New Zealand & Sydney: Humans, Business, and the Environment

Program Description

This 3.5 week experiential programs explores the outstanding landscapes of New Zealand and visits the thriving commercial center of Sydney, Australia. This program begins after Christmas, it's summer down there and one of the best times to visit the mountains, hike on the glaciers, paddle in the sparkling waters, interact with business and governmental leaders, and swim with the dolphins. This course offers the chance to visit some extraordinary natural environments, study the sustainable use of local resources, and consider the different cultures that make up modern New Zealand and Australia.

For its size, New Zealand is one of the most geographically diverse countries in the world with temperate rainforests, glaciers, golden sand beaches, deep fiords, alpine herb fields, and rugged coastlines. New Zealand provides a perfect location to study the intersections of business, people, and the environment.

Sydney, Australia is a global city, highly rated for livability. As the capital of New South Wales (NSW), Sydney is ideally positioned as the gateway to Australia and the Asia Pacific. NSW's economy is larger than that of Hong Kong, Malaysia, or Singapore and accounts for about one-third of Australia's gross domestic product. More than 600 multinational companies have chosen Sydney as their regional headquarters, benefiting from the city's well-educated, multi-lingual workforce.

Our experiential education focuses on learning through guided action. Students spend about 70% of their time traveling the stunning national parks, forests, wildlife reserves, coastlines, and islands of New Zealand and Sydney under the guidance of knowledgeable field professionals.

Interactive Map and Program Itinerary

Check out our interactive program map and view a sample itinerary for this program.

Program Pictures

Check out our Flickr page to view pictures of the New Zealand program!

Program Objectives

By the end of the program students will:

Understand the natural history, biogeography, and related social and cultural contexts of New Zealand and Australia;
Understand the primary economic drivers of New Zealand and Australia and learn about real and emerging threats;
Understand the intricate relationships between profitability, social accountability and environmental sustainability using businesses in New Zealand as Australia as case studies;
Develop a broad understanding what of it takes for a business to be "sustainable", and be able to critique various sustainability initiatives that have been adopted by businesses in New Zealand and Australia;
Be able to discuss how business enterprise can be used as a tool for social justice in indigenous populations;
Be able to transfer lessons learned in New Zealand and Australia to the U.S.;
Be able to articulate the importance of sustainable business practices to the general public;
Have developed interpersonal skills through collaboration and communication with peers

Read the program syllabus for this program.

Eligibility

We encourage students from all majors to apply, as we take an interdisciplinary perspective to examine global issues in the conservation of unique wildlife, natural systems, and cultural places. Students should have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and be in good standing with their home university or college.

Program Fee

The program fee includes:

Transcript
Accommodation at hostels and motels
Orientation
Some meals
Group activities
In-country transportation

Additional costs that students are responsible for include:

Roundtrip airfare (see www.studentuniverse.com/study/auip for details)
Passport
Course packet
Personal expenses

Top Reasons to Choose this Program

New Zealand is one of the most geographically diverse countries in the world with temperate rainforests, glaciers, golden sand beaches, deep fiords, alpine herb fields, and rugged coastlines.
Where else can you witness the longest surviving culture in the world (Aboriginal) then explore one of the most metropolitan cities in the world?
You will spend much of your time (~70%) out in the field, visiting and observing New Zealand and Sydney first-hand. We believe that students learn from study abroad experiences both in and outside of the classroom.
You have the chance to swim with dolphins, kayak to golden beaches, see a performance in the world famous Sydney Opera House, and visit the Rocks (site of Australia's first penal colony).
You will learn from leading Australia and Kiwi academics and professionals with expertise in subjects related to the sustainable business.