STUDY ABROAD IN INDIA

MAY 2009

Temple flowers, Fort Cochin, Kerala (Tan)

Dr. Paige Tan, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public and International Affairs, and Dr. Susan Bullers, an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology, are working together to design a two-week, study-abroad trip to South India for May 2009. 

Pending approval by the UNCW International Programs Advisory Committee, the three-credit, multidisciplinary, undergraduate or graduate course (credited in Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, or Women's Studies) is scheduled for the Spring semester, with the trip to follow immediately after.  The focus of the course is:

Development with Special Attention to Women, the Environment, and Globalization.  

The journey begins in Karnataka, visiting the high-tech, off-shoring hub of Bangalore (You've probably spoken to someone in Bangalore at a call center before!).  We'll meet with corporate representatives of one of India's high-tech companies as well as young women working in the offshored industries.  At the other end of the socio-economic scale, we'll spend a day with an NGO working to empower urban slum dwellers.  We'll have a chance to tour and shop Bangalore's famous Brigade/MG Road area.

After Bangalore, we will travel to the "City of Palaces," Mysore.  In Mysore, we will work with the local university to deliver a one-day academic program on women/development issues.  We will also see the sights in Mysore, including the palace and local markets.  See pictures of Bangalore, Mysore, and the offshoring sector below.

  Forum Mall, Bangalore (Tan)

Bangalore is India's high-tech capital, but slums still exist. This photo was taken on Bangalore's outskirts (Tan)

The headquarters of Infosys, one of India's high-tech success stories, Bangalore (Wikipedia) Mysore Palace, Mysore (Bullers) Dr. Bullers with staff of the Women's Studies Center at the University of Mysore (Bullers) Training those Dell operators, this photo from Madurai, Tamil Nadu (Tan)

From Mysore, we will continue on to Hassan, a district capital nearby.  We will visit a biofuel research park to learn how some Indian scientists are trying to assist in sustainable development for nearby villages. We will have a chance to visit a village and interview local farmers.  From Hassan, we will also depart to see the famous temples of Belur and Halebid.  From there, we will head to Rajiv Gandhi National Park at Nagarhole on the Karnataka-Kerala border.  The park, home to elephants, tigers, Indian bison, and sambar deer, is known as one of India's best managed.   We'll explore the park and try to develop an understanding of some of the environment issues India faces as it develops.  Pictures of the biofuel facility, temples, a road scene, and a national park, below.

  Dr. Girish and the Biofuel Facility (Bullers)

Temple Carving (Bullers)

Rural Temple (Bullers)

 Halebid (Wikipedia)

 Halebid (Bullers)

  A road scene in India (Bullers)

  Wild elephant spotted, Periyar, Thekkady (Bullers)

From Nagarhole, we will drive into the state of Kerala (according to National Geographic Traveler, one of fifty "must-see" destinations of a lifetime).  Highlights in Kerala include visits to an ancient seaport (Cochin, known as Queen of the Arabian Sea, where St. Thomas supposedly landed in India), the opportunity to volunteer at an orphanage for abandoned girls, and a cruise of the luscious Kerala "Backwaters" where students can get to see rural life.   See some Kerala pictures below.

  Girls at Home of Hope Orphanage, Cochin (Tan)

Dr. Bullers with two of the Home of Hope girls, Cochin (Tan)

Chinese fishing nets, Fort Cochin (Tan)

Drs. Tan (pink shirt) and Bullers (next to her) doing the work, Chinese fishing nets, Fort Cochin (Tan)

Kathakali Dance Performance (Bullers)

Spice market, Alleppey (Tan)

Rural life, Kerala Backwaters (Tan)

Cruising the Kerala Backwaters (Tan)

Village kids collecting water, Backwaters (Tan)

Gogul, a village boy, happy with a gift beanie baby (Tan)

An elderly gentleman, Backwaters (Tan)

Our houseboat, Kerala Backwaters (Tan)

Kerala is one of India's most advanced, least corrupt (Transparency International 2005), and most gender equitable states. It has developed-country levels of life expectancy. We'll explore why this is the case.  What has Kerala been doing so right?  What remains to be done?

The course will include pre-departure lectures on development, gender issues, and the environment, as well as organizational matters. 

LOGISTICAL MATTERS:

WHO CAN GO: Right now, the trip is structured such that only students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at UNCW can participate.  With sufficient interest, this may be broadened in future potentially to include non-degree students, students at other schools, and community members.

COST:  The cost of the trip will be roughly determined by the end of the summer 2008. Amounts may be expected to vary slightly as the trip draws nearer and students should be prepared for fluctuation caused by rising global prices. 

COURSE APPLICATION:  Due to the potential hardships involved in travel to a challenging destination like India, the course requires an application process.  The application will be available on this website from the end of the summer 2008. The due date is yet to be determined.

MORE INFORMATION: Contact Dr. Tan (PLS 495/592, tanp@uncw.edu or 910-962-3221) or Dr. Bullers (SOC 495/592/WMS 491, bullerss@uncw.edu or 910-962-7150) for more information.  Join the trip group on Facebook. For UNCW students only, search "UNCW India Study Abroad."

IF YOU'RE GRADUATING: Paula Green, Graduation Specialist in the Registrar's office, said she was optimistic (but could not guarantee) that if the trip were just two weeks and Dr. Bullers and I turned in our grades immediately upon returning that this would not impact any students on the trip who had applied for graduation (the real verification and issuance of diplomas happens well after "graduation" itself . . . ).  As an example, she just finished the May 2008 graduation clearances June 13, 2008!  So, we shouldn't foresee any problems with anyone graduating at the end of the semester but before the trip. The degree should still be awarded in time.  In the unlikely event that the worst case scenario results, the degree would be conferred in August.

**Thanks to all the UNCW officials and Indian friends who are contributing funds, ideas, and contacts to make this trip a reality.**

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To Learn More about Our Destinations, Visit:

Kerala Sites

Kerala Tourism http://www.keralatourism.org/   

The Government of Kerala http://www.kerala.gov.in/   

Kochi/Cochin, India http://www.cochin.org/  

Home of Hope Orphanage http://www.homeofhopeindia.org/  

Alleppey/Alappuzha Tourism http://www.atdcalleppey.com/  

Karnataka Sites

Karnataka Tourism http://www.karnatakatourism.org/  or http://www.karnataka.com/  

Mysore Travel http://www.mysore.net/  

University of Mysore http://www.uni-mysore.ac.in/unity/  

Bangalore at Karnataka.com http://www.karnataka.com/tourism/bangalore/  

NGO: Association for Promoting Social Action (APSA) http://www.apsaindia.org/

Other India Study Abroad Opportunities:

The American Institute of Indian Studies runs language courses in India that serious and interested students might consider pursuing as a follow-on for our study abroad trip. See http://www.aiislanguageprograms.org/index.php.

AIFS and CIEE run semester-long programs in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. This is another of India's high-tech cities.  See http://www.aifsabroad.com/india/ or http://www.ciee.org/program_search/program_detail.aspx?program_id=49.

Star Anise, Alleppey Spice Market, Kerala (Tan)