Spring Intercultural Ventures Explore Geopolitics and Economic Change On the Ground

Published March 25, 2026

A diverse group of people posed in front of a modern building and a large stone with Korean text on it, indicating a tourist or educational location.
Students visit the Dora Observatory in Paju, South Korea, a site that provides scenic views across the Demilitarized Zone at the South-North Korea Border. Photo by Lucienne Chiabra

Earlier this month, the Lauder Institute led students on short-term academic immersions to five destinations around the world through its Lauder Intercultural Ventures program (LIVs). While one LIV returned to Botswana, repeating last spring’s program on healthcare and economic sustainability, four other destinations—Bulgaria, South Korea, India, and the Dominican Republic—introduced new themes through which students examined how history, policy, and economic forces shape conditions on the ground.

The newly created LIV to Bulgaria centered on the country’s evolving role as a member of the European Union, highlighting Bulgaria’s gradual integration into EU frameworks since 2007 and recent adoption of the euro. In Sofia, students engaged with policymakers, EU officials, and local experts to unpack issues around border security, migration, geopolitical tensions with Russia, and Bulgaria’s role in Balkan stability. These themes were complemented by visits to historic and cultural landmarks like the Rila Monastery, Tsarevets Fortress, and the city of Veliko Tarnovo, which together illuminated how Bulgaria’s historical trajectory has shaped its path toward the Eurozone.

In South Korea, the focus of the LIV was national security. Students gained firsthand insight into security dilemmas, alliance politics, and regional power competition through visits to the Demilitarized Zone at the North-South Korea border and the War Memorial of Korea. Conversations with experts at the Korean National Diplomatic Academy and the Asan Institute for Policy Studies addressed cybersecurity threats, negotiations with North Korea, and nuclear deterrence. A visit to Busan’s defense and shipbuilding facilities highlighted maritime security and the industrial dimensions of national defense. Cultural experiences, including visits to Bukchon Hanok Village, Gamcheon Culture Village, and urban districts in Seoul and Busan, provided additional context for understanding how security concerns permeate everyday life in Korea.

A person entering a small shop with a blue door. A neon sign and a promotional stand for GUO, featuring a picture of a dumpling, are visible.
Seoul street scene. Photo by Rodrigo Ibarra
A modern building with several international flags flying outside.
The War Memorial of Korea in Seoul. Photo by Rodrigo Ibarra
A traditional Korean pavilion with ornate roof details in a park setting, surrounded by bare trees. Modern skyscrapers are visible in the background.
Seoul street scene. Photo by Rodrigo Ibarra

The Dominican Republic LIV provided a lens into how small island developing states (SIDS) engage global and regional markets while preserving traditions. A crossroads in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic (DR) is home to a significant Haitian migrant population and maintains close ties to its Dominican diaspora in the United States. The venture explored how tourism, agriculture, and diaspora networks connect to influence economic development in the DR. Students visited La Romana and Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone, as well as a sugarcane plantation, cigar factory, and major food manufacturer to learn about key export economies. A meeting at the Ministry of Tourism provided insight into how data intelligence is used for tourism development. Finally, an excursion to Las Terrenas allowed students to analyze how the region’s coastal ecosystem underpins community-based ecotourism initiatives.

Industrial facility with several workers in high-visibility vests walking outside. A large chimney emits smoke under a cloudy sky. Construction equipment is in the foreground.
Visit to a sugarcane mill in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic. Photo by Ilia Kozhelskii
A group of people on a forest tour, listening to a guide in a lush, sunlit setting with green foliage all around.
Students learn about biodiversity at Los Haitises National Park in Samaná Bay. Photo by Ilia Kozhelskii

In India, the focus shifted to media technologies and their role in shaping public culture. In Delhi, students met with experts working at the intersection of media and governance to examine Indian news media, including issues of misinformation and mobile inclusion. These discussions were complemented by a site visit to NDTV, a major national news network, as well as conversations on digital payments and financial media. In Mumbai, students explored how companies leverage data analytics and AI to understand audiences. Tours of film production companies and meetings with film producers offered insight into how studios balance creative storytelling with marketability. Finally, meetings with leaders in telecom and streaming platforms underscored the rapid growth of digital infrastructure and the influence of media on economic participation.

Led by a faculty expert in each destination, Lauder Intercultural Ventures allow students to examine complex issues through direct, field-based engagement and a regionally relevant theme. As a required component of Lauder’s MA in International Studies, students complete two LIVs before graduation. Learn more about Lauder Intercultural Ventures here. ■

A group of people posing with a bronze filmmaker statue in an outdoor setting with a yellow-striped wall.
Students visit Yash Raj Films, one of the largest film studios in Mumbai. Photo by Haimanti Banerjee
A group of people standing in front of multiple television screens displaying various news channels.
Touring a news control room at New Delhi Television Network (NDTV) in Noida, India. Photo by Haimanti Banerjee
A group of people gathered around a table outdoors with food, set against a rustic stone building and mountainous background.
Group photo at Rila Monastery in the Rila Mountains, Bulgaria. Photo by Tanner Muzikowski.
A group of people posing in front of a large mosaic mural depicting two stylized, abstract human figures in a forest setting.
Visiting the Regional Ethnographic Open-Air Museum Etar in Gabrovo, Bulgaria. Photo by Jaycee Scanlon.
A large group of people standing together outside on a brick surface with a scenic view of a green landscape and blue sky with clouds in the background.
Students pose for a photo following a game drive at Mokolodi Nature Reserve in Gaborone, Botswana. Photo by Ludovico Galli.

Story by Lauren Treutler