AT A GLANCE Dates (2023): Mar 5-11 | Mar 12-18 | Jul 16-22 | Aug 6-12 | Custom dates Credit: n/a Eligibility: Undergrad/grad – any field and level of study Program fees: US $1,570 |
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Course overview
While our primary goal is to help as many students as possible develop their competencies as future global change leaders for sustainable development, we recognize that many students simply do not have the time or money to engage in a 3-week course. As a result, we decided to also offer this 1-week interdisciplinary immersion program in order to at least introduce the topic of change leadership for sustainable development to interested students.
You can choose from four fascinating destinations in Africa or Asia to embark on this transformative journey. The fast-paced introductory program allows you to acquire basic applied skills, knowledge, and understanding about systemic transformations towards sustainable development. Possibly even more importantly, it lets you do so through the eyes of key local stakeholders at your chosen destination.
Just like the 3-week field course, this program builds on the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) methodology coined by UNESCO. Accordingly, we use an action-oriented and transformational real-life learning approach that is supplemented by engaging virtual instruction. The highlight is a “future workshop” with a vision-building exercise that you conduct in a small cohort together with local peers.
Highlights:
- Start to develop core competencies of global change leaders for sustainable development.
- Engage with key local stakeholders and experience sustainable development through their eyes.
- Participate in a “future workshop” with a vision-building exercise.
- Explore transformations towards sustainable development in a leading African or Asian success story.
- Broaden your personal and professional network and build lasting international friendships.
Program locations
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Kenya The political and economic leader of East Africa, Kenya might still be most well-known internationally for the immense diversity and beauty of its landscapes and wildlife. But that’s only part of the story. In recent years, its capital Nairobi has become an epicenter for innovation. This is best seen by exploring the incredible tech startup scene with its dozens of accelerators, incubators, and innovation hubs. |
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Rwanda One of today’s greatest development success stories, Rwanda is Africa’s prime study abroad jewel. The country underwent a breathtaking transformation since the 1994 genocide. A model for poverty reduction and economic growth, it accounts for the highest percentage of women in parliament anywhere in the world. And the streets of its modern green capital Kigali are clean, safe, and free of corruption. |
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South Africa
South Africa has emerged from its troubled and turbulent past into a healthy democratic country and the economic powerhouse of the African continent. At the same time, it’s a great place to witness a society going through dynamic changes, as it can still be considered both a developed and an underdeveloped country. South Africans forge a new identity, strongly embracing their unique multicultural character. |
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Vietnam
The Asian Dragon is undergoing some of the fastest socio-economic changes any country in the world has seen. It is a major development success story with remarkable rates of economic growth since the start of massive political and economic reforms in 1986. But the lure of modern living has a deep impact on the traditional networks of family and community that continue to play a pivotal role in society. |
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Academics
The course is offered as a 1-week interdisciplinary immersion program. All participants meet at their host cities (Nairobi, Kigali, Cape Town, Ho Chi Minh City). After a thorough in-country orientation, they embark on a week of action-oriented experiential learning activities to study transformations towards sustainable development in the local context.
Local expert introductions are supplemented by engaging virtual sessions and materials from GEI’s Global Classroom. Excursions showcase sustainable development in both urban and rural contexts and invite participants to explore through guided transformational real-life learning in the community.
The highlight for many consists of a “future workshop” where participants engage in small cohorts with groups of local peers in vision-building exercises. Topics derive from key local opportunities and challenges relating to transformations towards sustainable development.
By the end of the week, the participants come together for a final workshop to start to develop their own leadership story and celebrate their common humanity.
Further details:
Dates, fees, and scholarships
The program dates are generally identical across our four program locations – Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, and Vietnam.
Program | Application due | Start date | End date | Fees* |
Spring break 1 | January 1, 2023 | March 5, 2023 | March 11, 2023 | US $1,570 |
Spring break 2 | January 1, 2023 | March 12, 2023 | March 18, 2023 | US $1,570 |
Summer 1 | May 1, 2023 | July 16, 2023 | July 22, 2023 | US $1,570 |
Summer 2 | May 1, 2023 | August 6, 2023 | August 12, 2023 | US $1,570 |
* Early bird discount (10%) available until March 1, 2023 for all summer program dates. |
We value full transparency and no hidden costs. As a result, you won’t have any disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Included in your program fees are airport transfers, housing (twin sharing), meals (with 1 non-alcoholic beverage), activities, excursions, local transportation, full-time leadership and support, pre-departure advising, and health insurance.
It is important that you take note of what is explicitly not included in the program fees. This helps you budget. Not included are the transportation to/from the program location airport (including international airfare and taxes), visas, immunizations, additional beverages during meals, general items and services of a personal nature, medical expenses not covered by the insurance provided, and other discretionary expenses. Also not included are potential expenses relating to any Covid-19-related measures, including testing, quarantine, or isolation requirements. Should such requirements exist, we will gladly provide on-site assistance, but you will have to cover all related expenses.
Scholarships:
GEI offers a variety of merit scholarships, trailblazer scholarships, and opportunity scholarships and grants. You can find further information as well as additional resources for external funding opportunities in the following blog post: Scholarships & Grants.
Our program staff
Our in-country program staff consists of experienced local education, sustainability, and program operations experts.
![]() Yvan Rubengebenge | ![]() Cailin Human, MBA |
![]() Thuy Phan, MA |
![]() Francoise Uzamukunda, MA |
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![]() Eric Kingoina, DCS |
![]() Adeline Imanirakiza, DIS |
![]() Amy Lin, MA |
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