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Destinations

You could travel to one of nine countries - India, Indonesia, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Malaysia, Italy, China or Vietnam.

You’ll visit our partner universities and local field sites, and learn from local businesses, government, non-government organisations (NGOs), social enterprises and youth groups about how to respond to the human impact on the environment.

GIG destinations present a multitude of resources and experiences for you to conduct fieldwork, work with locals and experience first-hand the unique environmental, social and economic issues relevant to the country.

While every eligible first-year student who applies is guaranteed an overseas GIG experience, each of the eight study locations has limited spots available - please note not all countries are available each year. Make sure you're enrolled in an eligible degree before applying.

The delivery of all Monash mobility programs is subject to the advice and requirements of the Australian government and the requirements of the destination country. Monash may need to cancel or defer planned mobility programs based on these requirements.

Travel in	Summer A
Apply in	Semester one

Not all countries are available each year or across all travel time blocks. If you're unable to go to one of the countries, we'll place you in another country.

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India View

You'll be based on one of our partner university campuses: the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) or the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), in Mumbai. If you join the India program, you'll be working with local students and organisations to understand the environmental challenges faced by the most populated country in the world. You'll learn from local academics, non-government organisations and businesses to understand the impact rapid urbanisation has had on the natural environment and the communities that inhabit them. You’ll also have the opportunity to engage with issues like energy security, India's response to climate change, and gender equality (among others).

Indonesia View

In Indonesia, you will travel to one of the country’s 18,000 islands to begin to understand how different communities can balance economic development and environmental sustainability. You may be based in Jakarta or Yogyakarta. At the Universitas Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta – the nation’s cultural capital – you will be introduced to some of the biggest environmental challenges faced by one of Australia’s most important global partners.

In Jakarta, you spend time at Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia and the Monash Indonesia campus. While here, you will see first-hand the impact that climate change is having on the nation's capital. You will be partnered with local students to gain an insight into life around the city and what they are doing to help address pressing issues.

Fiji View

Travelling to one of the most environmentally sensitive regions on earth, you will be based at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji. You will learn from and engage with leading local experts, conservationists and youth advocates about efforts to protect the fragile Island ecosystems and prevent the impact of climate change across the region.

Samoa View

In Samoa, you will be based at the USP Samoa Campus, in Apia, where you will learn about the adverse effects of climate change on this small island nation. There, you will have the opportunity to explore some of the most complex issues facing Samoa, such as food insecurity and agricultural development – topics that are of high priority on the global agenda. You will have the opportunity to see these challenges first-hand as well as the efforts by local organisations to address them.

Vanuatu View

In the Vanuatu program, you will travel to the small island nation 1,700km away from Australia. Vanuatu is one of the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change and whilst you are there, you will learn from local experts and advocates about the ambitious goals and objectives for addressing sustainable development. Based at the USP Emalus Vanuatu Campus, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with local organisations to understand how key challenges are being tackled in ways that reflect the cultural traditions and knowledge of the country.

Malaysia View

In Malaysia, you will be based at the Monash University Malaysia campus in Kuala Lumpur. You'll explore a number of the country’s contemporary sustainability challenges, and undertake a series of seminars and lectures exploring what sustainability means in a context of rapid social, economic and cultural change. You will then travel to Penang where you learn directly from local experts and community groups about cultural heritage and conservation, and the ways they are protecting their natural environment.

Italy View

In Italy, you'll be based at the Monash Prato Centre. Here you will be exploring the evolving relationship between communities and the natural environment, and witness first-hand the impact that this has. You will be asked to think about how communities in Italy can balance the changing nature of economic and social development and environmental protection in some of the most widely visited places in the world.

In the middle of the program, you will then visit one of the following field sites.

Cinque Terre

You'll explore the impact that climate change, rural depopulation, abandonment of agricultural lands, landscape instability and mass tourism is having on the World Heritage area of the Cinque Terre national park.

Venice

You'll be prompted to think about the impact of tourism and its challenges, like balancing the financial, environmental and community-based implications of the high levels of tourism in an already uncertain environment. Rising sea levels and increasing levels of water pollution are not only threatening the historical centre of Venice but also the fragile ecosystem of the canals.

Siena

Visiting the University of Siena and the Santa Chiara Lab, you will see first-hand how technology and multidisciplinary innovations are being used to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals at the community level, and all around Italy.

Biella and Milan

You’ll understand the role sustainability plays in fast fashion and high fashion when you visit Milan and Biella. Based in Biella, this trip will take you to some of the most important locations in the fashion world (like the Oasis Zegna and Milan), collaborating with leading players in the fashion industry who have been working hard at making their brands and processes more sustainable.

China View

In China, you'll be based in the dynamic, cosmopolitan city of Shanghai. You'll engage cross-sector to explore issues of sustainability through the economic, environmental and societal lens. There will be a series of seminars that you'll undertake with experts from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. You'll then see both the challenges and solutions first-hand by visiting a range of field sites.

During your time in China, you will connect with dynamic businesses in Shanghai influencing change. There is a short trip to Suzhou, where you’ll spend some time at our Monash campus, and get to experience this beautiful city!

Vietnam View

This is a new and exciting program for GIG, taking place in Saigon, also known as Ho Chi Minh city, one of the world's developing Smart Cities. As one of Australia's strongest partners in the region, with a relationship dating back more than fifty years, you'll understand Vietnam's crucial role in the Indo Pacific. In this dynamic, fast paced location, you will have the opportunity to explore topics such as food, technology and social innovation.

Flagship Rich Educational Experiences