
Leading Change through Ecology, Sustainability, and Smart Cities Programs
CIEE Study Abroad
Study Sustainability Abroad
CIEE is launching a major expansion of study abroad opportunities focused on ecology, sustainability, and smart cities, including new programs, new academic courses, and new sustainability-focused co- and extracurricular activities, research, service projects, and internships. We’re also opening four new CIEE study abroad locations! Starting in Spring ’26, CIEE will offer immersive, place-based learning focused on the earth’s ecosystems, global environmental challenges, and emerging solutions in over 40 international locations.

Tuesday, April 15 at 12 PM EST
To learn more about updates to our ecology, sustainability, and smart cities portfolio, reach out to your manager of Institutional Relations and join the webinar on April 15, 2025 at 12 PM EST.

CIEE Sustainable Smart Cities Program
Coming to 18 international cities, CIEE’s Sustainable Smart Cities program will provide students with a traditional 12-15-week semester experience. Students can study the theory and practice of sustainable smart cities with in-person courses at CIEE and a strong local host university, as well as online coursework through CIEE x ASU.
Sample courses include:
CIEE Courses (in-person) | ASU Courses (online) |
---|---|
Building Sustainable Cities Sustainable Development in the 21st Century Business & Sustainability Engineering, Sustainability & Society Sustainable Tourism | Introduction to Sustainability Sustainable World Sustainable Energy Technology and Systems Pathways to Sustainability |
Sustainable Smart Cities Features
Explore key sustainability initiatives across CIEE’s Sustainable Smart Cities locations that are shaping the future of smart, eco-friendly urban living.
CIEE Center | Sustainable Smart Cities Features |
---|---|
Amsterdam | Focuses efforts on real-time energy monitoring and occupancy-based heating, cooling, and lighting in public facilities |
Berlin | Invests in cutting-edge technologies such as AI, blockchain, IoT, and quantum computing to drive sustainable innovation |
Copenhagen | Aims to be carbon neutral by 2025 and 50% wind-powered by 2030; 300 flood projects and a transit system with more bikes than cars |
London | Fosters collaborations with 750 data-driven companies and boasts the world's largest air quality sensor network and 3,000 parks |
Madrid | Aims for a 65% emissions reduction by 2030, adopting new transport technologies, energy rehabilitation, and waste volume reduction |
Paris | Harnesses connected technology to monitor energy performance, detect infrastructure issues, and motivate citizens to reduce waste |
Rome | Aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in 2030 and make at least 80% of public buildings carbon-neutral by 2030 |
Tallinn | Targets 100% renewable energy by 2030, with a strong digitalization focus. Emphasizes sustainable urban transformation |
Seoul | Champions smart mobility with intelligent transport systems. Leverages technology for flood prevention and real-time water quality monitoring |
Shanghai | Promotes 75% green transportation by 2027; emphasizes energy-saving renovations and clean energy initiatives for sustainable urban growth |
Singapore | Seeks to make 80% of buildings eco-friendly and achieve 80% energy efficiency for green buildings |
Sydney | Promotes renewable energy solutions, with its Sustainable Sydney 2030 initiative leveraging technology and data to promote innovation |
Tokyo | Aims to realize Zero Emission Tokyo by 2050 with a 50% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 through a hydrogen-based society |
Buenos Aires | Aims to achieve a +50% reduction in emissions by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050 |
Santiago | Targets net-zero emissions by 2050 through initiatives such as reforesting over 100,000 hectares of land |
São Paulo | Plans a 30% emissions reduction by 2030 while expanding public transit to 70% of trips by 2028 |
Abu Dhabi | Targets achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050; plans to significantly increase renewable energy capacity, with solar energy to account for 50% |
Cape Town | Aims to make 50% of its buildings energy efficient and achieve a carbon-neutral city by 2050 |

Immersive Sustainable Smart Cities
Immersion opportunities include service learning, internships, and research projects as well as relevant co- and extracurricular activities. Students can experience first-hand:
Amsterdam’s floating neighborhood, Schoonschip, to explore an ecologically and socially sustainable community
Buenos Aires’ Tigre Delta to study freshwater conservation by kayak
Copenhagen's Amager Bakke to observe how state-of-the-art waste-to-energy technologies transform everyday waste into renewable power

CIEE Ecology + Sustainability Programs
Coming to 10 international cities, CIEE’s Ecology + Sustainability program will provide students with a traditional 12-15-week semester. Students can take ecology and sustainability courses, alongside relevant co- and extra-curricular activities, with courses at CIEE and host institutions, as well as online coursework through CIEE x ASU.
Sample courses include:
CIEE Courses (in-person) | ASU Courses (online) |
---|---|
Principles of Ecology Global Change and the Environment Global Environmental Policy Sustainable Tourism | Systems Thinking Sustainable Ecosystems Basic Energy Science |

Immersive Ecology + Sustainability
CIEE’s Ecology + Sustainability program intentionally aligns with the curriculums of students studying Environmental Science, Public Policy, STEM, Sustainability, and Sustainable Development. Students can address principles of ecology and sustainability in:
The cloud forest of Costa Rica and the coral reefs of the Caribbean
The deserts of the Middle East
Marine ecosystems of the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Pacific oceans, the Mediterranean and Indian Seas, the Gulf of America, and the Great Barrier Reef
Expanded Environmental Science and Sustainability Course Offerings

CIEE’s existing Semester In and Open Campus Block programs will be enhanced with featured courses in Environmental Science and Sustainability and provide students the option to:
Choose from 38 international cities that offer the Semester In program with new courses in sustainability, public policy, sustainable tourism, urban ecology, and many more courses across all disciplines.
Choose from 22 cities worldwide that offer the Open Campus Block program with courses on Environmental Science and Sustainability, allowing students to study in one, two, or three different locations to compare issues related to Environmental Science and Sustainability through expansive in-person courses and optional CIEE x ASU online coursework.
CIEE’s Ecology, Sustainability, and Smart City Program Portfolio
Europe
Country | City | Sustainable Smart Cities | Ecology + Sustainability | Semester In with Featured Science Courses | Open Campus Block with Featured Science Courses |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Czech Republic | Prague | X | X | ||
Denmark | Copenhagen | X | X | X | X |
England | London | X | X | X | |
Estonia | Tallinn | X | X | ||
France | Paris | X | X | X | |
France | Rennes | ||||
France | Toulouse | ||||
Germany | Berlin | X | X | X | |
Greece | Athens | X | X | X | |
Ireland | Dublin | X | X | ||
Italy | Florence | X | |||
Italy | Milan | X | X | ||
Italy | Rome | X | X | X | |
Netherlands | Amsterdam | X | X | X | |
Portugal | Lisbon | X | X | ||
Scotland | Edinburgh | X | |||
Scotland | Glasgow | ||||
Spain | Alicante | X | |||
Spain | Barcelona | X | |||
Spain | Madrid | X | X | X | |
Spain | Palma | X | X | ||
Spain | Seville | X |
Asia-Pacific
Country | City | Sustainable Smart Cities | Ecology + Sustainability | Semester In with Featured Science Courses | Open Campus Block with Featured Science Courses |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | Melbourne | X | |||
Australia | Sydney | X | X | X | |
China | Shanghai | X | X | ||
Japan | Kyoto | X | |||
Japan | Tokyo | X | |||
New Zealand | Auckland | X | X | X | |
Singapore | Singapore | X | X | X | |
South Korea | Seoul | X | X | X | |
Taiwan | Taipei | X |
Latin America
Country | City | Sustainable Smart Cities | Ecology + Sustainability | Semester In with Featured Science Courses | Open Campus Block with Featured Science Courses |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | Buenos Aires | X | X | X | |
Brazil | São Paulo | X | X | ||
Chile | Santiago | X | X | X | |
Costa Rica | Monteverde | X | X | X | |
Dominican Republic | Santiago de los Caballeros | X | |||
Mexico | Mérida | X | X | X | |
Puerto Rico | San Juan | X | X |
Africa & The Middle East
Country | City | Sustainable Smart Cities | Ecology + Sustainability | Semester in with Featured Science Courses | Open Campus Block with Featured Science Courses |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Botswana | Gaborone | X | X | ||
Ghana | Legon | X | |||
Jordan | Amman | X | |||
Morocco | Rabat | X | |||
South Africa | Cape Town | X | X | X | X |
United Arab Emirates | Abu Dhabi | X | X |
New CIEE Centers
We are excited to announce our four new CIEE Centers in Athens, Abu Dhabi, San Juan, and São Paulo, expanding our global network to 43 distinct locations. These new CIEE Centers across Europe, Latin America, and The Middle East position CIEE in locations with a unique perspective on sustainability and meet student interest and the needs of our partners.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
As the political and cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi is a global hub for business, technology, and sustainability that uniquely combines rich cultural heritage with modern innovation. The city is home to cutting-edge industries and a diverse global community that focuses on innovation, sustainability, research, and forward-thinking development so students can develop their skills in one of the world’s most influential regions.
Explore Abu Dhabi

Athens, Greece
As the birthplace of democracy, philosophy, and the arts, Athens offers a unique blend of ancient history, vibrant culture, modern innovation, world-class archaeological sites, and a dynamic global community. The city’s strategic location on the Mediterranean and at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa makes Athens an ideal setting for students to undertake studies in ecology and sustainability.
Explore Athens

San Juan, Puerto Rico
As a U.S. territory with a unique Caribbean identity, San Juan dynamically blends rich history, Latin culture, and academic opportunity in the sciences and the arts. The city’s Spanish colonial heritage, diverse ecosystems, and contemporary social and economic issues provide students with a bilingual environment to explore American, Latin, and Caribbean perspectives on sustainability.
Explore San Juan

São Paulo, Brazil
As Brazil’s economic and cultural hub and the largest city in Latin America, São Paulo is known for its cultural diversity, economic influence, social movements, and diverse artistic expressions. The city is home to a thriving international community, a robust arts scene, and smart city innovations that will help students prepare for the future in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Explore São Paulo