Faculty-Led Custom Programs

Faculty-Led Custom Programs Abroad

SRAS can assist in the design and delivery of faculty-led customized programming to meet your institution’s specific needs. Our partners and on-site team members work directly with study abroad offices and faculty leaders to understand the objectives for your program abroad. Then, we tap our local resources to help you create an enriching and affordable experience for your students. Taking your students abroad is a great way to expand their horizons and give them first-hand knowledge of your course material.

Where SRAS Can Take Your Faculty-Led Group

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SRAS programs are designed around each unique destination. Travel to these locations is essential for students studying the local languages, cultures, and histories. Travel is also very rewarding for those studying any subject of global significance, providing new perspectives to all.

Some of the most successful faculty-led custom group programs are those that bring together students from multiple majors and departments, mixing language students with those majoring in ecology, political science, religion, security, urban planning, economics, or any number of disciplines. Working with other departments can also broaden your recruitment pool.

Contact us about the next steps in developing a high-impact, high-value educational experience abroad.

Click a Location for More Info

The geopins mark SRAS "bases," where we have regularly used infrastructure and, in most cases, regular student programs and permanently-based SRAS staff. Click a location for more info.

Areas marked in green show areas that SRAS can or has historically supported programs in the past.

Lead Your Group & Make Connections!

Whether you are looking to create an embedded semester course component, a short-term summer experience, or even an entire semester abroad, SRAS can help you to:

Enhance your course content through local, relevant, authentic cultural experiences;
Give your students international experience;
Create excitement about and visibility for your program on campus;
Gain connections and professional development abroad for you and your co-leaders;
Find innovative opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration by possibly co-developing and co-marketing your program with, for instance, your political science, history, environmental science, art, or literature departments on campus;
Engage and connect with your alumni by offering them the ability to join your creative course or program abroad;
Make your institution more competitive through global connections.

SRAS Faculty-Led Custom Group Services

Whether you just need help with a few components of your existing program, or want to design something entirely new, we can help you define and realize your vision.

We work with institutions, budgets, topics, formats, and durations of all shapes and sizes. We enjoy being creative and thinking of ways to make sure that your program can give the biggest, most memorable, and most impactful student experience that is reasonably possible within your budget and your institution’s guidelines.

We can assist you with:

Concept development and program design
Budget development and management
Logistics (visas, accommodation, transportation)
Cooperation with local academic institutions
Specialized lectures, seminars, roundtables
Visits to local businesses or organizations
Experiential cultural immersion activities and peer interactions
Service learning projects
Guided excursions
Cultural performances
Participant recruitment
Insurance and risk management
Pre-departure materials and onsite orientation
On-ground support & translation
Program evaluation

Timing

We work in exciting and sometimes challenging regions. As such, we recommend allowing 6-12 months for thorough program design, proposal, approval, recruitment, and execution to ensure a quality experience for your faculty-led custom program.

Your Next Steps

We are excited to work with you to develop a unique program. Let’s start today! Looking for inspiration? Take a look at these sample itineraries. Let’s start the journey together.

Start Your Program

Browse Sample Itineraries

Contact SRAS

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Past Program Leaders Say:

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Suspension of all Programming in Russia

All SRAS programming in Russia has been suspended until further notice. This includes our regular programs in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Irkustk, and Vladivostok, as well as all faculty-led custom programming.

Suspension of all Programming in Ukraine

SRAS programs historically held in Ukraine have been relocated to Georgia. Should Ukraine become safe for travel again, SRAS plans to reopen programming there as soon as safely possible.

Georgia

Georgia is a small, mountainous country and home to a great diversity of cultures and religions. It is perhaps most known, however, for its unique food and wine culture. Its capital, Tbilisi, dates back to at least the 5th century B.C. while Batumi a historic port town that is now a tourist hub, are great places from which to explore this incredible country. Faculty leading custom group programs can focus on food culture, geopolitics, identity studies, human geography, anthropology, and/or sustainable tourism. Common side trips from Georgia include Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Poland

Poland is country that has disappeared from the map twice in its history. Perhaps more than any other European capital, this city reflects its turbulent history. Reduced to ruins in WWII, Warsaw is now home to one of the most dynamic economies in Europe and a booming modern culture. Faculty leading custom group programs often focus on security studies, diversity, policy studies, history, Jewish studies, urban development, culture, and/or museum studies. Common side trips from Warsaw include Krakow, Gdansk, and Berlin.

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan offers a look into a developing economy as well as into the history of one of the world’s oldest nomadic civilizations. Pride in nomadic traditions remain strong here. Faculty leading custom group programs often focus on anthropology, languages, and Central Asian studies, sustainable development, identity, and environment. Centrally situated in Central Asia, Bishkek also allows affordable travel to such diverse locations as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan

With Islamic monumental architecture dating from thousands of years ago and widespread and internationally funded efforts to preserve and develop traditional crafts, Uzbekistan can offer truly unique experiences. Faculty leading custom group programs often focus on history, art, and/or architecture. Students will feel as if they are taken back in time even as they interact with locals and learn about contemporary life in Uzbekistan. Common side trips from Uzbekistan include Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

– Read about upcoming study tours (can be an off-the-shelf or inspirational beginning for your custom tour!

Armenia

Armenia teems with natural beauty and history unique to the Caucasus, and its dynamic capital city feels very European yet not overrun with tourists. Faculty leading custom group programs in Armenia often focus on Soviet minorities, genocide studies, conflict and diplomacy, diasporas, and much more in a secure, European-facing country.

Latvia

Latvia provides our “home base” for exploring the Baltics. These countries offer a quintessentially European experience, with lots of cobblestone streets and German/Scandinavian-style architecture. However, Russian language and culture can still be easily found here, making this an excellent place for Russophone study experiences. Faculty leading custom group programs in Armenia often focus on Soviet minorities, genocide studies, conflict and diplomacy, diasporas, and much more in a secure, European-facing country.