Borromini Institute | Study & Intern Abroad

What Borromini Institute | Study & Intern Abroad does

The Borromini Institute is a Rome-based study and intern abroad program provider operating as an educational initiative of Gustolab International LLC, a privately held New Mexico limited liability company established in 2005. The institute delivers semester, summer, short, and academic internship programs organized around four academic clusters: GUSTOLAB (Food Studies and Sustainability), OPEN CITIES LAB (Sustainable Urbanism), MEDIA TECH LAB (Digital Media), and HUMAN RIGHTS LAB (Human Rights and Social Justice). Programs are anchored at the Borromini Center at Piazza dell'Orologio 7 in central Rome and use an experiential, field-based pedagogy that combines classroom instruction with on-site studies in Rome's urban environment, archaeological sites, farms, and communities. Credit transfer is administered through Portland State University as School of Record.

The institute serves two primary customer segments: (1) university students seeking credit-bearing study abroad experiences and (2) U.S. and international partner universities needing in-country infrastructure for Rome-based programs. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has maintained a Rome branch at the Borromini Center since 2007, and Hobart and William Smith Colleges operate their official Italian presence there. Additional channel relationships span Auburn, Cornell, Chapman, NYU, SUNY Oswego, University of Maryland, and several\varphi

Name

Borromini Institute | Study & Intern Abroad

Legal name

Gustolab International LLC

Website

https://borromini-institute.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Borromini Institute is a Rome-based study and intern abroad provider, an initiative of Gustolab International LLC founded in 2005, serving U.S. and international university students and partner institutions with field-based sustainability, food studies, urbanism, media, and human rights programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Study Abroad Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAIAAAA

Faculty-Led & Custom Group Study Abroad Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Study Abroad Program Providers (Multi-Country & Multi-Discipline)

SECONDARYEDAIAAAD

Experiential & Field-Based Study Abroad (Research, Field Schools, Practicums)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Study Abroad Program Providers (Multi-Country & Multi-Discipline)

SECONDARYEDAIAFAB

University-Sponsored International Internships & Co-op Placements

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Internships, Co-ops & Work Placement Programs

SECONDARYEDAIAIAG

Field Schools & Experiential Academic Programs (Archaeology, Ecology, etc.)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Summer/Winter Schools & Short-Term Academic Programs

Keywords

• Study abroad programs
• Food studies education
• Sustainability education
• Academic internships abroad
• Experiential field learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Rome

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Study Abroad Program Fees: The institute generates revenue through comprehensive program fees charged to students, which include instructional fees ($10,000), local fees ($2,265), and housing costs ($5,400). Additional revenue comes from transcript fees ($600 via Portland State University) and space rental services.
2. Customized University Programs: Tailored semester, summer, and short programs designed for partner universities, with pricing customized per institution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Borromini Institute runs study abroad and academic internship programs in Rome, Italy, delivered through the Borromini Center in central Rome. Programs are structured around four academic clusters (GUSTOLAB for Food Studies, OPEN CITIES LAB for Sustainable Urbanism, MEDIA TECH LAB for Digital Media, HUMAN RIGHTS LAB for Social Justice) and combine classroom instruction with on-site field learning. Offerings include semester programs (Spring/Fall), an 8-week summer program, short programs, customized faculty-led programs for partner universities, and academic internships.

Product overview

The Borromini Institute is an educational organization offering study and intern abroad programs in Rome, Italy. The core offering consists of semester programs, summer programs, and short programs focused on sustainability, food studies, urban development, media, and human rights. Programs are organized around four academic clusters: GUSTOLAB (food studies), OPEN CITIES LAB (sustainable urbanism), MEDIA TECH LAB (digital media), and HUMAN RIGHTS LAB (social justice). The institute provides academic internships (INT 101), credit transfer through Portland State University, housing assistance, alumni travel experiences, and space rental at its Rome headquarters. The institute operates as an initiative of Gustolab International, which has promoted Food Studies and Sustainability since 2005.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GUSTOLAB (GLI): Academic cluster focused on Food Studies and sustainability
• OPEN CITIES LAB (OCL)
• MEDIA TECH LAB (TMD)
• HUMAN RIGHTS LAB (HRL)

Products and services

• Semester Programs Full-semester study abroad programs in Rome offered in Spring, Summer, and Fall terms, featuring interdisciplinary courses focused on sustainability, food studies, and urban development with on-site field learning. Aimed at undergraduate and graduate students seeking academic credit for study abroad experiences.
• Summer Programs Intensive 8-week summer study abroad program in Rome covering Food Studies and Climate Justice, with travel to Southern Italy, Tuscia, and the Alban Hills. Designed for university students seeking a condensed summer immersive experience.
• Short Programs Week-long intensive programs including Rome Urban History Seminar, Human Rights: Rome's Social History, Digital Media: Rome's Stories, and Food Systems: Eating Rome. Aimed at students and faculty seeking short-format study abroad experiences.
• Academic Internships (INT 101) Customized field-based academic internships in Rome offering 80 hours of hands-on professional experience across art galleries, cultural heritage, environmental consultancy, hospitality, marketing, agriculture, language education, sustainable city development, refugee and migrant aid, non-profit work, and journalism. Targeted at university students seeking credit-bearing professional experience.
• Academic Credits and Transcript Services Credit transfer and transcript services delivered through Portland State University as School of Record, providing official university credits and transcripts for study abroad program participants. Includes a $600 transcript fee.
• Alumni Travel Experience Thematic study tours for alumni ranging from a few days to a month, including Mediterranean diet tours, food and wine experiences, architecture tours, and customized educational trips. Targeted at former program participants.
• Space Rental Rental of classrooms, meeting rooms, and studio spaces including Studio Sforza (ground floor architecture and fine arts studio) at the Borromini Center in central Rome for academic groups. Available for monthly or semester rental.
• Independent Studies Tailored research and study opportunities for individuals, graduate students, PhD candidates, researchers, scholars, professors, and professionals seeking specialized academic experiences in Rome. Provides local network access, institutional connections, and research support.
• University Partnership Programs Customized study abroad program partnerships with universities including University of Illinois, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Auburn University, NYU, Cornell, and others. Includes faculty-led programs, branch campus operations, and credit transfer agreements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 225+ delegates from 33+ countries attended the Seventh International Conference on Food Studies in 2017

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Food Studies College of JapancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Co-organized the inaugural Symposium/Workshop on Fermentation in Italy & Japan: Tradition and Innovation, extending Gustolab International's food studies interest to include microbial fermentation research.
• Rise Against Hunger ItalyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership for the 'Rise for the Record' event on World Food Day 2018, aligning with UN SDG #2 Zero Hunger. Students from multiple universities participated in packaging hunger relief meals.
• Roma Tre UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Gustolab International and Borromini Institute co-hosted the Seventh International Conference on Food Studies with Roma Tre University on October 26-27, 2017 in Rome. 225+ delegates from 33+ countries attended.
• Food+CityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Collaborated with Food+City to organize a Jeffersonian Dinner on food supply chain improvement. The dinner was held in Rome, Austin, and New York City.
• U.S. Embassy in RomecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Gustolab International partnered with the U.S. Embassy in Rome for events related to EXPO 2015, including a round table with Marion Nestle on Food Politics and an event with Ben Simon of Food Recovery Network.
• University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Since 2007, Borromini Institute has partnered with the University of Illinois to provide interdisciplinary study and intern abroad programs in Spring, Summer and Fall. The Borromini Center hosts the University of Illinois Rome Branch and is the principal point of reference for all U of I students in Italy. The agreement facilitates visa processing and authorizes the program under AACUPI (Association of American College and University Programs in Italy). Through partnerships with Colleges of LAS, ACES, and Grainger School of Engineering, programs are tailored to curricular needs.
• Hobart and William Smith CollegescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHobart and William Smith Colleges are officially present in Italy through their resident branch at the Borromini Center. The faculty-led program includes courses on art, architecture, sculpture, anthropology, tourism, imaging, and travel-writing, plus Italian language and culture courses. Students live in shared apartments in Rome's city center.
• Portland State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortland State University serves as the School of Record for Borromini Institute, providing official transcripts for students for an additional fee of $600. This partnership ensures academic credit transfer and legitimacy for students' coursework.
• Auburn UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaborative customized fall, spring, and summer study abroad academic programs, including the Auburn Rome Program in Art.
• Cornell UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration on customized study abroad academic programs.
• Chapman UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaborative study abroad academic programs.
• New York UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUniversity collaboration for customized programs.
• New Mexico State UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaborative customized study abroad programs.
• Chatham UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration on study abroad academic programs.
• Bowling Green State UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaborative customized study abroad academic programs.
• State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration on customized study abroad programs.
• University of New HavenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaborative study abroad academic programs.
• University of MarylandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration on customized study abroad programs.
• University of RedlandsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaborative customized study abroad programs.
• Vantan Design Institute – JapanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational collaboration on customized study abroad programs.
• Osaka UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational university collaboration for study abroad programs.
• Negozia Chamber of Commerce of ParisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean partnership for customized study abroad programs.
• Edgewood CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration on customized study abroad programs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• API (Academic Programs International): Study abroad provider offering customized faculty-led and direct-enroll programs across multiple countries including Italy; directly comparable in service mix, pricing tier, and reliance on U.S. university study-abroad offices.
• SAI (Study Abroad Italy): Italy-focused study abroad organization offering semester and summer programs in Florence, Rome, and Milan; closely comparable given shared Italy geography, similar pricing, and university partnership GTM.
• USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium): University consortium offering study abroad programs in Italy and globally; directly comparable because it leverages U.S. public-university partnerships, similar administrative structure, and semester/summer program formats.
• CEA Study Abroad: U.S.-based study abroad provider operating multi-city programs including Rome; directly comparable because it sells credit-bearing semester, summer, and short programs with similar university partnership and direct-enrollment channels.
• Accent Florence / Accent Global Learning: Operates study abroad programs in Italy; comparable as a small-to-mid sized Italy-focused provider selling directly to university partners and individual students.
• Lorenzo de' Medici (LdM) Institute: Italy-based institute offering semester and short-term study abroad programs in Florence and Rome; directly comparable in academic-cluster structure, experiential curriculum, and tuition range.

Broad incumbents

• IES Abroad: Large established study abroad organization with a Rome center offering semester, summer, and internship programs; comparable in core offering but materially larger scale and broader portfolio across many countries.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): One of the largest U.S. study abroad organizations with a longstanding Rome site; broader incumbent with deeper resources, similar academic cluster model and university partnerships.
• WorldStrides (Global Travel Alliance): Large educational travel provider with university- and K-12-facing study abroad and faculty-led programs; broader incumbent with much greater scale across destinations and program types.

Others

• Food + City Collaborative (ecosystem partner): Adjacent collaborator in food-system convening and research events; relevant peer because Borromini co-hosts events with Food+City, sharing the food-studies thought-leadership niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/borrominiinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/borromini-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Borromini Institute | Study & Intern Abroad