Custom & Faculty-Led Programs

SIT currently has the capacity to support custom and faculty-led programs in the locations listed below. Availability at our SIT program sites depends on program dates, duration, capacity, and other factors. We encourage you to contact us at [email protected] to discuss current availability in any of these locations.

PROGRAM SITES

• Argentina
• Cameroon
• Chile
• Ecuador
• Ghana
• India
• Indonesia
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Mexico
• Morocco
• Nepal
• Netherlands
• Panama
• Rwanda
• Samoa
• Senegal
• Serbia
• South Africa
• Spain
• Tanzania
• Tunisia
• Vietnam

SIT works with partner institutions to design programs that fit your curriculum, desired learning outcomes, and academic goals. We can design and facilitate programs in a variety of on-site immersive, virtual, or hybrid models:

• Faculty-led Custom Programs
• SIT-led Custom Programs
• Professional Development Seminars
• Consortium Programs
• Intensive Language Programs
• Internships
• Global Curriculum Enhancements
• Virtual Custom Programs
• Hybrid Programs

We prioritize custom and faculty-led program requests that seek an academic partnership in addition to logistical and student support. SIT takes a collaborative approach to custom program design and implementation:

Academic Support

• Curriculum and program design
• Field-based experiential learning opportunities
• In-country SIT academic directors, who lead SIT’s undergraduate and graduate programs
• Networks of guest lecturers and local experts for program activities
• Educational excursions
• Language instruction at various levels
• Unique cultural activities including opportunities for peer-to-peer engagement
• Community-led internships and reciprocity projects
• Fieldwork ethics and research methodology and projects
• Debrief and discussion facilitation, grounded in the Experiential Learning Cycle

Logistics Coordination & Student Support

• Pre-departure support for faculty and students, including country-specific health and safety briefings
• In-country orientation and end-of-program debriefs
• Housing and meal arrangements, including the option of homestays with SIT’s vetted network of trusted local families
• Classroom space at SIT program centers and other venues
• Local transportation
• Medical, evacuation, and quarantine insurance
• 24-hour on-call support with professionals from the SIT’s Office of Student Health, Safety, and Well-being and mental health counselors

SIT’s resources and expertise can enhance a variety of custom and faculty-led program models.

We are particularly interested in supporting custom and faculty-led programs that:

• Align with SIT’s mission
• Promote cross-cultural understanding and incorporate experiential education
• Relate to one or more of our Critical Global Issues
• Seek an academic partnership with SIT
• Draw on our existing local networks
• Take place in countries where SIT has the capacity to support customized programs
• Are offered at times of the year when our faculty, staff, and facilities are most available (usually in January and May through August). Programs in some locations during our spring and fall semesters may also be possible
• Run for at least two weeks or longer, to facilitate immersion
• Anticipate a minimum enrollment of 10 students and a maximum of 25 students to keep program fees affordable for students

If you have questions about these guidelines, we encourage interested faculty and study abroad staff to contact us to discuss partnership possibilities and program ideas.

Work on program proposal requests typically takes place 9-12 months prior to the program start. The proposal development process consists of three phases:

• Phase 1-Inquiry: Email Custom Programs to express interest and complete a detailed program questionnaire.

• Phase 2-Confirm capacity and program fit: Once your detailed program questionnaire is received, we will assess the capacity to support the program based on your specific program requests.

• Phase 3-Proposal development: The average turnaround for developing a proposal is approximately six weeks from the time the capacity is confirmed. This timeline may be longer in certain circumstances.

We accept new program inquiries during the following periods:

January/Spring Programs: January–February of the previous year

Summer/Fall Programs: May–July of the previous year

If you have an upcoming proposal deadline that falls outside of the 9-12-month window,

please notify the team as soon as possible so it can be determine if there is the capacity and availability to support your program timeline earlier than the typical annual cycle.

SIT is a thought leader in study abroad with extensive experience implementing immersive programs.

SIT runs programs throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and have extensive in-country networks and contacts. SIT has strong experience engaging students within a wide and diverse range of cultural and geographical environments.

SIT puts experiential education at the forefront of student learning. We help partners prepare students to be effective intercultural leaders, forward-thinking professionals, and informed citizens committed to responsible global citizenship.

SIT focuses on Critical Global Issues and strategies for impacting positive change. Students gain a better understanding of complex social and environmental issues: Climate & Environment, Education & Social Justice, Global Health & Well-being, Development & Inequality, Geopolitics & Power, Identity & Human Resilience, Peace & Justice.

SIT offers personalized and tailored support to meet partners’ needs and goals. SIT custom and faculty-led programs are uniquely and intentionally designed, drawing from on-the-ground experience and expertise to help implement and enhance partners’ program visions for undergraduate, graduate, or gap year students, as well as study abroad professionals and faculty.

Working with the SIT Study Abroad staff in customizing Wofford’s Presidential International Scholar program has been a delight. The staff have been very flexible and accommodating in providing opportunities for integration overseas. SIT is an expert in creating field-based research experiences overseas — a cornerstone of this particular program — and also strongly emphasizes ethical research practices and student health and safety. It is for these reasons that we chose to work with SIT.

Amy Lancaster
Dean for International Programs
Wofford College

SIT Jordan staff, teachers, facilities, homestays, and invited speakers were amazing. My 32 students all raved about the homestay experiences more than anything, and also praised Dr. Raed Al-Tabini, Ahmad Al Rawajfeh, their teachers, and the program Dr. Al-Tabini and Ahmad put together. The highlight of the entire program, after the homestays (which was #1), was our weekend in Petra, Wadi Rum, and Aqaba. SIT spoiled us to be sure. When we left Amman, students were crying or otherwise regretting having to leave their “new homes” in Amman, their “new families” in particular

Denis Sullivan, PhD
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs
Co-Director of Middle East Center
Northeastern University

I cannot say enough positive remarks about the logistical support provided by the SIT Senegal staff on the Tulane in Senegal Summer 2022 program. Students were well taken care of and all logistics went smoothly. The SIT team responded quickly to all students’ needs, from housing issues, to medical concerns, to requests for bottled water on the bus. They were also engaged with the students day and night beyond the call of duty in important conversations around race and identity in Senegal. I am so grateful for the whole SIT team! 

Annie Gibson, PhD
Director of Study Abroad
Tulane University