PROGRAM OVERVIEW
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The Pacific Development, Climate Change & Local Action Tour (Fiji) is an immersive educational program providing students with an exploration of the environmental and social complexities which have become inextricably linked across this sizeable cluster of islands in the Asia-Pacific.
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LEARN AND APPLY HUMAN-CENTRED DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Human-Centred Design is an approach to problem-solving and design that “starts with the people you’re designing for and ends with new solutions that are tailor-made to suit their needs” (IDEO). Learn from local experts how these principles are applied in the Thai context. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY You'll have the opportunity to develop and enhance existing community projects, or create new ones while ensuring that local communities are at the heart of each project. WORK COLLABORATIVELY IN SMALL, MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAMS Partner with a team of other Australian students, local 'design for development' experts, and communities to develop projects with a Fijian focus. |
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FAST FACTS
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Program Length
14 days Summer Program Dates January 10-23 2020 open to everyone January 26 -February 8 2020 (open to Health and Medical Science Students from UoA only) Applications Now Open! |
Cost
AUD $3,250 Payable as $250 deposit + $3,000 balance Information on funding, scholarships and OS-HELP loans. |
Summer Application Deadlines:
Main Round: September 20 Final Deadline: October 18 Summer - Program Deposit Deadlines: Main Round: September 27 Final Deadline: October 25 |
We use rolling applications and reviews and applications will close when programs are full, so early submissions are encouraged.
Note that universities have internal deadlines for funding programs like OS-HELP, so apply early.
Note that universities have internal deadlines for funding programs like OS-HELP, so apply early.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
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WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
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YOUR IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
Could look something like this...
Could look something like this...
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EXAMPLE ITINERARY
Day 1 – Bula! – Welcome to Fiji!
Arrival in Suva Airport / Transfer to Hotel / Welcome Dinner (Traditional Fijian Cuisine). Program kickoff!
Day 2 – Introductory Workshops and Cultural Induction
Fijian Language / Cross-Cultural Working / Safety and Security / Local Area Tour / Introduction to Climates.
Arrival in Suva Airport / Transfer to Hotel / Welcome Dinner (Traditional Fijian Cuisine). Program kickoff!
Day 2 – Introductory Workshops and Cultural Induction
Fijian Language / Cross-Cultural Working / Safety and Security / Local Area Tour / Introduction to Climates.
Day 3 – Innovation, Social Entrepreneurship & Pacific Challenges Workshops
Workshops on Social Enterprise & Sustainable Development Challenges including Climate Change / Introduction to enterprise landscape in Fiji / Guest Lecture / Cultural Activities i.e. tour of Vanua Clay enterprise.
Workshops on Social Enterprise & Sustainable Development Challenges including Climate Change / Introduction to enterprise landscape in Fiji / Guest Lecture / Cultural Activities i.e. tour of Vanua Clay enterprise.
Day 4 – Transit to Nataleira Community and Local Site Induction
Meeting and Welcome with the Community.
Day 5 – Workshops & Project Work
Intro to Design Thinking Process for Social Enterprise / Data Collection including using human-centred design tools such as community mapping.
Meeting and Welcome with the Community.
Day 5 – Workshops & Project Work
Intro to Design Thinking Process for Social Enterprise / Data Collection including using human-centred design tools such as community mapping.
Day 6– Workshops & Project Work
Community meetings and interviews, understanding roles, structures and stakeholders / Technical Data Collection.
Community meetings and interviews, understanding roles, structures and stakeholders / Technical Data Collection.
Day 7 – Workshops & Project Work
Prototyping ideas / Feedback.
Day 8 - Free Day
Cultural / Religious Events or Relaxed Time (Chance for Snorkelling, Dolphin Tour at Moon Reef and Hikes).
Prototyping ideas / Feedback.
Day 8 - Free Day
Cultural / Religious Events or Relaxed Time (Chance for Snorkelling, Dolphin Tour at Moon Reef and Hikes).
Day 9 – Transit to Suva & Meetings
Visit to the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s Young Entrepreneurs Scheme unit / Visit Bulla Coffee and Loving Islands (social enterprises in Suva) / Cultural dance performance in evening.
Day 10 - Morning Visit to University of South Pacific / Project Work
Documentation and synthesising – developing next steps and research areas.
Visit to the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s Young Entrepreneurs Scheme unit / Visit Bulla Coffee and Loving Islands (social enterprises in Suva) / Cultural dance performance in evening.
Day 10 - Morning Visit to University of South Pacific / Project Work
Documentation and synthesising – developing next steps and research areas.
Day 11 - Morning site visits & Project Work in afternoon
Visit Young Entrepreneurs Council and Vodafone’s ATH Foundation / Completing final project prototype.
Day 12 - Morning visit to Kila Eco Adventure Park / Project Work in afternoon
Project documentation, community discussions and feedback.
Visit Young Entrepreneurs Council and Vodafone’s ATH Foundation / Completing final project prototype.
Day 12 - Morning visit to Kila Eco Adventure Park / Project Work in afternoon
Project documentation, community discussions and feedback.
Day 13 – Presentations and Graduation
After two weeks of working on your Action Project, it’s time to show us what you’ve come up with. Then it will be time to present your project to a panel of experts who will critique and congratulate you on your projects. This is followed by graduation photos in Fiji's beautiful scenery. Be amazed by what your peers have come up with. Tonight we will all enjoy a graduation and celebratory dinner.
Day 14 – Farewells and Departure
You are welcome to depart at any time. A farewell breakfast is the last formal activity, and the day is a chance for any last minute shopping. Lots of goodbye hugs. Transfer to the airport to head back to Australia or any onward travels.
! NOTE: Program is subject to change depending on local community availability, national events and weather conditions. Depending on the group size, the program may split to visit different communities to ensure small teams and a personal experience.
After two weeks of working on your Action Project, it’s time to show us what you’ve come up with. Then it will be time to present your project to a panel of experts who will critique and congratulate you on your projects. This is followed by graduation photos in Fiji's beautiful scenery. Be amazed by what your peers have come up with. Tonight we will all enjoy a graduation and celebratory dinner.
Day 14 – Farewells and Departure
You are welcome to depart at any time. A farewell breakfast is the last formal activity, and the day is a chance for any last minute shopping. Lots of goodbye hugs. Transfer to the airport to head back to Australia or any onward travels.
! NOTE: Program is subject to change depending on local community availability, national events and weather conditions. Depending on the group size, the program may split to visit different communities to ensure small teams and a personal experience.
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"A lot of people I have spoken to said that they wish they had done it earlier in their degree. Being in my first year, I feel that this experience has been so valuable, providing me with a new perspective on many issues, as well as a greater level of cultural sensitivity. I feel that I can take so many things from this trip back home with me, and keep it in mind in everything I do."
Emily, CQ University |
University-specific information for this study tour:
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