Location:

Guilin, China; Shanghai, China

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Graduate

Term:

Summer

Program Overview

Program Description:

Global Sustainability Initiative International Projects provide graduate students with hands-on experience exploring sustainability challenges in some of the world’s most rapidly developing nations. Offered as a program of Virginia Tech’s Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability, GSI China participants are organized as a consulting team to examine complex sustainable development issues relating to tourism development in Southern China, as well as strategies being used to address it.

The Global Sustainability Initiative (GSI) will lead a team of professionals to Southern China to better understand sustainability challenges facing the region, and to explore strategies being developed to address these challenges. The team will be visiting several major cities and rural areas, each of which faces tremendous opportunities and challenges for sustainable development. China’s rapidly growing economy has significant implications for global society. With close to 1.5 billion citizens, including an emerging middle-class of approximately 300 million people, China’s patterns of production and consumption are of global concern. The significance of these trends cannot be overstated. The sustainable development of China is a critical issue for the Chinese and for the international community, as the environmental, social, and economic impacts will be profound.

GSI International Projects offer participants an opportunity to get a jump on your sustainability career or to earn graduate credits without being fully committed to a masters program. GSI International Projects are a great way to gain international and sustainability-related work experience while traveling with like-minded people; to explore sustainability issues in new contexts; and to network with visionary professionals and people engaged in sustainable development work around the world.

Setting Description:

GSI China will focus primarily in Southern China, namely in Guangxi Province. The team will visit a variety of urban and rural centers, as well as the mega-city of Shanghai.

Cost:

Program fee is $2,900 which includes meals, lodging, transportation, activities, and logistics in Russia. International airfare is not included and is the responsibility of the participant. Participants who elect to earn graduate credits are also responsible for the cost of tuition for six graduate credits at Virginia Tech.