The Cornell-Nepal Summer Program is a 10-week program established in 1993 that provides international placements for service and study in Nepal. The program is a joint residential program between Cornell University and Tribhuvan University of Nepal, involving faculty and students from both universities. Students live and learn in the medieval walled city of Kirtipur, taking part in a variety of academic and service activities, including an English tutoring program, agency internships, cultural events, a homestay, and a week-long trek. The program aims to provide hands-on international experience alongside consultancy training and personal growth opportunities.

1. THE CORNELL-NEPAL SUMMER PROGRAM
International Placements for Service and Study
Where is
your
summer
taking
you?

2. Is the Nepal program right for you?
• International & developing country experience
• Hands-on service and learning experience
• Internship opportunities & consultancy training
• Nepalese student partners
• Personal growth

3. • Established in 1993
• Provides training &
supervision either for
independent field research or
internships
• Joint residential program
between Cornell & the
national Tribhuvan University
of Nepal
• Involves faculty & students
from both Cornell & Tribhuvan
Universities

4. CNSP located in Kirtipur
medieval walled city on hogback on SW rim
of Kathmandu Valley & site of national
Tribhuvan University

5. Location
Kathmandu
Google Earth image of Kathmandu Valley looking north

6. Kirtipur street
Main CNSP building
Tribhuvan
University

7. Program structure
Study activities
– Orientation & language
– Weekly seminar on international
consulting
– Credit and non-credit options
available
Service activities
– English tutoring program in rural
village (for undergrads)
– Other partner agency placement
options (for graduate students)
Other program activities
– Social/cultural events
– Village homestay
– Trek to mountain pilgrimage site ALL activities with
Nepalese student partners

8. FACILITIES at CNSP in KIRTIPUR
• Furnished in mixed Nepali/American style
• Central building with dining, classrooms & offices
• Library, study rooms, wireless internet, phone
Students in CNSP library

9. • Two residence halls
– All meals & snacks
– Double occupancy
rooms
– Study areas &
wireless internet
– Laundry service
– Solar hot water
– Phone & TV lounges
WELCOMING, HEL
PFUL & CARING
STAFF
Banu Oja,
Director

10. NEPALESE ROOMMATES, CULTURAL
EVENTS, HOMESTAYS & FESTIVITIES
An unexpected plus
is the delicious—and
healthy—food!

11. LOCAL FIELD TRIPS &
EXCURSIONS

12. HOMESTAY
VILLAGE-BASED SERVICE TRAINING
• Immersion work in a rural village
• Mhanégang—ethnically Tamang village
• Mixed maize, millet, rice & legume agriculture
between 3000-8000’
• Site of March & Holmberg research since 1975
• Half-day bus & half-day walk NW of Kathmandu
• On an historic trade route between Nepal & Tibet

13. • Senior faculty from social
sciences, humanities, &
sciences
• International development
expertise in a wide range of
agencies & fields
• Experienced language teachers
• Graduate teaching fellows for
individual support & tutorials
FACULTY & ACADEMIC
STAFF

14. Course of study• Credit
• For undergraduates: 8 Credits (program cost + Cornell Summer School tuition)
• For professional graduate students: no credit (program cost only)
• Study
– Nepali language
• Intensive conversational Nepali taught during orientation
• Ongoing weekly instruction & translation assistance
• Nepali is also offered in Ithaca during the academic year & over the summer
– Contemporary Issues in Nepal
• Expert guest lecturers survey topics in politics, history, culture, gender, human
rights, environment & development
• Pre-departure course “Peoples & Cultures of the Himalayas”
– Approaches to International Consulting & Service Learning
• Core faculty and teaching fellows provide professional preparation and
supervision for service and internship placements
• Service placements & internships
– Teaching English (for undergrads)
• Six weeks of full-time service teaching at local schools & in the community
• Living with a family in a rural village
– Other internship placements (for professional grad students)
• Eight weeks of full-time service in internship
• Wide range of placements possible

15. • Recent study topics
– Democratic
transformations &
elections
– Child rights & human
rights
– Community
participation in natural
resource management
– Sex trafficking
– Migrant labor
• Recent placements
– UN High
Commission for
Refugees
– Save the Children
– World Bank
– USAID
– Annapurna
Conservation Area
Project
– Rugmark
Recent Professional Masters
Partnerships & Study
View of the Himalayas from CNSP

16. Week-long end-of-program trek
• To 12,000’ Phyukhri ridge
• Through villages & herding stations
• With Nepalese student partners & village guides
• To peak that is site of local annual pilgrimage
• With 360-degree views from Himalayas to plains

17. 10 week
schedule
• Week 1: orientation based in Kirtipur
• Week 2: village home stays in Mhanegang
• Weeks 3-8: service learning & internship placements
• Week 9: trek to Phyukhri
• Week 10: presentations & reflection based in Kirtipur
• (Predeparture orientation also required in Ithaca - TBA)
Dates for 2014:
May 24 - Aug 2

18. WHAT ARE
YOU DOING
WITH YOUR
STUDIES?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN
YOUR WORLD?
LET CNSP HELP YOU
GET WHERE YOU WANT
TO GO

19. Go to:
Facebook:
Cornell-Nepal Study Abroad Program
Student blogs
http://nepalpaul.blogspot.com/
http://cornellnepal.com/
Contact:
Kathryn S. March
224 McGraw Hall
ksm8@cornell.edu
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Music: Mhendomaya Maya
Youth Club singing their
remix (2006) of a
traditional Tamang song
originally recorded by
Holmberg & March (1976)