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Nepal Learning Lab


Our project is Indigenous Agriculture, Ecosystem Change, and Human Rights in Rural Nepal, which closely aligns with two U.S. foreign policy goals on climate and environment, and democracy and human rights. Our study abroad programs will give students the ability to understand the linkages between climate change, indigenous farming systems, and U.S. development agencies as it relates to: South Asian food security and international trade, co-existence of indigenous knowledge and Western technology adoption, rural human capital and infrastructure challenges, and community social systems related to gender and caste. The South Asia region is geopolitically crucial for the U.S., as it contains 24% of the world’s population and is home to India, a rapidly growing newly industrializing country and the world’s largest democracy. Although this region is fast developing, many areas suffer from food insecurity, rural poverty, and lower levels of human development. Getting a diverse cross-section of American students engaged in South Asia today will strengthen future U.S. relationships in the region. It is imperative that people representing U.S. interests abroad actually represent the diversity of our nation.

Accepting Applications for the 2025 Spring Break Program

Our project is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of State.
Principal investigators Dr. Ramesh Balayar and Dr. David Peters.
Refer to the press release and other awardees for more information.
US DOS

Our first objective is to expand our short-stay study abroad program to Nepal. We will expand our current one-week program to a two-week program to further build upon existing relationships with indigenous farmers in Chitwan (Tharu community) and Kaski (Gurung community) districts. We will build new relationships to establish a second program in Ilam district  in eastern Nepal (Rai and Limbu communities).  Both programs will include stays in the Kathmandu valley.

Having two programs allows students to do multiple study abroad trips to Nepal that vary by region and location. Both short-stay programs would be for first time travelers to Nepal. Locations are in middle-income communities near tourist areas, which have better amenities for food and lodging.

Short-stay programs will occur during spring break (mid to late March) or winter break Late December to mid January). Locations will alternate every year. Depending on student demand, both programs could be offered within a single academic year.

Chitwan-Kaski Program

Accepting Applications for the 2025 Spring Break Program

Our second objective is to develop a new long-stay study abroad program to Nepal. Funds will be used to build a four-week experiential learning program in Achham and Doti districts in far western Nepal. This will be a collaborative learning lab project between ISU students, Nepali communities, and relevant NGOs and USAID to understand and potentially address longstanding issues in rural Nepal. Given the remoteness and poverty of the area, and the expertise needed for the project, this program would be for upper-division students who have already completed a study abroad program, preferably to Nepal.

We will explore two issues: (i) the social and economic impacts of the feminization of agriculture, as many men must leave Nepal to work abroad; and (ii) the health and welfare impacts of not having safe and secure menstruation huts during the Chhaupudi taboo.

We intend to recruit a diverse group of ISU students across disciplines in agriculture, engineering, design, business, and the social sciences and humanities. This program would be ideal for students considering work in Peace Corps or USAID or any other U.S. foreign service offices.

Our third objective is to connect and engage with students of color at high school and college Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) on the opportunities provided by study abroad; and on career opportunities with international organizations and federal agencies with a global presence. We will achieve this by doing multiple visits to Iowa high schools with large shares of students of color. Activities include presenting about the Nepal trip, discussing with former study abroad students, highlighting potential international careers, and disseminating brochures to guidance counselors on these topics. In addition, we will reach out to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), especially tribal colleges, to develop memoranda of understanding to allow students to participate in our programs without paying ISU tuition and easily transferring credits.

Our goals are to: (i) make study abroad programs more welcoming and accessible to often marginalized groups, whether it be by income or race; (ii) increase the number of college graduates of color with international experiences; and (iii) build partnerships with MSIs in the Upper Midwest to offer study abroad opportunities to Nepal.

Engaging with students of color about study abroad matters for two reasons. First, students of color in Iowa will expand from 13% today to 27% within the next decade, meaning incoming college student populations will more much more diverse. Second, besides being an equity issue, if students of color do not participate in study abroad, they will be much less likely to consider international-related careers in government, industry, and NGOs. It is imperative that people representing U.S. interests abroad actually represent the diversity of our nation and Iowa.