Whether you have an approved program for an existing course and are looking for someone to plan the travel logistics, or you have a dream for a future international program (or find yourself somewhere in the middle), FTI is here to help you get your study tour off the ground.
Here are a few examples of short-term programs we’ve organized in the past, including the unique hands-on and behind-the-scenes components that complemented the field of study.
1. New Perspectives Through Journalism in Vietnam
Learn how perspective informs “truth and accuracy.” American students collaborate with their Vietnamese counterparts on journalism assignments that represent multiple perspectives. The group will generate story ideas and write articles aimed at helping Americans better understand contemporary Vietnam and its people.
Highlights
- University of Social Sciences & Humanities – Participate in a joint exercise, discussing backpack journalism with students, faculty and journalists.
- War Remnant Museum – Discover the Vietnamese perspective of the Vietnam War.
- Cu Chi Tunnel Experience – This immense network of tunnels was used for military operations during the Vietnam War, most prominently by the Tet Offensive in 1968. Walk through a gallery of handmade weapons before crawling through the underground tunnels used by the Viet Cong.
- Non-Profit Organization Visit – Visit Project RENEW, a veteran founded project aimed at removing unexploded ordnance from the Quang Tri province.
- Academy of Journalism & Communication – Partner with Vietnamese students to write stories that will help Americans better understand contemporary Vietnam.
Read the full itinerary for more details.
2. Preserving Culture in Tibet & Nepal
Explore the history of these nations and how it has effected the preservation of religious beliefs and practices. Also, consider the impact tourism’s commodification of ethnicity has had on the social, religious and economic landscape of these countries.
Highlights
- Kathmandu – Visit Boudhanath, one of the oldest and largest Buddhist stupas in Nepal. In Bhaktapur’s Durbar Square, see the 15th-century Palace of 55 Windows and Golden Gate as well as the Lion Gate and the statue of King Bhupatindra Malla.
- The “Three Great Temples” – Visit the Sera Monastery (c. 762), the first official Buddhist monastery in Tibet. Then, see the Ganden Monastery which stands atop the six famous temples of Gelugpa – a branch of Tibetan Buddhism. Complete the trio with a visit to Drepung Monastery, the largest of all Tibetan monasteries, located on the Gambo Utse mountain.
- Yarlung Valley – Considered the cradle of Tibetan civilization, creation myths tell of how the first Tibetan people evolved here from the union of a monkey and an ogre. Early histories state that the first kings descended from heaven on a sky cord at Mount Yarlha Shanpo on the western edge of the valley. The early Tibetan kings unified Tibet from their base here in the 7th century and their massive burial mounds still dominate the area around Chongye to the west.
Review the full itinerary for more information about this program.
3. Combating Human Threats to Biodiversity in Belize
Biodiversity in Belize is under attack on two fronts, in the rain forest and along the world-renowned reefs. Students visit a Mayan community in the rain forest to learn about the responsible use of natural resources. Then, they investigate reef ecosystems with a local marine biologist.
Highlights
- Mayan Village – Students will begin their experience by participating in a Mayan Ceremony that will invoke the spirit of the living resources (plants & animals). The Mayan community will teach students how they use and replenish their natural resources. Students will spend several days planting trees, making medicine from natural ingredients and preparing an ancient chocolate drink.
- Marine Reserves – This program will provide direct experience with principles of Ecology and Marine Biology in the unique setting of the Belize Barrier Reef. Enjoy a snorkeling tour guided by a professional marine biologist with expert knowledge of the diverse ecosystem found here. Students will have the opportunity to swim with turtles, nurse sharks, sting rays, eagle rays, seahorses and possibly manatees.
Take a look at the daily itinerary for more information.
4. Economy, Government & Culture in Cuba
Explore contemporary Cuba through site visits, meetings and interviews with local residents. Students will learn about the country’s culture, political structure, domestic and foreign policies, as well as the importance of the Revolution in shaping Cuba’s modern identity.
Highlights
- Industry Visits – Sugar and tobacco dominated the Cuban economy for much of its history. Visit a factory where some of the finest cigars in the world are made. Then, see the Valley of the Sugar Mills, a center for sugar production in the late 18th Century.
- Committee for the Defense of the Revolution – Meet with members of the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution, an organization promoting social welfare and protecting its community from counter-revolutionary activity.
- Yoruba Cultural Association of Cuba – This museum is dedicated to Santería and features sculptures representing the different Afro-Cuban orishas (saint-gods). People still come to pray and give offerings to the various orishas, so you may even witness a Santería ceremony or ritual here.
- Muraleando Project – Local artists began teaching workshops, but later moved into the streets where the seeds of “Muraleando” (muralmaking) were sown. In a country where nothing is disposable, broken typewriters, old telephones and tire rims were all fair game to weld, paint and turn into sculpture.
Learn more by reading the full itinerary.
5. Women’s Health in Tanzania
Every year over 300,000 women die as a result of pregnancy and childbirth because they do not have access to safe medical care. Students will gain greater insight into the practice of medicine in a developing country as well as the cultural perceptions surrounding medicine and healthcare care.
Highlights
- Mt. Meru, Ngarenaro & Levelosi Hospitals – Students will work with local medical personnel in urban and rural pediatric and maternity medical facilities. Focused on reducing maternal mortality and the incidence of obstetric fistula, they will develop an understanding the medical challenges facing Tanzania’s poorest communities.
- Wsilelei Dispensary – Visit a local rural clinic that serves the Maasai people and participate in a Q&A session with a traditional midwife. Then, conduct health workshops with local Maasai women from the surrounding community.
- Maasai Guided Walk – Your Maasai guide will take you for a leisurely stroll through the bushland surrounding the Isoitok Camp toward the Rift Valley Viewpoint. Along the way, you’ll learn about the different root and plant extracts still being used by the Maasai to treat ailments.
- Ngorongoro Crater Safari – A trip to Tanzania isn’t complete without a safari. Within the crater rim you can see large herds of zebra and wildebeest grazing with nearby lions, leopards, elephants and black rhinos.
Read the full itinerary for more.
6. Public Education & Maori Culture in New Zealand
Students compare and contrast New Zealand’s education system to our own. Interacting with local faculty and students will provide a unique perspective on the integration of traditional and modern educational practices.
Highlights
- School Visits – Students interact with faculty & students while learning about New Zealand’s elementary education program at a primary school, or participate in traditional Maori welcome ceremony at an intermediate school.
- Mitai Maori Village Experience – Give your students a hands-on experience learning about the culture & customs of the Maori people. Enjoy captivating performances of traditional song and dance, including the “Haka” Maori war dance. Then, witness the preparation of your authentic, earth-cooked hangi dinner.
- Agrodome Farm Experience – Take a guided tour of the 350-acre farm. Hand feed a variety of animals, watch a sheep-shearing demonstration & see sheepdogs in action. Then, explore a certified fruit orchard & olive grove where you’ll get to taste their natural kiwi fruit juice & honey.
Read the detailed itinerary to learn about the unique experiences offered in this program.
7. Sports Management in London
This program takes a look at various aspects of sports management in the professional, amateur and non-profit arenas. Students can tour stadiums, meet athletes and even get an insider’s look at Olympic training facilities.
Highlights
- Tennis – Tour Wimbledon & Wembley. Students learn about the venues’ history, the Championships & the English Lawn Tennis Association’s role.
- Rugby – Take a tour of Twickenham stadium to learn about the game, the management & development of the stadium, sponsorship & training.
- Cricket – Visit Lord’s Cricket Ground, home of the world’s most famous cricket club. Learn about the game, the history of the ground.
- Soccer – Speak with the marketing & events team at a “football” stadium & stay for a match.
- Collegiate Sports – Students meet with a representative of an Oxford University sports team to learn how they balance their academics with their rigorous training schedule.
- Olympics – Visit Olympic Park to learn about the development of the area, how the 2012 Olympics boosted the economy, as well as how local residents feel about the changes. Follow your guide through the Olympic training facilities to discover how elite athletes are trained, what funding is vialable to UK athletes & how venues were developed prior to the 2012 Olympic Games.
- Ability Over Disability – Visit Stoke Mandeville Stadium where Dr. Ludwig Guttmann arranged the first Paralympic Games for WWII servicemen with spinal cord injuries. Students meet with the founder of a sports charity to learn how they help athletes with disabilities excel in their sport.
Read the full itinerary for more details.
8. Discovering the Secrets to Longevity in the Blue Zones in Italy
Seek to understand the lifestyles and mindset of people in Blue Zones, where the highest number of centenarians live. Students will meet centenarians and local experts to explore several theories of longevity. They’ll also have the opportunity to try their hands at baking bread traditionally consumed by shepherds.
Highlights
- Dr. Gianni Pes – Speak with Dr. Pes, the Senior Researcher who first to reported on Sardinian longevity. Discuss his findings on nutrition and lifestyle factors associated with long life.
- Honey House – Honey is considered a longevity food in Ikaria. Learn about its quality and production.
- Agios Kirikos Hospital – Meet a cardiologist and general surgeon to discuss centenarian health, then shadow a physiotherapist.
- Bread-making Workshop – A Sardinian proverb states, “With bread, you will never die.” The “Carta di Musica” flatbread was traditionally consumed by shepherds who needed nutrient-rich food that would sustain them through long days.
- Seulo Walk – Discover the connection between hiking and longevity. Meet a shepherd who will demonstrate how to make local cheese. Then, try a shepherd’s-style lunch.
- Local Centenarians – Talk with local centenarians as you prepare a meal for the group. Learn their secrets to living long and healthy lives.
- San Benedetto Food Market – Sample local food at the largest covered fish market in Europe.
For more information about this program, take a look at the full itinerary.
Augusta University faculty-led program at Deildartunguhver thermal spring.
9. Harnessing Natural Resources to Produce Clean Energy in Iceland
Iceland produces the cleanest energy in the world! Students learn how natural resources are used to produce energy while enjoying the country’s natural beauty. Sites include the third-largest geothermal power plant in the world, a geothermal bakery and a geothermal greenhouse.
Highlights
- Hellisheidar Power Plant – Visit the third-largest geothermal power station in the world to learn how geothermal energy is used as a sustainable energy source in Iceland and heat their entire country!
- Fontana Geothermal Bakery – Learn how geothermal energy works as a natural oven as you watch the baker dig bread out from the hot ground. After a walk, you’ll sample some of the bread, served hot from the ground with some Icelandic butter.
- Friðheimar Greenhouse – Learn about the magic behind growing delicious, pesticide-free tomatoes and cucumbers with the aid of geothermal heat. This greenhouse produces about 300 tons of organic vegetables annually!
- Golden Circle Tour – Visit Þingvellir National Park to see the Mid-Atlantic Ridge – the point where North America and Europe’s tectonic plates meet. Make a quick stop at Gullfoss waterfall for a photo opportunity before visiting Strokkur, one of Iceland’s most famous geysers. It sprays 25-30 meters in the air every 6-10 minutes.
Read the full itinerary for more.
It’s easy to develop and run a successful faculty-led program with our custom tour itineraries, free planning tools and customer service support. Contact us to request more information or call our office at 1-800-235-9384 to speak with a Tour Coordinator.
It’s a big world. Get out there!
Your FTI Team
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