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Leading Change through Ecology, Sustainability, and Smart Cities Programs

CIEE Study Abroad

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Overview

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. 

CIEE Locations

Tuesday, April 15 at 12 PM EST

Attend the CIEE Program Updates Webinar

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.

Sustainable Smart Cities
18 Sustainable Smart Cities graphic

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

 

Search Sustainable Smart Cities Programs

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 CenterSustainable Smart Cities Features
AmsterdamFocuses efforts on real-time energy monitoring and occupancy-based heating, cooling, and lighting in public facilities
BerlinInvests in cutting-edge technologies such as AI, blockchain, IoT, and quantum computing to drive sustainable innovation
CopenhagenAims to be carbon neutral by 2025 and 50% wind-powered by 2030; 300 flood projects and a transit system with more bikes than cars
LondonFosters collaborations with 750 data-driven companies and boasts the world's largest air quality sensor network and 3,000 parks
MadridAims for a 65% emissions reduction by 2030, adopting new transport technologies, energy rehabilitation, and waste volume reduction
ParisHarnesses connected technology to monitor energy performance, detect infrastructure issues, and motivate citizens to reduce waste
RomeAims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in 2030 and make at least 80% of public buildings carbon-neutral by 2030
TallinnTargets 100% renewable energy by 2030, with a strong digitalization focus. Emphasizes sustainable urban transformation
SeoulChampions smart mobility with intelligent transport systems. Leverages technology for flood prevention and real-time water quality monitoring
ShanghaiPromotes 75% green transportation by 2027; emphasizes energy-saving renovations and clean energy initiatives for sustainable urban growth
SingaporeSeeks to make 80% of buildings eco-friendly and achieve 80% energy efficiency for green buildings
SydneyPromotes renewable energy solutions, with its Sustainable Sydney 2030 initiative leveraging technology and data to promote innovation
TokyoAims to realize Zero Emission Tokyo by 2050 with a 50% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 through a hydrogen-based society
Buenos AiresAims to achieve a +50% reduction in emissions by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050
SantiagoTargets net-zero emissions by 2050 through initiatives such as reforesting over 100,000 hectares of land
São PauloPlans a 30% emissions reduction by 2030 while expanding public transit to 70% of trips by 2028
Abu DhabiTargets achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050; plans to significantly increase renewable energy capacity, with solar energy to account for 50%
Cape TownAims to make 50% of its buildings energy efficient and achieve a carbon-neutral city by 2050
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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
10 Ecololgy Sustainability graphic

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

Search Ecology + Sustainability Programs

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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 

Semester In & Open Campus Block

Expanded Environmental Science and Sustainability Course Offerings 

22 OC block sustainable courses

 

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.

Search Semester In Programs 

Search Open Campus Block Programs 

CIEE’s Ecology, Sustainability, and Smart City Program Portfolio

Europe

CountryCitySustainable Smart CitiesEcology + SustainabilitySemester In with Featured Science CoursesOpen Campus Block with Featured Science Courses
Czech RepublicPrague  XX
DenmarkCopenhagenXXXX
EnglandLondonX XX
EstoniaTallinnX X 
FranceParisX XX
FranceRennes    
FranceToulouse    
GermanyBerlinX XX
GreeceAthens XXX
IrelandDublin  XX
ItalyFlorence  X 
Italy Milan  XX
ItalyRomeX XX
NetherlandsAmsterdamX XX
PortugalLisbon XX 
ScotlandEdinburgh  X 
ScotlandGlasgow    
SpainAlicante  X 
SpainBarcelona  X 
SpainMadridX XX
SpainPalma XX 
SpainSeville  X 

Asia-Pacific

CountryCitySustainable Smart CitiesEcology + SustainabilitySemester In with Featured Science CoursesOpen Campus Block with Featured Science Courses
AustraliaMelbourne  X 
AustraliaSydneyX XX
ChinaShanghaiX  X
JapanKyoto   X
JapanTokyoX   
New ZealandAuckland XXX
SingaporeSingaporeX XX
South KoreaSeoulX XX
TaiwanTaipei  X 

Latin America

CountryCitySustainable Smart CitiesEcology + SustainabilitySemester In with Featured Science CoursesOpen Campus Block with Featured Science Courses
ArgentinaBuenos AiresX XX
BrazilSão PauloX X 
ChileSantiagoX XX
Costa RicaMonteverde XXX
Dominican RepublicSantiago de los Caballeros  X 
MexicoMérida XXX
Puerto RicoSan Juan XX 

Africa & The Middle East

CountryCitySustainable Smart CitiesEcology + SustainabilitySemester in with Featured Science CoursesOpen Campus Block with Featured Science Courses
BotswanaGaborone XX 
GhanaLegon  X 
JordanAmman  X 
MoroccoRabat  X 
South AfricaCape TownXXXX
United Arab EmiratesAbu DhabiX X 
New CIEE Centers

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.

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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

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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

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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

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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