ISDSI is an educational institution dedicated to empowering local communities and centering the voices of the marginalized. Our study abroad programs educate American students about the key issues in ecology, culture, and sustainability through a close collaboration with local communities.

ISDSI’s flagship program is our  Culture, Ecology, and Community semester. We also collaborate with universities on custom semester programs, as well as with faculty on short-term study abroad experiences in Thailand. In addition we host faculty, graduate students, and others at our sustainable campus for workshops, conferences, and training programs.

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.

If you are interested in the work of ISDSI, please feel free to get in touch! We can be reached at [email protected].