Internships and Study Abroad
The Heravi Peace Institute strives to provide students with opportunities to build and apply the skills they learn through experiences beyond the classroom. The following programs and opportunities along with a variety of others expose HPI students to real-world issues and peacebuilding approaches, pushing them to put their knowledge to the test. Experiential learners may also consider applying for the Heravi Peace Scholarship, opening the door for students of all backgrounds to become promoters of peace.
Peace-Related Study Abroad Programs
Studying abroad is a great way to see new places, but it's also a priceless opportunity to learn about, practice, and strengthen peacebuilding skills in multiple settings. Study and build a variety approaches to building peace through any of the following study abroad programs or others you might discover.
There are many ways to get involved with peace-related work outside the classroom, and the opportunities on this page are just a few examples. If you are working towards a HPI Certificate and have an experiential learning opportunity coming up, don't forget to apply for the Heravi Peace Scholarship!
Applications are now closedOpportunities
Environmental Leadership and Intercultural Conflict - Mexico
March 8, 2026 - March 15, 2026
This intensive spring break course immerses students in the study of intercultural conflict, environmental leadership, and community-based problem solving. Students will engage directly with community leaders, NGOs, and local stakeholders in beautiful Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico, to explore how individuals, organizations, government, and community leaders interact to shape environmental policy, practice, and community development.
Communicating For Peace - Kenya
May 9 - May 30, 2026.
Step out of the classroom and into the heart of East Africa for a transformative summer experience that blends global adventure with real-world impact. Based at Murang’a University of Technology (MUT) in Kenya, this immersive program is designed for students passionate about crisis communication, peacebuilding, public relations, social/digital media for crisis communication, and global engagement. Over three unforgettable weeks, students will collaborate with Kenyan university students, engage with communities affected by conflict in Nairobi, and work alongside crisis communication professionals at Koch FM radio station and ChildLine Kenya's crisis centre. Through hands-on projects, community workshops, and expert-led discussions, students will acquire the skills to manage communication effectively in high-stakes environments, both locally and globally. But it’s not all work – students’ journey includes a thrilling game drive through Nairobi National Park, where they will witness Kenya’s iconic wildlife and landscapes. Students shall also earn a joint FEMA/NIMS certification, which provides them with a competitive edge in careers focused on crisis response, emergency management, and organizational communication.
Reconciliation and Peacebuilding in the Balkans - Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia
May 11, 2026 - May 23, 2026
This incredible study abroad will take students from north to south, visiting Vietnam’s major cities and several World Heritage sites such as Ha Long Bay and the My Son temple complex. The centerpiece of the trip includes 8 weeks in the coastal city of Danang, where students will stay at the American University in Vietnam. There, USU students will learn and work together with Vietnamese college students, exploring Vietnamese culture, literature, history, food, and environmental issues, while gaining important communication and conflict skills.
Read Landri's blog on her experience as a Heravi Global Peacebuilding Certificate studying abroad in Vietnam
Culture, Narratives, and Reconciliation - Vietnam
June 3 - June 19, 2026
This program will provide students with an experiential journey to understand how history, culture, and narratives shape the modern state of Vietnam. Students will engage in an experience of Vietnamese history, culture, and politics on a 17-day exploration of the country of Vietnam from South to North. Students will learn the complex history of foreign intervention in the region, the war with the United States, and the modern use of narratives in the construction (and division) of space/place to explain to themselves and the world what Vietnam means in an increasingly globalized world.
Crossroads of Culture: Genocide and Reconciliation - Armenia
June 15, 2026 - June 26, 2026.
Immerse yourself in Armenian culture through food, dance, art, history, religion and nature! Students will be guided in exploring the ancient and recent history of the region, with a major focus on conflict and reconciliation processes through the lens of the lived experience of the two faculty advisors. Students will also interact with regular citizens in rural and urban areas of Armenia and learn about about the experiences and needs of the communities they visit. By learning skills in the realm of cultural competence and humility, students will have a rich opportunity for community-engaged experiential learning abroad.
Genocide, Reconciliation, and Peacebuilding - Rwanda
July 12 - July 25, 2026
This course seeks to help students understand genocide and its lasting impact (psychological, social, economic, and political) on a country and its people and, more importantly, their unique and continuing path towards justice, reconciliation, and peace. Over a two-week period, students will travel to key national sites and meet with governmental, academic, and NGO representatives to learn about the Rwandan genocide and local and national efforts towards justice, reconciliation, and peace-building. Key themes will include: the the roots and nature of genocide, “ethnic” and national identity, the role of external actors in fostering division and peace in the country, and the role of community, NGOs, and government in the effort to create peace, stability, and sustainable development in the aftermath of violent conflict.
HPI: Conflict, Communication, and Global Peacebuilding - Vietnam
Spring 2027
This incredible study abroad will take students from north to south, visiting Vietnam’s major cities and several World Heritage sites such as Ha Long Bay and the My Son temple complex. The centerpiece of the trip includes 8 weeks in the coastal city of Danang, where students will stay at the American University in Vietnam. There, USU students will learn and work together with Vietnamese college students, exploring Vietnamese culture, literature, history, food, and environmental issues, while gaining important communication and conflict skills.
Read Landri's blog on her experience as a Heravi Global Peacebuilding Certificate studying abroad in Vietnam
