Nepal Educator

Best Practices in International Experiential Education

A 14-Day Skills-Based Training Seminar for Educators

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Duration
14 Days
Description

A skills-based training in international experiential education course leadership for teachers of global studies & world languages, and for coordinators of travel abroad & community-service programs.

Dates

Jul 1 - Jul 15, 2018

Suggested Ages

All ages

Number of Participants

12

Availability

open

Begins In

8 Weeks

Tuition

$2,990

Estimated Flight Cost

$1,975

POKHARA

Kathmandu

Patan

Program Overview

This course is both a training in best practices focused on risk management, access to best learning opportunities, and student facilitation strategies, as well as an experiential exposure to critical global issues. Join veteran instructors Shannon Harriman and Suren Thami on an encounter with the people, stories and traditions of this magical Himalayan kingdom.

Tucked amidst the colossal peaks of the Himalaya, the Kathmandu Valley is an ancient crossroads of Himalayan trade and is a melting pot of cultures, creating a convergence of deep traditions amid the bustle of modern South Asian life. On this global educators seminar, educators examine key global issues related to present-day development, environmental sustainability, and cultural survival. In the medieval UNESCO World Heritage site of Bhaktapur, we examine the Newar lineage of pottery, weaving and woodcarving and explore topics of urban planning and sacred space through talks on the spiritual and religious dimensions of Hinduism,…

This course is both a training in best practices focused on risk management, access to best learning opportunities, and student facilitation strategies, as well as an experiential exposure to critical global issues. Join veteran instructors Shannon Harriman and Suren Thami on an encounter with the people, stories and traditions of this magical Himalayan kingdom.

Tucked amidst the colossal peaks of the Himalaya, the Kathmandu Valley is an ancient crossroads of Himalayan trade and is a melting pot of cultures, creating a convergence of deep traditions amid the bustle of modern South Asian life. On this global educators seminar, educators examine key global issues related to present-day development, environmental sustainability, and cultural survival. In the medieval UNESCO World Heritage site of Bhaktapur, we examine the Newar lineage of pottery, weaving and woodcarving and explore topics of urban planning and sacred space through talks on the spiritual and religious dimensions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Shamanism. In Patan, “the city of beauty,” we live with Newari families while we engage with a women’s cooperative, meet United Nations officials, and discuss the Valley’s history with local elders. Examining the word itself, and peeling back the layers of “development,” we better understand Nepal, and South Asia in general, as it transitions from an ancient Kingdom to a modern nation. Experiential activities include introduction to Buddhist tradition through guided meditation practice, light hiking in the Himalaya foothills, and walks amid prominent cultural heritage sites with world-renown scholars. Global educators get real world exposure to contemporary issues in religious and cultural studies, sustainable development, and the arts, while also developing teaching tools to effectively address these themes in the classroom back home.

Since first working together in the 90’s, Shannon and Suren have a combined 1,000+ field-days working with students. Moreover, their passions for the country’s artistic traditions and spiritual practices, combined with their love of the people and communities in which they engage, ensure participants a deep and authentic engagement with place. And because Shannon and Suren have laughed their way through hundreds of field-days working with students together, participants on this program are bound to not just learn, but to also have a remarkably good time. Please join us in Nepal!

Read More Read Less Sample Itinerary

This Global Educators Course benefits from Dragons’ extensive student study abroad in Nepal, including our popular Himalayan Studies semester for gap year and college students and our Nepal summer abroad program for high school students.

Training Modules Include:

  • Risk Management: how to identify, assess, and manage risks abroad; working with students to manage risk in the field; the student-container – check-ins, documentation, and student management
  • Access to Best Learning Opportunities: how to build sustainable relationships with host communities; facilitating a homestay safely; organizing a student excursion; setting up a successful service learning project
  • Student Engagement: how to deepen the student experience through intentional facilitation; teaching to global leaderhship and awareness; working with a progression that allows students to fail forward; bookending your program – tone-setting an experience and integrating a program into the rest of a students’ life; ethnocentrism and cultural awareness

Additional Topics May Include:

  • Buddhism, Hinduism and Religious Syncretism: A peaceful coexistence of Hinduism and Buddhism is the sticking feature of Nepal. What historical processes spiritual practices have led to the syncretic versions of spirituality witnessed in Nepal today? What features of these religions helps to explain how the country avoided religious conflict, and what role does shamanism play in shaping Nepalese versions of Hinduism and Buddhism? How does the iconography of these religions define the national identity, and fuel international tourism?
  • Sustainable Development and Cultural Survival: How can indigenous relations to land promote a mutually beneficial agenda for economic development through eco-tourism? In what way has cultural identity been commodified to increase international tourism? How have businesses and governments appropriated cultural identity towards developing the tourism industry? How do indigenous rights claims affect transnational and governmental economic development strategies? How have different groups been successful at campaigning for cultural rights and continuity at the state-level?
  • Transitional Justice: With no constitution in place over the last four years, how have various stakeholders implemented temporary systems of justice and governance in Nepal? How have indigenous institutions of governance been mobilized to fill the void left by a state apparatus? How has basic national infrastructure, such as electricity, water, and roads been upheld during this time of deliberation and transition?