Intercollegiate Sri Lanka EducationProgram

ISLE

Pictured: Spring ‘15 students enjoy the view during an Environmental Studies class hike in the Knuckles Mountains Range

The ISLE Program is

based in Kandy, Sri Lanka

Students travel to all parts of the

island for field trips and

lectures

FAST FACTS

• Program Dates:– Fall Semester: Late August-Mid December– Spring Semester: Mid January-Mid May

• Location: Kandy, Sri Lanka• Accommodations: Host Family• Program Style: Academic & Cultural Immersion• Application Deadlines:– Fall Semester: December 1-March 1– Spring Semester: December 1-October 7 (following year)

• Affiliate University: University of Peradeniya

Course Credits

Sinhala Language I = 4 semester hour creditsIndependent Study = 4 semester hour creditsElective Course = 4 semester hour credits Elective Course = 4 semester-hour credits_______________________________________Total = 16 semester-hour credits (or 4 course

credits)

Academic Themes

Peace and Conflict Studies

Women Studies

Environmental Studies

Traditional Medicine &

Public Health

Buddhism and Other Religions

of Sri Lanka

Semester Plan

Session I (4 weeks)

• Sinhala Language Course

• Sri Lanka Studies Seminar

Session II (8 weeks)

• Elective Courses (taught at University of Peradeniya)

Session III (5 weeks)

• Independent Study Project

Sinhala Class Students learn to speak conversational Sinhala and learn to read and

write in the Sinhala script

Sri Lanka Studies Seminar

• This seminar is a series of field-based lectures which expose students to many topics of study in Sri Lanka. Examples include:

LGBT Activism in Sri Lanka

Ancient Sinhalese Kingdoms

Post-War Jaffna and the

Presence of the Sri Lanka

Army

Elective CoursesElective Courses are led by professors from the University of Peradeniya. Each

course includes many field trips and site visits. Elective Courses include:

Religion and Ritual in Everyday Life

Modern Sri Lankan Politics

Environmental Studies

Elective Courses, cont.

Images and Social Experiences of

Women in Sri Lanka

Tamil Langugage

Traditional Medicine

Conversational Sinhala II

Independent Study Project

• Each student conducts a project of his or her choosing in a relevant site.

• Students spend 3-5 weeks immersed in their research sites and then return to Kandy to prepare a final paper and presentation

Examples of Past IS Projects

“Monastic Community: How to be Lost in the Forest and Find Yourself”

“Socio-spatial Negotiations of Communal Spaces between Kattankudy and Araiyampathy"

"A Take on Sri Lankan Women's Empowerment through the Lens of Reproductive Health and Family Planning"

Homestay Families

Experience traditional

family celebrations!

Form a lasting bond

Learn social and

cultural practices

ISLE Center

• Located a 30-minute walk from the University• Site of the program staff offices, open

classroom, and study space• Boasts an impressive research library with

over 4,000 titles

Immersion into the University

• Attend talks, lectures, and events

• Make friends with university students

• Seek research and language help from Sri Lankan professors and students

• Enjoy campus facilities like gym, swimming pool, and library

Traditional Arts ClassesStudents often choose to pursue extracurricular class in

traditional arts and crafts

Traditional Dance Drumming

Batik

Alumni

• 15-20% of ISLE alumni apply and receive Fulbright grants to conduct research or teach English in Sri Lanka

• ISLE alumni are among the top South Asian studies scholars and can be found teaching at colleges and university throughout the country

• Many ISLE alumni have kept in touch with their host families and friends from Sri Lanka years after their ISLE semester.

Web Resources

• ISLE Website: http://www.bowdoin.edu/isle/

• ISLE Student Blog: http://isleprogram.tumblr.com/

• ISLE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ISLEprogram?fref=ts

• University of Peradeniya: http://www.pdn.ac.lk/

Apply Now!

• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis

• Download application Materials Here:– http://www.bowdoin.edu/isle/apply/Downloadable

%20Application%20Materials.shtml

• Application Deadlines:– Fall Semester: Dec. 1st -March 1st – Spring Semester: Dec 1st - Oct 7th (following year)