In this four-week summer program, you will meet with nonprofit/nongovernmental organization (NGO) leaders, learn about the NGO sector in this region, and work on a hands-on project for a local organization in Cambodia. The program will begin in Chiang Mai, Thailand, then travel to Bangkok, Thailand and Siem Reap, Cambodia, and will end in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The group will spend about one week in each city.
Southeast Asia is a dynamic region with dozens of ethnic groups and languages. During the program, you will stay both in towns, like Chiang Mai, Thailand and Siem Reap, Cambodia, as well as large cities like Bangkok and Phnom Penh. Locally, there are hundreds of NGOs working on issues such as environmental protection and conservation, education and health care, and human rights. While these countries are often termed “developing”, students will experience the variety of communities and stages of economic development, and explore the impact of the wars of the 20th century, globalization and climate change on the region.
In addition to visiting a variety of NGOs, the program will also visit cultural sites, including the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the Killing Fields in Cambodia, and Angkor Wat. The program will also visit Elephant Nature Park, a sanctuary for rescued elephants that is considered a pioneer in the treatment of captive elephants.
Read UO student Emily Edwards' blog about her experience in Thailand during this program in summer 2016.
Internship Opportunity for UO students: Students have the option to combine this program with a 6-week or 8-week internship through the UO GlobalWorks program. As part of the GlobalWorks application, you can also apply for the Freeman Internship Fellowship, which provides up to $6,500 in funding. Students wanting to combine this study abroad program with an internship need to complete both the GEO application and GlobalWorks application by January 15. Speak with your GEO advisor or UO GlobalWorks advisor Ryan Loughrey for additional information. If you arrange your own internship in East or Southeast Asia, you are also eligible to apply for the Freeman Internship Fellowship.
Catalysts for Impact: Nonprofits in Southeast Asia
Language Requirement: None
Academic Standing by Program Start: Sophomore or above
Location: Multicountry, Asia, Cambodia, Thailand
GPA: 2.75
Program Overview
Dates and Deadlines
See note above regarding an earlier deadline for students wanting to combine this program with an internship.
| Term | Year | Deadline | Arrival Date | Departure Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | 2025 | 3/15/2025 | June 2025 | July 2025 |
This program has a rolling admission application process: GEO staff (and the program faculty leader, if applicable) will complete a review of the application materials of complete applications in the order that they are submitted (“first come, first serve”). Decisions about acceptance will be made shortly after you submit a complete application. There are some programs that fill fast, some even before the deadline. Students are encouraged to complete applications and commit to programs early.
Acceptance is based on a holistic review of your application. This includes a review of your GPA, transcripts (including courses taken and in-progress), any additional requirements or prerequisites (see section "Additional Requirements"), and the short statement. Some programs require a letter of recommendation from a faculty that is not the program's faculty leader. If a letter of recommendation is required, you will find more information in your GEO application portal.
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Academic Details
In this program, you will enroll in two classes and earn a total of 8 UO quarter credits. Both classes are approved as 488/588 PPPM credit (Planning, Public Policy, and Management).
Course approvals:
- The classes count as major elective credits for all PPPM undergraduate and graduate students. For graduate students in the Master of Nonprofit Management program, the classes count towards the "Management Sequence." The classes count as electives for the PPPM and Nonprofit Administration minors.
- The courses are also approved by International Studies, General Social Science, Sociology, and Asian Studies. Students in those majors should speak with your GEO advisor and departmental advisor for additional information.
- The Nongovernmental Organizations of South-East Asia course (4 credits) is approved to count towards a specific area of the Environmental Studies major and minor if the student focuses the research project and class work on an environmental NGO. ENVS students should speak with their departmental advisor and GEO advisor for additional information.
- The courses are approved to count toward the Family and Human Services major in either the Equity and Diversity requirement or the Organization & Public Policy category of Professional Depth.
- The courses are approved to count as electives towards the Entrepreneurship minor.
- Students in the MBA program can use these courses as 2 of their external courses. Please check in with your MBA advisor for further information and for the required forms that need to be submitted.
- Students in other majors are encouraged to show the program syllabi (see link at right) to their academic advisor in order to determine whether these credits can count towards a major or minor elective.
The guiding questions of the classes on this program are: What is the role of nongovernmental organizations in providing services and shaping policy abroad? How do these organizations emerge and evolve over time? What is the relationship between “western” funders and NGOs active in developing nations? How does charity and volunteerism differ in South East Asia? What are differences in the NGO sectors in Thailand and Cambodia? The basic goal is to help students have a general understanding of the ongoing issues and challenges of these organizations working abroad.
We will be exploring these questions as we visit NGOs and meet with leaders in four cities in Cambodia (Siem Reap and Phnom Penh) and Thailand (Chiang Mai and Bangkok). Students will also conduct in-depth analyses of the groups we will be meeting with during our trip, leading to a better understanding of the challenges facing NGOs in the developing world, and the role of local, national and international actors in supporting economic development, health care, education, human rights work and conservation efforts.
By completing this course, students will be able to:
- Understand and evaluate the primary theories of NGOs abroad.
- Understand the role of NGOs in the economy, in advocacy and in policy in a developing nation.
- Evaluate the ways that NGOs carry about their work, from fundraising to their day-to-day operations.
- Understand the trends, challenges and opportunities facing international NGOs.
Note for non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.
Course Equivalencies
UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.
Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.
Faculty and Staff
Dyana Mason is an Assistant Professor of Planning, Public Policy and Management at the University of Oregon, where she teaches primarily in the Master of Nonprofit Management and Master of Public Administration programs. Her research interests include nonprofit management and governance, the organization and formation of interest/advocacy organizations, the political economy of the nonprofit sector, charitable giving and experimental research on collective action and fundraising activities. She has travelled extensively around the world, and Asia. During the 2014-2015 academic year, she was also selected as Teacher of the Year by the students of the School of Planning, Public Policy and Management.
Professor Mason previously led the Catalysts for Impact: Nonprofits in Southeast Asia program in 2016 and 2023, and led a program on Nonprofits and Social Change in Rosario, Argentina in summer 2018.
Housing Description
Students will stay in hotels, hostels, and guest houses in Thailand and Cambodia, and will be in shared rooms. The housing will be conveniently located within each city and will have internet access. Breakfast is included each day, but you will purchase most other meals on your own. The local staff can give recommendations regarding local markets and restaurants to try.
Note: if you would prefer a single room, there is a $600 single room surcharge. Please speak with a GEO advisor for more information.