UVa Study Abroad Programs in Tibet
Recognizing the import of study abroad programs for enhancing globally aware education, the University of Virginia was one of the first American universities to conduct accredited academic programs in Tibet. During the past decade, UVa has offered students three unique programs detailed below. However, political problems caused suspension of these programs in 2008-2010. In 2010, we are offering the Summer program in Eastern Tibet (Kham) if there is sufficient student enrollment. See here for details
We plan to resume a fuller program in 2011.
Academic-fall semester program in Lhasa: Held each fall, the UVa semester-long program at Tibet University is the first program in Tibet for American undergraduates that combines formal academic instruction within a university and ethnographic fieldwork involving travel throughout Central Tibet. UVa-associated faculty accompany students to provide important historical and cultural background knowledge and to assist with language study and travel opportunities. Past program instructors include David Germano, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and co-director of the Tibet Center; Nicolas Tournadre, renown scholar of Tibetan linguistics; and Kabir Heimsath, an anthropologist with extensive experience leading educational and tour groups throughout Tibet.
Summer program in Eastern Tibet (Kham): the Eastern Tibetan summer Tibetan program run by UVa is a month long immersive program visiting dynamic religious and secular communities in the Kham region. This program stresses participatory learning in partnership with community members, and only involves basic language learning during the trip. Enrollment is limited to tweleve students.
Summer language program in Lhasa: the Tibet University summer Tibetan language program supported by UVa focuses upon Tibetan language studies for graduate students and select undergraduates. Each summer, this program has had an average of twenty students, drawn from most of the major graduate programs in the US. The program has been instrumental to graduate students’ acquisition of spoken Tibetan language skills, as well as to their learning the ropes of fieldwork in Tibet.
To request further information contact us today.