Learning Across Borders Program Booklet
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Transcript of Learning Across Borders Program Booklet
Learning Across Borders: Myanmar Program 2013 Page 1 of 4
Overview
Learning Across Borders (LAB) offers answers to young people who want to combine their on-
campus education with direct experience in other cultures. LAB programs emphasize people
and ideas. LAB participants enter a new culture with a respectful and open-minded attitude,
seeking both commonalities and differences in order to understand the larger human
experience.
These are not sightseeing programs, though in fact the programs include some of the most
important cultural sights of each country. Rather, these programs are designed for young
people who want to confront and understand both the leading issues and underlying culture of
each society. The program thus requires highly motivated, active participants who are willing
and eager to interact with students, professors, NGO and UN staff, business people, villagers
and others.
LAB programs are conducted in English, the most common language available for such
exchanges. Thus, a LAB program becomes an immersion experience in English usage. The
emphasis is not on perfect grammar but rather on willingness to communicate.
LAB offers three programs: a Contemporary Southeast Asia Issues program in late February
and early March, a Myanmar (Burma) program (which includes an initial period in Thailand) in
late August and early September, and a Civil Society in Thailand program in mid-November.
Learning Across Borders: Myanmar Program 2013 Page 2 of 4
Myanmar Program
Myanmar is an Asian nation which:
which is in the midst of transition from military dictatorship to a much more open
society, one in which Japan is playing an important role with private investment and
government aid;
has 60 million people;
has a rich cultural heritage, including Bagan, an area with over 2000 temples and
pagodas built 800 years ago;
has a wide diversity of people and cultures—from the majority population (Burmans) to
Chinese, Indians and many local ethnic groups;
offers a high degree of safety to its visitors.
Despite all of these advantages, this nation is understood and visited by very few people.
Traditionally called Burma, it was re-named Myanmar by its former government. It offers the
visitor—and especially any interested student of world affairs—a fascinating exploration of
culture, development, ethnic diversity and important questions of economics and politics. It
offers a rare view of a nation in the midst of difficult but encouraging change. Rather
suddenly, Japan and other Asian and Western nations are actively involved in this
transformation.
Learning Across Borders: Myanmar Program 2013 Page 3 of 4
Why LAB?
This program allows a select group of Japanese and Taiwanese university students to do what
they could not do on their own: to enter this country in a way which offers close contact with
the people and the historic richness of their culture, religion and art. The schedule includes:
A seven-day program in Yangon, Myanmar’s capital, designed and led by local students who
plan this entry into their culture. To explore social issues, we’ll talk with UNICEF staff and visit
various NGOs. Japanese students will meet with diplomats at the Japanese Embassy. At the
same time, Taiwanese students will explore the Chinese community in Yangon while Thai
students will be visiting Thai Embassy.
Leadership
This program is led by Dwight Clark, who first began introducing Asia to university students
when he was Dean of Freshmen Men at Stanford University. He founded VIA and served as its
President for 40 years. In 2004 he started Learning Across Borders, a non-profit educational
organization which offers international study programs such as this. He has led 33 study
programs to Southeast Asia for Asian university students, including similar programs to
Myanmar since 2004.
Learning Across Borders: Myanmar Program 2013 Page 4 of 4
Participants
This program requires highly-motivated, responsible students who can deal diplomatically with
sensitive issues and who agree to use English in all group settings. Being enrolled as an
undergraduate degree student at Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University
majoring in International Relations (IR) is mandatory.
Participants are responsible for the program fee of US$310 meals and accommodation will be
provided (airfare excluded).
Applications
Duration: 22 August – 28 August 2013 (7 days 6 nights)
Cost: US$ 310 meals and accommodation provided (airfare excluded)
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who has been enrolled in Faculty of Political Science, International Relations major (1st – 4th year) Chulalongkorn University
Application Deadline: Tuesday 18th June 2013
Please submit a completed application form to [email protected] Application form is availble here: http://bit.ly/18bDU4d
Announcement of successful candidates: Via phone or email on Thursday 20th June 2013
More info.:
E-mail [email protected] or
Website http://learning-across-borders.org/
GOOD LUCK! :)