Incorporating Sustainability into the Study Abroad Experience

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Incorporating Sustainability into the Study
Abroad Experience
Astrid Jirka Office of International
Programs Ithaca College
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What is Sustainability

• Meeting the needs of the present without
  compromising the ability of future generations to
  meet their needs. Bruntland Commission
• Social and economic equality, and environmental
  conditions
• Affects us in many realms
• Diet, Clothing,Transportation, Building
  materials, Etc.
• Interrelationships
• Example The food we eat - who grows it, who
  gets the money, how is it grown, what is going
  into our bodies, fertilizer runoff, affects on
  wildlife, transportation pollutants, packaging,
  etc.

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The tourism industry

• 805 million international tourist arrivals in
  2005
• 1.18 billion arrivals projected for 2020
• Largest in the world - 1.6 trillion spent
  annually on tourism related activities
• 240 million jobs, 9 of all jobs globally
• Includes airlines, on ground transportation,
  hotels, restaurants, tour operators, local
  artisans, attractions (natural and man-made)
• Requires input from governments, private and
  public sector, communities

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Whos affected?

• Just about anyone who goes anywhere domestic
  and international, rural and urban
• The people and the environment that exist in the
  places we travel to
• The environment, in general
• Our communities
• Students, faculty and staff, in general
• Study abroad students
• You and I

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Impacts of Tourism The Good

• Economic benefits to the host community through
  creation of jobs and revenue generation
• Opportunities for regional development (building
  of infrastructure)
• Appreciation of cultural activities/sites and
  natural environments by hosts and guests can lead
  to preservation/conservation
• Cross-cultural interaction

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Impacts of Tourism The Bad

• Over or uncontrolled development
• Deterioration of natural resources/pollution
• Cultural exploitation
• Economic dependency

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Piedra Blanca Ecolodge, EcuadorLos
Guindos Posada/Inn, ArgentinaRasa Sentosa
Resort, Singapore (built in harmony with the
environment)
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Cree Village tour
French Riviera
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Hotel managers and taxi drivers, British and US
Virgin IslandsLaotian batikDoor man in
Singapore
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Road construction near Tena, Ecuador
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Sian Kaan, Mexico WHSMahabodhi Temple, India
WHSPowwow in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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IC student on summer trip to Dominican
RepublicTourist somewhere in AfricaTourist with
Masai in Kenya
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Sustainable Travel

• Sustainable Travel seeks to minimize the negative
  impact of tourism and to maximize the positive.
• It is tourism that meets the needs of present
  tourists and host regions while protecting and
  enhancing opportunities for the future.
• Movements include
• Ecotourism
• Green tourism vs. MASS
  TOURISM
• Responsible tourism
• Ethical tourism
• Fair trade/pro-poor tourism/Voluntourism
• Travelers philanthropy

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What can we do?

• Economic considerations
• Buy locally produced goods
• Go local (transportation, accommodation, tour
  operators, etc.)
• Contribute time and money
• Be generous (tipping and bargaining)
• Choose destinations wisely according to their
  policies (ethicaltraveler.org)

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What can we do?

• Socio-cultural considerations
• Research the destination beforehand
• Learn the language
• Taboos know what they are
• Dress appropriately
• Photos dont live behind your lens
• Listen and learn
• Bring gifts
• Dealing with beggars

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What can we do?

• Environmental considerations
• Learn about local issues
• Use sustainable accommodations, transportation,
  businesses, etc. (Be aware of certifications.)
• Use water and electricity sparingly
• Dont collect, buy or export endangered natural
  products
• Choose low-impact recreational activities
• Carbon Offset

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Above all

• Be knowledgeable about your destination
• Seek awareness of the impact that your presence
  has on the local population and the environment
• Attempt to minimize any negative impacts

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Study Abroad and Tourism

• 223,534 of students overseas in 2005 ( 0.03 of
  tourists)
• 95,670 in Britain, Italy, Spain, and France
• Open Doors 2007 reflect a growing interest in
  non-traditional destinations - students going to
  Asia (up 26), Latin America (up 14), Africa (up
  19) and the Middle East (up 31)
• No data between between urban and rural
• Different types of programs (exchange versus
  island, university enrolment versus theme
  specific, service learning)
• Students travel when they studying abroad

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The Big Question

• What is the role of the study abroad community to
  educate about sustainability issues and to create
  programs that are environmentally, socially and
  economically sustainable for the program
  provider, student and host community?

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The Big Answer

• As educators and people who have been overseas,
  who are aware of global interconnections and have
  witnessed the affects of non-sustainable
  practices in our lives, it seems we have a
  responsibility to educate others regarding these
  issues.
• HOW?

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Responsibilities of the sending institution or
program provider

• Lead by example! Foster a culture of minding
  sustainability on the home campus or within the
  organization, in general.
• Association for the Advancement of Sustainability
  in Higher Education
• Ithaca College http//www.ithaca.edu/sustainabili
  ty/
• Lead by example! Incorporate principles of
  sustainability into the policies and procedures
  of the program provider and the programs they
  run. This could be the study abroad office.
• Lori will address this in more detail
• Service Learning Programs
• Inform! Give the student tools to create change
  by making informed decisions regarding the
  programs they participate in and their choices
  while overseas.
• Have information available in the office, on the
  website, in promotional material, etc.

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Responsibilities of the sending institution or
program provider

• Educate! Teach students about sustainable travel
  issues before studying abroad, i.e, during
  orientation, and/or while overseas.
• Give students tips and ideas for traveling
  light
• Going Global article
• Ethical Traveler bookmarks
• Give students the opportunity to share their
  experiences, to teach and to learn from each
  other
• Green Passport Program
• Abroad View website www.abroadview.org/green
• Abroad View and Glimpse magazines
• Carbon Offset!
• OIP Global Footprint Grant (Carbon Offset)
• See the handout for links to some of these
  resources

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Sustainable Study Abroad

• Lincoln Commission
• A million students studying abroad per year
  sustainably.