The Dolomite Mountains' sharp peaks of limestone are positioned in one of the most beautiful areas of Northern Italy. Surrounded by crystalline rivers and green valleys, the Dolomites have been the subject of artists and photographers for centuries and prompted the 20th-century architect Le Corbusier to refer to them as the most beautiful architectural work in the world. It's not difficult to imagine viewing the stunning landscaping from a train or a tour bus, but what would you think about a mode of transportation that's a little more unique? 

In May 2026, the Honors College will once again collaborate with top faculty scholars to offer its signature study abroad experience, Honors Passport, a summer course that takes students to historically and culturally significant sites around the globe. Next year, students will travel across Italy from the Dolomites to Rome on e-bikes.  

Unlike more conventional study abroad trips that rely on the buses and trains we all associate with group travel, students enrolled in the 2026 course will spend half of the 15-day journey traveling between stops by bicycle. E-bikes will be provided to all students as the default mode of transportation.  

Led by Francesco Bedeschi, director of the University of Arkansas Rome Program, and Jon Johnson, professor of sustainability in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Honors Passport: E-Bike Italy will utilize materials and immersive experiences designed to provide students with the opportunity for exploration. They will look at the intersections of public health, economy, environmental sustainability and community culture viewed through the lens of bicycle infrastructure, outdoor recreation and sustainable tourism.  

Lessons will integrate Peter Walker's Bike Nation: How Cycling Can Save the World (Tarcher, 2017) with in-field observations and reflective analysis. Additional readings will be assigned, and students will keep journals, engage in academic discussion and complete a final presentation project to integrate their experiences with broader academic frameworks. 

According to Bedeschi, the mode of transportation for Honors Passport: E-Bike Italy will add a powerful dimension to students' learning.  

"Starting in the heart of the Dolomites, the May '26 Honors Passport: E-Bike Italy is more than a trip—it's a moving classroom," Bedeschi said. "Traveling by e-bike through breathtaking landscapes and timeless cities, we'll explore Italy in a way that is sustainable, inspiring and deeply connected to place. Along the way, we'll encounter some of the country's greatest cultural treasures, many of them UNESCO World Heritage sites, and discover how history, art and everyday life come alive when experienced at a human pace." 

The course and its individualized transportation method will equip students with the tools to critically assess how cycling policies influence public health, city infrastructure and economic development. Through case studies and analysis, students will learn to identify strengths and weaknesses in current systems and develop practical strategies for integrating cycling more effectively into local transportation networks. 

"A course delivered on two wheels beats sitting in a classroom or driving between stops on just about every dimension," Johnson said. "There is something unique about travel on bikes. It immerses you in the environment and communities, and the spaces between them, in a way that cars, buses or trains cannot." 

Lynda Coon, dean of the Honors College, exhorted students to follow in the footsteps of 18th- and 19th-century adventurers who dared to climb the summits of the Dolomites, which rise almost 10,000 feet above sea level. 

"What a thrill it will be to navigate this borderlands region," Coon said, "a region which, during World War I, transmuted into a violent military zone, and appreciate the Dolomites as being a progressive, sustainable area, where architecture styles are diverse and collaborative and where green farming and outdoor entrepreneurship flourish." 

Beyond the rigorous and unique academic work, this course will offer students an unforgettable adventure, combining cycling, cultural exploration and historical immersion. Students will begin their journey in Venice and make their way through the mountains to complete the adventure in Rome, participating in guided cycling tours, cultural site visits and structured academic discussions along the way. 

Visit honorspassport.uark.edu to learn more about Honors Passport: E-Bike Italy and view photos and video footage of past excursions to Brazil, Japan and points along the storied Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route through France and Spain.   

Francesco Bedeschi

Bedeschi is an Italian architect and educator with extensive experience in sustainable design, environmental parametric and high-performance architecture. He currently serves as resident director of the U of A Rome Program and managing director at SINERGI Consulting srl, where he advises on sustainability strategies for a wide range of projects in Italy and abroad.  

Bedeschi holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Sapienza University of Rome and a Master of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. Since 2003, he has taught at various institutions including the U of A, Mississippi State University, Philadelphia University, Auburn University, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (San Gemini Program) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His teaching focuses on architectural design, urban theory and sustainable practices. Bedeschi was the founding secretary of the Lazio Chapter of Green Building Council Italia and has served on the Board of Directors through four terms, three of which on the Executive Committee with responsibilities over education, regional chapters and, more recently, international relations.  

Jon Johnson

Johnson is a University Professor and the Walton College Professor of Sustainability in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the U of A, where he has served on the faculty since 1996. He earned a Bachelor of Science in zoology and an M.B.A. from the U of A, followed by a doctorate from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. His research focuses on corporate governance, social network theory and corporate sustainability. Johnson teaches strategy, organization theory, research methods, innovation, sustainability and outdoor industries. 

In addition to his research and teaching, Johnson has led several sustainability initiatives at the U of A, including founding the Applied Sustainability Center in 2007 and The Sustainability Consortium in 2009. He was the inaugural chair of the Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Venture Innovation, after which he served as faculty lead for a grant-funded project to develop the Outdoor Products and Services program. That program offers undergraduate, graduate and nondegree-seeking students opportunities to support the emerging cycling and outdoor economy in Northwest Arkansas. 

Honors Passport

Since 2016, the Honors College has partnered with top faculty to offer signature two-week intersession study abroad experiences that take their students to historically and culturally significant sites around the globe. Each student who participates in the Honors Passport experience must research and present on a historic site or monument, taking an active role in teaching the course. This creates a "give and take" between honors students and professors that is a hallmark of this experience. 

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About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and brings together high-achieving undergraduate students and the university's top professors to share transformative learning experiences. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $80,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students' academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. All Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research.  

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.