Virginia Tech® home

Steger Center for International Scholarship

Gain a global perspective

At the Steger Center for International Scholarship in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland, you can explore the world, learn a language, build your international network, set yourself apart for future success, and so much more.

VIRGINIA TECH’S EUROPEAN LIVING-LEARNING CENTER

Life in Riva San Vitale

The heart of Europe

Information for Students

Everything you need to know.

You Make the Difference

Help support the Steger Center.

Casa Maderni Living-Learning Community

An interdisciplinary community that provides a home to students of diverse backgrounds from all academic years at Virginia Tech, the Casa Maderni brings together students, faculty, and professional staff who are dedicated to making the most of their study abroad experience through community-engaged learning, a culture of well-being, and the development of intercultural competencies.

Engage With Europe

The Steger Center is the European base for the Center for European Union, Transatlantic, and Trans-European Space Studies, a Jean Monnet Center for Excellence.

Virtual Tour

Come and explore the inside of the historic villa and even walk around the courtyard.

Upcoming Events

  • 16 Jan

    Student Arrival Day

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Thursday
    • 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM (UTC)
    • Steger Center

    Student Arrival for orientation at the Steger Center, from noon until 5pm. Orientation activities kick off at 5:30pm.

  • 17 Jan

    Spring 2025 Orientation

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Friday
    • All day
    • Steger Center

    Orientation begins early on Friday, January 17 and ends after dinner on Saturday, January 18. Orientation is required of all students and faculty are strongly encouraged to attend.

  • 20 Jan

    First Day of Classes

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Monday
    • All day
    • SC

    First day of classes and MLK day activities

  • 20 Jan

    Computer Science hosts SUPSI students

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Monday
    • All day
    • SC

    The computer science group is doing a shared course with SUPSI, and they will be joining us for the first day of classes. We will have 15 extra people at lunch, so we will divide the group in half this day.

    • PGS and Architecture: 12-12:45 (53 students)
    • Computer Science (with guests): 12:45-13:30 (25 people)

    Does that sound okay? I know it’s a lot, but it will just be this one day!

    S.

  • 26 Jan

    Beato Manfredo

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Sunday
    • All day
    • Riva San Vitale

    Click here for more about the story ofBeato Manfredo. This is a local celebration that students won’t want to miss!

  • 27 Jan

    Casa Maderni Programming

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Monday
    • All day
    • Steger Center

    This year our guest will be Andrea Membretti, an Italian scholar who works on questions of migration related to the Alpine regions, specifically in northern Italy and here in Switzerland. Join us talk about what it means to live in Riva San Vitale, near the mountains, what communities look like here, and then relate this back to our home communities and SW Virginia.

  • 15 Feb

    Coordinated Travel 1

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Saturday
    • 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (UTC)

    Coordinated Travel, Steger Center closed beginning Saturday, February 15 and reopening for dinner on Sunday, February 23.

  • 08 Mar

    Spring Break

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Saturday
    • 7:00 AM - 7:30 AM (UTC)

    Spring Break in Blacksburg and Riva San Vitale. Steger Center closed and reopens on Sunday, March 16 for dinner.

  • 09 Mar

    Amy Azano group at the SC

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Sunday
    • All day
  • 05 Apr

    Coordinated Travel 2

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Saturday
    • All day

    Steger Center closed beginning Saturday, April 5 and reopening on Sunday, April 13 for dinner.

  • 02 May

    Final Academic Showcase (all students)

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Friday
    • 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM (UTC)
  • 03 May

    Final Weekend: Casa Maderni (no independent travel)

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Saturday
    • All day
    • SC

    Final weekend activities for all here at the Casa Maderni in Riva San Vitale!

  • 06 May

    Farewell Dinner

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Tuesday
    • 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM (UTC)
    • SC Garden
  • 07 May

    Student Departure

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Wednesday
    • 6:00 AM - 10:00 AM (UTC)

    Students must depart from the Steger Center my noon.

  • 19 May

    DEIB Around the World

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Monday
    • All day

     

  • 19 May

    Global Perspectives Program (VT Grad)

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Monday
    • All day
  • 30 May

    Pathways to the Steger Center

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Friday
    • All day
  • 30 May

    Neuroscience

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Friday
    • All day
  • 30 May

    June Session Arrival and Orientation

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Friday
    • All day
    • Steer Center
  • 16 Jun

    International Perspectives in Communication

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Monday
    • All day
    • Steger Center
  • 30 Jun

    Hanbury Architects

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Monday
    • All day
  • 30 Jun

    Coding Theory and Cryptography Worskhop

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Monday
    • 6:00 AM - 6:30 AM (UTC)
    • Steger Center for International Scholarship

     

  • 07 Jul

    Global Teaching Scholars Steger Center: Building High-Impact International Experiences

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Monday
    • 6:30 AM - 7:00 AM (UTC)
    • Steger Center for International Scholarship

    Faculty workshop begins Monday, July 7 and concludes on Friday, July 11.

  • 21 Aug

    Steger Center Fall 2025 arrival date!

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Thursday
    • 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM (UTC)
  • 21 Aug

    Fall 2025 Steger Center orientation begins

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Thursday
    • 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (UTC)
  • 21 Aug

    Fall 2025 Steger Center Orientation

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Thursday
    • 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (UTC)
  • 25 Aug

    First day of classes

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Monday
    • All day
  • 11 Sep

    Machiavelli and Renaissance Florence (Casa Maderni group trip)

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Thursday
    • All day
  • 20 Sep

    Steger Center Coordinated Travel 1

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Saturday
    • All day
  • 25 Oct

    Steger Center Coordinated Travel 2

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Saturday
    • 6:00 AM - 7:30 AM (UTC)
  • 22 Nov

    Thanksgiving Break (SC Closed, no meal service)

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Saturday
    • All day
  • 05 Dec

    Academic Showcase and Architecture Show

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Friday
    • 3:30 PM - 7:30 PM (UTC)
  • 06 Dec

    Casa Maderni Weekend (no independent travel)

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Saturday
    • All day
  • 09 Dec

    Farewell dinner

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Tuesday
    • 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM (UTC)
  • 10 Dec

    Student departure from the Steger Center

    OIA-Steger Center Events
    • Wednesday
    • All day

Meet Stevie the beagle

Stevie spends most of his days at the Steger Center, where he loves sleeping in the garden, eating salami sandwiches, and hiking with students.