FAQs
General
What does CIEL mean?
CIEL stands for the Center for International Experiential Learning. Ciel is also the french word for sky - a reference to the limitless potential we believe this work has and the brighter horizon we are working toward in building a world less plagued by polarization and division.
What is experiential learning and immersive travel?
Experiential learning, which takes place through direct experience outside of traditional academic settings, is now recognized as one of the most effective ways to stimulate the development and integration of new knowledge and skills as well as greater critical reflexivity, creativity and cultural awareness among participants.
Through experiential learning, participants are invited to leave their comfort zone and engage not only intellectually, but also physically, socially, emotionally and sensorially. At the same time, they are empowered to take an active role in their own education by taking on accountable leadership roles and being involved as collaborative decision makers and co-teachers alongside their fellow learners.
Additionally, we go beyond traditional travel by ensuring our participants hear and experience authentic local voices and destinations off the beaten path. By providing ongoing opportunities for participants to engage in cross-cultural exchange and conversations across lines of diversity and difference with local actors and their fellow co-learners, experiential learning can help to build greater levels of empathy and understanding and strengthen capacities for active and compassionate listening and narrative appreciation.
Through this deeper engagement of experience, truly transformative learning is made possible, allowing participants to critically reflect on their own existing assumptions and to challenge pre-existing perspectives and biases they may hold.
As a result of engaging in this kind of deep experiential learning, participants are empowered with new knowledge and new transferable skill sets that they can carry forward into future leadership roles in their own career development and civic engagement. Crucially, participants also become part of a society of lifelong learners and change-makers who together have emerged from their experience activated and better equipped to address complex issues of division at global and local levels.
Who can/should participate?
Students at one of our participating academic institutions are welcome to apply for our study abroad programs through your local university. Other students from non-affiliated academic institutions are also invited to join these study abroad programs. Reach out to learn more!
Members of organizations or private groups interested in immersive, educational travel are also invited to reach out to arrange a travel program specific to your organizational/group needs/interests.
Finally, private individuals are welcome to apply to join one of CIEL’s annual travel programs. These trips are for those who want to keep learning through immersive educational travel in conflict-affected regions. Regardless of if you’ve traveled a lot or a little, you’re welcome.
Please contact us directly for more information.
What sort of outcome can I expect from this immersive travel/ experiential learning program?
This depends somewhat on the kind of program you sign up for. However, by engaging participants directly in cross-cultural exchange, daily critical reflection, and the lived experience of holding difficult conversations across divides, participants are empowered with new knowledge and new transferable skill sets that they can carry forward into leadership roles in their own career development and broader civic engagement. Crucially, participants also become part of a society of lifelong learners and change-makers who together have emerged from their experience activated and better equipped to address complex issues of division at global and local levels.
Is there any ongoing programming after the trip is finished?
Yes - all trip participants are invited to join a life-long society of CIEL travel participants. Membership in this society grants participants access to additional travel opportunities to conflict-affected regions as well as opportunities for continuing education, networking, professional exchanges, mentorship and collaboration with other CIEL network members as leaders and change-makers in addressing complex global issues and division and polarization in their own local contexts.
What is CIEL’s approach to health and safety?
CIEL staff and program partners have a long track record of providing a safe, secure and healthy environment for travel and learning. We have developed clear protocols and best practices. For more information about health and safety, please see our Risk Management page.
Do participants need any vaccination or medicine in order to travel abroad?
Participants must meet health regulations relevant to their home country, institution and destination.
Is college credit available for CIEL’s trips?
Course credit is available for students participating in a CIEL study abroad program through partnering institutions. For more information contact our Academic Director Nevin Aiken.
How can I participate?
There are multiple ways for institutions, organizations and individuals to partner with us. We offer comprehensive travel programs, customized travel programs and consulting services. Learn more on our Who We Work With page and reach out to us! We also have an exclusive network that will have access to ongoing learning opportunities. Contact us to get signed up.
Does CIEL engage in activism and/or have any religious or political affiliations?
As a routine study abroad provider working with universities, CIEL does not engage in activism, public debate or advocacy and does not take political positions. However, we hope that our programs are built to empower our participants to take local action and engage globally.
Language and terminology
As a non-partisan, education-based organization, we do our best to use terminology that is generally accepted as the norm within academic spaces. However, in dealing with complex and controversial subject matters, we know this can be extremely sensitive. As such, we ask that people refrain from assuming specific intent behind terminology choices and encourage you to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.
Travel
Where do participants stay?
Depending on the region and kind of travel program selected, participants stay at a variety of hotels and hostels throughout the regions we visit.
Who leads the travel programs?
CIEL travel programs are staffed by highly-trained CIEL experts and faculty, many of whom have over a decade of proven programmatic and academic excellence in safely guiding participants on experiential learning opportunities through immersive educational travel in conflict-affected regions. For programs we are consulting on outside the scope of the regular CIEL trips, we help to build the teams.
What does an itinerary look like?
Please email us and we will gladly share sample itineraries (e.g. student, community, artist, storyteller) and region you are interested in.
What is included in the program cost?
Study abroad programs for university students are inclusive of the following:
Pre-travel education
All local transportation and coordination (including Visa and Covid protocols/requirements), and depending on the program and partnering university, the airfare might be included as well
Meals and accommodations customizable to meet cohort needs, preferences and dietary restrictions
Unique cultural experiences beyond normal tourist attractions
Exclusive access to high-level speakers, local guides, experts and translators
International travel coordination, in-region transportation, logistics and security
All speaker honorariums and site entrance fees
Provision of supervised on-the-ground immersive experiential learning in the conflict-affected region guided by CIEL’s highly-trained and experienced travel leaders
Access to a life-long society of fellow CIEL alumni leaders and change-makers