning with real-world experience through structured travel.
Since founding Summit in 2011, Brian has developed short-term, credit-bearing programs that take students through multiple cities within a single country or region—guided by professors, grounded in daily academic reflection, and shaped by visits to companies, institutions, and cultural sites. Unlike traditional study abroad, where students are placed in a single location, Summit programs are built around movement: students travel together with faculty, comparing how ideas, industries, and cultures shift across contexts.
Summit’s model is built on close faculty-student engagement. Professors from both local and international universities co-teach courses and often travel with the student cohort. Each day includes structured debrief sessions that connect what students are seeing in the field to what they’re studying in the classroom—helping them build sharper insights and more critical awareness through guided reflection.
Brian’s background spans international education, global markets, and cross-border collaboration. He holds an MBA with distinction from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, where he later contributed to the Global MBA program in Miami, facilitating courses in Finance, Economics, and Global Trade. Prior to launching Summit, he worked as an analyst at the Columbia Institute of Tele-Information at Columbia Business School, focusing on international telecommunications and global market dynamics.
Born in Canada and raised in Switzerland, Brian has lived and worked across Latin America, Europe, Asia, and North America. His global upbringing and professional experience continue to shape Summit’s mission: to equip students with the insight, adaptability, and systems-level thinking needed to navigate—and lead in—a rapidly evolving global economy.
Connect: LinkedIn.com/in/briandbutler
Professors
FACULTY :
All of our classes are taught in English by a team of experienced and multinational university professors.
MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER OF SUMMIT GLOBAL EDUCATION
Hello, I’m Brian Butler, the founder of Summit Global Education.
Throughout my life and career—from growing up in Switzerland to earning my MBA at Thunderbird, and working and traveling across Europe, Latin America, Asia, and North America—I’ve seen how international experiences can reshape the way we think, ask questions, and engage with the world. They challenge assumptions, stretch perspectives, and deepen our understanding of how people, systems, and societies function.
That belief is what led me to create Summit. Since 2011, we’ve been designing study abroad programs that are intentionally built around movement. Our students don’t stay in one place—they travel as a group, alongside professors, through multiple cities within a country or region. They compare how ideas and industries shift across locations, and they reflect each day through structured debrief sessions that tie experience back to analysis.
We invite both international and local professors to teach and travel with us. We visit companies, cultural institutions, and organizations that help bring academic content to life. Every program is designed not just to expose students to the world, but to help them make sense of it—through conversation, comparison, and context.
Summit’s model is different by design. We don’t believe that study abroad should be a passive experience. We believe in building programs that are dynamic, immersive, and academically grounded—where students are supported by thoughtful faculty and challenged by the complexity of the places they’re moving through.
We know that studying abroad is an investment. That’s why we’ve built programs that are academically rigorous, professionally relevant, and thoughtfully supported from start to finish. If you’re looking for more than a typical study abroad experience—if you’re ready to engage seriously with the global economy and your role in shaping it—I hope you’ll join us.
Warm regards,
Brian Butler
Founder, Summit Global Education
brian @ SummitGlobalEducation . com
305-632-0227
Search our Study Abroad Programs
Study AbroadExamples: Some of our previous Summit Global Education programs:
Summit Barcelona June 2015
Summit Prague July 2015
Summit Brazil Jan 2015
Summit Brazil Jan 2014
Summit Europe June 2013
Summit Barcelona July 2013
Summit Brazil July 2013
Contact Summit Global Education
Director of Summit Global Education:
- Brian Butler (Linkedin), +1 (305) 632-0227
Emails:
- info @SummitGlobalEducation.com
- director @SummitGlobalEducation.com
Office Address:
- 732 Santander Ave., Coral Gables, FL 33134
- Note: Our distributed global team has been working from home since the start of the global pandemic in March of 2020
Legal Address:
- Summit Global Education, LLC
12555 Biscayne Blvd. #911,
North Miami, FL 33181-2597 - Note: just use this address for taxes, or formal legal mail. All other requests should be sent to our office listed above.
Connect with Summit:
Learn more
Contact Summit:
- Phone: 305-632-0227
- info @ summitglobaleducation com
- more contact options
Summit Global Education offers multi-city study abroad programs focused on global business, innovation, and impact. Since 2011, we’ve helped students explore how real-world problems are solved—and how those solutions scale across borders.