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Department of Communication
Study Abroad Summer 2006
This summer for the first time the Department of Communication is sponsoring a study abroad opportunity for Department of Communication majors and graduate students. The trip begins May 11th and concludes June 2nd. Students will visit Singapore (May 11-May 19), Malaysia (May 20-25), and Thailand 
(May 26-June 2).
There are two purposes for the trip. First, students will have the opportunity visit cultures with very different values, attitudes, governments, etc. For example, Singapore is a tiny island nation just south of the Malaysia peninsula which is nominally democratic and which is the home of Malaysian, Chinese (the majority), and Indian peoples. In contrast, Malaysia is populated by Malaysians (in the majority), Chinese, and Indians. Malaysia is an Islamic constitutional monarchy. Thailand is also a constitutional monarchy and the only Southeast Asian nation never to be colonized.
Our second purpose is to learn about international and intercultural communication in these nations. All three nations are part of the rapid economic and social development that has been happening in Southeast Asia for the past several years. As such, there is considerable cultural interaction and sometimes conflict. Also, this region is an area with new organizations and companies establishing a 
presence. Consequently, the role of professional communicators is rapidly growing. All the major communication oriented firms have offices in this area including Edelman Public Relations, Ogilvey, WorldComm, and Bursen-Marsteller. We'll be visiting these firms and other individuals whose work includes communicating with various publics in the region. We will also visit two universities and their students: National University of Singapore and Bangkok University.
This page contains the names of each student who will be making the trip. Along with each name you will find a link to their blogs. Students will be writing almost daily about their experiences and posting pictures to help you 
visualize what they are learning. Please feel free to join the group from the U. S. by reading their blogs and commenting on their observations.
