Program Overview
Develop UN’s SDGS by Exploring Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo (Sabah & Brunei)
This two-semester program will expose you to both pre-modern and modern aspects of several Southeast Asian cities, visiting Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei to understand their efforts in developing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
In the pre-travel IDH4007 course, you will learn about Southeast Asian traditions and the inherent principles which mirror, amplify or represent the cultural norms of the Malay, Singaporean and Bruneian society.
In IDH4008, you will travel abroad, challenging and changing the Western-centric approach in which you feel and behave. You will live and experience Southeast Asian spaces, encouraging creativity and broadening your understanding of multicultural perspectives.
Program Start: Thursday, June 3, 2027
Program End: Thursday, July 1, 2027
Application opens soon
The 2027 Honors Study Abroad application window opens September 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. EDT.
Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until January 8, 2027, or until all spaces are filled.
PROGRAM DETAILS
What you'll be doing
- Meeting Universiti Malaya students in Kuala Lumpur as part of COIL
- Taking a river cruise in Sandakan
- Seeing animals in the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari
- Visiting the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Brunei
- Exploring the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
- Exploring Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre (The Orangutan)
This is a living document, meaning that scheduled Free Time may be utilized for in-person quizzes, class meetings, and/or class days. Students should always consult with their Faculty Director prior to scheduling plans during Free Time.
Cost & Aid
- One daily bottle of drinking water (500ml)
- 28 nights in handpicked accommodations with daily breakfast
- 24/7 support from expert Faculty Director
- Regional ground transportation
- Regional flights within program
- International travel medical insurance
- Local English-speaking tour guides
- Tip for staff in Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore
- Sustainability tax and tourist tax
- Admission to Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur Butterfly & Bird Park, Khoo Kongsi, Tropical Spice Garden, and so much more
Your Faculty Director
Marcela Lopez Bravo holds a Ph.D. in International Culture and Communication Studies from Waseda University and Master degrees in Linguistics and in Asian Studies from Florida International University (FIU). She has taught at the university level in the US, China, and Japan. Currently, she is Graduate Director and Assistant Teaching Professor of the Asian Studies Program.
Dr. Lopez Bravo has successfully led Study Abroad programs to Japan and has been recognized with multiple excellence in teaching awards in Japan and in the US. Her research interests include Japanese studies, cultural geography, virtual reality applied to teaching East Asian cultures, languages, and literature, COIL, and intercultural communication.
What's Next