16Sample Customized Faculty-Led Programs

Austral Education Group presents a selection of representative examples of faculty-led, customized global programs successfully implemented for higher education institutions. Each example details the academic curriculum, logistics infrastructure and co-curricular/cultural activities.

• Client & Cohort

  UVA Darden School of Business; 34 EMBA/PTMBA students + 2 complimentary faculty/staff (36 total PAX).
• Destination

  Dual-city Global Residency to Buenos Aires and Mendoza, Argentina (October 3–10, 2026).
• Curriculum & Academic Focus

  "Doing Business In and With Argentina" — executive-level focus on macroeconomic strategy, cross-border investment, and leadership in volatile markets. 8 high-level business meetings sourced with senior executives. ESG-minded client.
• Logistics Infrastructure

  7 nights at Sofitel Recoleta (Buenos Aires) and Diplomatic Hotel (Mendoza), single occupancy for all; private chartered motor coach; two internal flights (Buenos Aires–Mendoza); bilingual Program Coordinator; full-service travel logistics.
• Co-Curricular & Cultural Activities

  Buenos Aires city tour, Evita Museum visit, Mendoza city tour, Susana Balbo Wines tasting, welcome dinner with tango show, and farewell dinner.

• Client & Cohort

  USC Moore School of Business; 20 Undergraduate students + 2 complimentary faculty/staff (22 total PAX). Contact: Amanda Birkenhauer, Director of Business Study Abroad.
• Destination

  Dual-city immersion to Lisbon and Porto, Portugal (May 9–19, 2026).
• Curriculum & Academic Focus

  "The Old and the New at the Edge of Europe" — entrepreneurship, IT, and innovation focus. 8 high-level business meetings sourced with senior executives. Optional participation format.
• Logistics Infrastructure

  10 nights at Exe Liberdade Hotel (Lisbon) and Holiday Inn Express Porto City Centre; twin occupancy for students, single for faculty; deluxe coach transport (public transit used on one day); bus transfer Lisbon–Porto; bilingual Program Coordinator; full-service travel logistics.
• Co-Curricular & Cultural Activities

  Lisbon city tour, Porto city tour, Sintra & Cascais full-day excursion; welcome and farewell dinners; 3 group lunches.

• Client & Cohort

  ASU W. P. Carey School of Business; 28 MBA students + 3 complimentary faculty/staff (31 total PAX). Contact: Julia Pitman, International Coordinator, Faculty-Directed Programs.
• Destination

  Single-city immersion to Dublin, Ireland (May 9–16, 2026).
• Curriculum & Academic Focus

  General International Business — 6 high-level business meetings with senior executives. ESG-minded client. Won on competitive pricing against another provider.
• Logistics Infrastructure

  7 nights hotel accommodation (students) / 8 nights (faculty); twin occupancy for students; deluxe coach for 2 days + unlimited subway passes for 3 days; bilingual Program Coordinator; Regpack registration portal; full-service travel logistics.
• Co-Curricular & Cultural Activities

  Dublin walking city tour; choice of Malahide Castle & Howth Village OR Cliffs of Moher OR Trinity College/Book of Kells; Dublin Castle OR Croke Park Stadium Tour; Little Museum of Dublin OR EPIC Irish Emigration Museum; welcome dinner and farewell dinner with live traditional Irish music and dance show.

• Client & Cohort

  UIUC Gies College of Business; 28 Online MBA students + 3 faculty/staff (31 total PAX). Contact: Rachel Ward, Assistant Director of Operations.
• Destination

  Domestic immersion to Austin, Texas, USA (October 13–16, 2026) — preceded by 3 online sessions (October 7–9). Hybrid format (Travel + Online).
• Curriculum & Academic Focus

  General Industries, Startups & MNCs — 3 high-level business meetings; 1 Fast Track Consulting Challenge sourced and managed by Austral; 2 half-days of conference room with AV; 3 paid online sessions (38 participants). Optional participation.
• Logistics Infrastructure

  3 nights hotel accommodation; twin occupancy for students; deluxe coach for all group activities; bilingual Program Coordinator; full-service travel logistics.
• Co-Curricular & Cultural Activities

  Austin walking city tour; Austin Brewery & Distillery Tour; Austin Museum visit; Networking Reception Dinner and Farewell Dinner at Austin restaurants.

• Client & Cohort

  Harvard Business School; 42 MBA students + 3 faculty/staff (45 total PAX). Contact: Keith Luu, Program Manager; Final Decision Maker: Josh Nupp.
• Destination

  San Francisco, California, USA (January 4–10, 2026).
• Curriculum & Academic Focus

  "Immersion Field Course" (IFC) — Silicon Valley innovation and tech ecosystem immersion. Travel Logistics Only service model. Won on loyalty and account manager relationship.
• Logistics Infrastructure

  6 nights hotel accommodation; twin occupancy for students, single for faculty; private chartered motor coach + subway passes; two group airport transfers; half-day conference room with AV; bilingual Program Coordinator; Travel Logistics Only service tier.
• Co-Curricular & Cultural Activities

  San Francisco city tour; welcome and farewell group dinners.

• Client & Cohort

  Western University, Ivey Business School; 41 MBA students + 2 faculty leaders.
• Destination

  Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (December 2025). View Full Itinerary.
• Curriculum & Academic Focus

  Global trade, fintech ecosystems, and renewable energy infrastructure. Programmed a live ACWA Power Business Challenge (technical site tour of the Noor Power Plant Phase IV Solar Park + executive pitches to corporate leadership), DP World Jafza 17, DIFC Innovation Hub, and SGS JAFZA South.
• Logistics Infrastructure

  Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers; DXB airport arrival tracking; private executive motor coaches; Deira Conference Room on-site hub; 24/7 Program Manager (Nora Astudillo); Ministry of Health medication compliance pre-audits.
• Co-Curricular & Cultural Activities

  Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace, Masdar City, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Welcome Dinner at Burj Al Arab (Al Iwan Restaurant), and Desert Safari Farewell Camp.

• Client & Cohort

  UCLA Anderson Center for Global Management; 34 EMBA students + 3 faculty/staff leaders.
• Destination

  São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (December 2025). View Full Itinerary.
• Curriculum & Academic Focus

  Emerging market macroeconomics, sustainable supply chains, healthcare tech, and fintech. Included executive roundtables at Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV), Mindset Ventures, JBS HQ (briefing led directly by the Chairman of the Board), Natura’s sustainable manufacturing plant in Cajamar, InovaHC, and TIM.
• Logistics Infrastructure

  5-star Renaissance São Paulo Hotel & JW Marriott Rio de Janeiro; internal domestic flights (São Paulo to Rio via Azul Airlines fully managed by Austral); private coach transit; Travefy offline app; on-site Program Manager (Irlana Azevedo) and local coordinators.
• Co-Curricular & Cultural Activities

  UCLA Anderson Alumni Panel & Networking Dinner at Praça São Lourenço, Christ the Redeemer train ascent, Sé Cathedral, Beco do Batman, and Tijuca Rainforest Jeep Tour.

• Client & Cohort

  Rice University MBA Program; multiple student consulting teams + faculty leaders.
• Destination

  Lima, Peru (2026). View Full Itinerary
• Curriculum & Academic Focus

  Applied problem-solving, market entry strategy, and global mindset. Teams acted as pro-bono consultants for Peruvian enterprises (AJE Group, FUCSA, Prime Gestora de Fondos, Smart Doctor), delivering final C-suite presentations. Integrated the Learning Impact Framework (LIF) to measure a verified +2.05 point growth in Applied Problem Solving.
• Logistics Infrastructure

  Premium 4/5-star accommodations in Miraflores; dedicated mini-bus transport for client site visits; 24/7 bilingual Program Coordinators; Travefy digital portal; emergency routing to Clinica Anglo Americana.
• Co-Curricular & Cultural Activities

  Historical Center UNESCO walking tour, Peruvian gastronomy immersion, and local social enterprise site visits.

• Client & Cohort

  Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication; 11 UG students + 2 comp faculty (13 total PAX). Contact: Connor Dowling, International Coordinator; Academic Contact: Crystal Alvarez, Assistant Clinical Professor.
• Destination

  Mexico City, Mexico (June 6–15, 2026 — 10 days).
• Curriculum & Academic Focus

  Undergraduate journalism immersion timed around the FIFA World Cup 2026. Students from the Walter Cronkite School experienced live global event journalism, complemented by 9 business meetings with media and communications executives. Full Service model. Won via In-Person Meeting on a Competitive Bid (Approved Vendors list).
• Logistics Infrastructure

  9 nights at NH Collection Mexico City Reforma Hotel; twin occupancy for students, single for faculty; group motor coach with bottled water; two group airport transfers; one half-day conference room with AV and coffee break; bilingual Program Coordinator; Full Service tier.
• Co-Curricular & Cultural Activities

  Mexico City city tour; National Anthropology Museum; FIFA Fan Fest match attendance; Xochimilco Canals tour; Lucha Libre at Arena México; Teotihuacan Pyramids visit; welcome and farewell group dinners.

• Client & Cohort

  Texas Tech University Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources; 10 UG students + 3 faculty (13 total PAX). Staff Contact: Bethany Kuwitzky, Assistant Director (bethany.kuwitzky@ttu.edu); Academic Contact: Darren Hudson, Professor; Final Decision Maker: Lowell Randel, Executive Director Agricultural Policy Advocacy Program.
• Destination

  Washington DC (USA) → Rome → Geneva → Brussels (May 17–31, 2026 — 15 days, 4 destinations).
• Curriculum & Academic Focus

  Undergraduate agricultural sciences study tour combining US agricultural policy (Washington DC) with European food systems, agri-policy institutions, and cultural heritage (Italy, Switzerland, Belgium). No business meetings — entirely educational and cultural in format. Travel Logistics Only service model. Won on Experiential Learning & Content Quality via Inbound/Referral Lead.
• Logistics Infrastructure

  14 nights hotel accommodation across 4 cities; twin occupancy for students, single for faculty; deluxe coach for all group transfers; one bottle of water per person daily; group airport transfers; bilingual Program Coordinator; Travel Logistics Only service tier. Internal flight included (cost separate from land package).
• Co-Curricular & Cultural Activities

  Washington DC walking tour; Rome city tour; Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica guided tour; Colosseum Underground & Ancient Rome tour; Pompeii, Amalfi Coast & Positano day trip; Chamonix Mont-Blanc full-day guided tour; Annecy "Venice of the Alps" tour from Geneva; Brussels walking tour; Bruges & Ghent "Fairytale Cities" day trip.

• Client & Cohort

  Rollins College School of Arts & Social Sciences; 12 UG students + 2 comp faculty (14 total PAX). Staff Contact & Finance: Margareth Kupetz, Senior Spanish Lecturer; Academic Contact: María Paniagua-Tejo, Senior Spanish Lecturer.
• Destination

  Armenia & Pereira, Colombia — Coffee Region (March 14–21, 2026 — 8 days).
• Program Theme

  "Café, Cultura and Aventura: Spring Break Journey to Colombia's Coffee Region."
• Curriculum & Academic Focus

  Undergraduate liberal arts Spring Break immersion in Colombia's Coffee Region, led by the Spanish department. Deeply experiential and culturally embedded — no business curriculum, 2 site visits/day maximum. Won on Operations Expertise; sourced at the EMBAC USA/Southeast Regional Meeting (April 2025). Full Service model.
• Logistics Infrastructure

  4 nights at Hotel Mocawa Resort (Armenia) + 3 nights at Hotel Movich Pereira; twin occupancy for students, single for faculty; group motor coach with bottled water; two group airport transfers; Full Service tier. Internal airfare between Armenia and Pereira (cost separate from land package).
• Co-Curricular & Cultural Activities

  Coffee experience at a hacienda; coffee experience at a plantation in Armenia; full day in Salento with Jeepao transfers and walking tour; local artisan workshop in Salento; basket weaving workshop; traditional cooking class (lunch included); dance class at Fonda del Camino; visit to hot springs of Santa Rosa de Cabal; Pereira afternoon walking tour; one service learning project with a local organization; welcome and farewell group dinners.

• Client & Cohort

  New York University (NYU) College of Arts & Science — Martin Luther King Jr. Scholars Program; 46 UG students + 5 faculty/staff (51 total PAX). Staff Contact: Leah Robinson, Associate Director MLK Honors; Final Decision Maker & Finance: Harmony Osei, Director, Martin Luther King Jr. Scholars Program.
• Destination

  Buenos Aires, Argentina (January 5–12, 2026 — 8 days).
• Curriculum & Academic Focus

  Undergraduate civic and human rights immersion for NYU's elite MLK Honors cohort. The program was built entirely around Argentina's history of state terrorism, memory, and social justice — with 10 academic visits per day to civic, cultural, and media organizations. Participation was compulsory for all MLK Scholars. Industry focus: Civic & Social Organization. Full Service model. Won via Proposal Process on an Inbound/Referral Lead.
• Logistics Infrastructure

  7 nights at DoubleTree by Hilton Buenos Aires; twin occupancy for students, single for faculty; group motor coach with bottled water; two group airport transfers; five half-day conference rooms with AV and coffee breaks; bilingual Program Coordinator for all scheduled activities, academic visits, and evening dinners; Full Service tier.
• Co-Curricular & Cultural Activities

  Buenos Aires walking city tour; Graffiti Tour; visit to Artear (Grupo Clarín); Universidad de San Martín tour; ACUMAR environmental authority visit; Corrientes Avenue theatre show; Parque de la Memoria — Monument to the Victims of State Terrorism; Centro Cultural de la Memoria Haroldo Conti; Museum and Site of Memory ESMA; evening screening and debate of Argentina 1985; Centro Cultural Recoleta; Tango lessons & Tango show farewell dinner; 8 group lunches; dinner stipends for 6 evenings.