Background
The International Sustainable Development Studies Institute (ISDSI) is a recognized leader in innovative study-abroad programs. In 2005 ISDSI’s semester program was recognized as one of three “best practice” programs by the Institute of International Education (IIE) Andrew Heiskell Awards, and in 2006 was nominated as a UNESCO Centre of Excellence.
The program that developed into the International Sustainable Development Studies Institute (ISDSI) was started in 1998 as an initiative of Dr. Joseph Brockington of Kalamazoo College. Developed by Mark and Dana Ritchie, who were already living in Chiang Mai and working in development, the program started its first year with six students. Since then the program has grown, and has had over 600 students from more than 50 colleges and universities in the US. ISDSI now runs fall and spring semester programs, facilitates short term programs led by faculty, and host researchers and graduate students.
ISDSI is a project of The Foundation For Experiential Learning, a 501c3 registered non-profit in the United States. To clearly separate tuition and ongoing expenses from donations, we have also set up an ISDSI LLC for tuition payments. This also supports our work in Thailand through our Thai foundation. We are registered as a non-profit foundation in Thailand under the same name, The Foundation For Experiential Learning, under the Ministry of Social Welfare, in Chiang Mai province.
If you are interested in the work of ISDSI and our Foundation, please feel free to get in touch! We can be reached at [email protected].