Embark on an enriching study abroad experience in Indonesia, exploring sustainability, conservation, community development, and Indigenous knowledge systems across Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Gunung Kidul, and Bali. This program combines academic collaboration, field-based learning, and cultural immersion, providing students with unique insights into the social, environmental, and cultural dimensions of sustainability in Indonesia.
- Jakarta: Begin your trip in Jakarta, the bustling capital of Indonesia, where modernity and tradition coexist. While the city is known for its fast pace and urban sprawl, Jakarta is also embracing sustainable urban planning initiatives, such as green spaces, eco-friendly public transportation, and efforts to combat pollution. You will also explore the city’s cultural sites, such as museums and markets, that focus on promoting sustainability and conservation.
- Yogyakarta & Gunung Kidul: Discover the rich cultural heritage and diverse landscapes of Central Java. Visit the iconic Borobudur and Prambanan Temples to examine heritage conservation and sustainable tourism, and explore the Merapi eruption site to understand disaster resilience and landscape recovery. In Gunung Kidul, engage with researchers at the UGM Forestry Field Centre to investigate landscape change, community forestry practices, and collaborative environmental research. Through interactions with local community partners, students will gain insight into how sustainable land management and community-led conservation contribute to ecological resilience and rural livelihoods.
- Bali: Explore the intersection of culture, sustainability, and social justice through engagement with local organisations and communities. Learn about Indigenous cosmology and cultural worldviews with Threads of Life before visiting the traditional village of Tenganan to understand how Indigenous beliefs and practices continue to thrive alongside modern Indonesian society. At the Coral Triangle Center, examine marine conservation initiatives and sustainable fisheries management across one of the world's most biodiverse marine regions. Visits to Legal Aid Bali and the Suwung Community Centre provide opportunities to discuss the realities of cost-of-living pressures, the gendered nature of cultural practices, access to justice, and community responses to Bali's growing waste management challenges.
- Daily language lessons will enhance your cultural immersion, helping you better understand and engage with the people you meet.
Our partner University
Engagement with local University partners is a focal point of the trip and interactions include formal learning opportunities, such as seminars and lectures, as well as immersive learning via field visits to research sites.
Hosted by Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) you will engage with local students, participate in workshops on climate change, air pollution, applied meteorology, nature conservation, tradition, modernity and ethnicity, mangrove and coral planting. You will also experience campus life through walking and cycling tours, as well as visiting local attractions.
Our community and not-for-profit partners
You’ll visit a diverse range of environmental sustainability initiatives delivered by not-for-profit and community groups and, wherever possible, we will introduce you to University of Tasmania Alumni and Australian volunteers working in-country. Your study tour will conclude with a final celebration event where you will share your learning and reflections, experience cultural activities and, of course, enjoy a final shared meal together.
This itinerary helps you to gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of sustainability and conservation efforts throughout Indonesia, learning about initiatives that protect it's natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Sign up for an enriching experience of Indonesia’s history, culture, commitment to responsible travel, and immersive language learning.
