Skip to content | Change text size
 

Monash University Study Trips

Started in 2004, the aim of the annual study trips is primarily two-fold. Firstly, student travelers are exposed to some of the complex and changing social, cultural and political realities within Malaysia and in the region through dialogues with various institutions and civil society groups. Secondly, these trips provide opportunities for students to hone their interviewing, video documentary and writing skills.  

Click the pictures below to visit the blogs stemming from these trips.

Siem Reap, Cambodia 2008

Eighteen students from the School of Arts and Social Sciences were in for a surprise as they stepped onto Cambodian soil to experience culture from a whole new perspective.

The study trip to Siem Reap held between 4 – 11 July was hosted by the Centre for Khmer Studies (CKS). The trip allowed the students to polish their journalistic, writing and organizing skills as everyone was allocated into different work groups like photography, videography, editorial and cultural teams. Their entries were posted daily updates onto a collective blog.

CKS welcomed the group with an introductory session on Cambodian society and culture on their first day. After the session, the students explored the site of Wat Damnak monastery occupied by Buddhist monks and nuns.

The talk by Centre of Housing Rights and Eviction (COHRE) on the second day of the trip highlighted housing rights as one of the most violated human rights in the country. COHRE is an international organization working to defend housing rights violated through forced evictions.

The third day saw a visit to the National Center for Khmer Ceramics Revival. This organization aims to revive traditional Khmer ways of making ceramic wares. This was followed by a trip to the War Museum where the students encountered an array of weapons used during the Pol Pot regime.

Students were free to pursue their own stories in day four, which ranged from shadow puppetry at the House of Peace, the floating village at Tonle Sap, to the views of local citizens on the upcoming general election in the country. 

Day five took us back to Wat Damnak to learn more about the work of Life and Hope Association (LHA) through an interactive session with Monk Y Nol and Duong Than. LHA provides literacy education and skills training for children and teenagers. Several students continued the day with a visit to a local orphanage, Sunrise Children’s Village where they watched the orphans perform a traditional Khmer dance and presented them with gifts. 

The most anticipated day was on the sixth day which saw the travelers getting up at 4 am to catch sunrise at the Angkor Wat Temple. Within the Angkor City complex, the students explored various temples including Bayon, Ta Prohm, The Elephant Terrace, and Bat Chum. The day ended with a spectacular view of the landscape of Siem Reap at Bakheng Hill.

Five history students from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) acted as guides. They provided the students with informal background insights into Cambodian history as well as helped out with translations, interviews and everyday activities.

During the trip, students braved themselves for a taste of fried grasshoppers, which oddly tasted similar to prawns. Students also enjoyed open air tuk-tuk (motorcycle taxis) rides along the outskirts of Siem Reap, something they would not have experienced in Kuala Lumpur.

“This was an amazing trip, an eye-opening experience that may only come to me once in a lifetime” said Aron Raj, former Vice President of the Communication Student Alliance (COSTA). “I was able to further develop my video expertise and train students who are interested in videography beyond the classroom environment.” - by Mindy Wong and Kemi Harahap

 

PT Foundation and Chow Kit, 2008

In mid-April, 2008, the Arts Programme together with COSTA (Communication Students Association) organised a study visit to the PT (Pink Triangle) Foundation, an NGO located in the infamous Chow Kit area. Chow Kit lies near to the heart of old Kuala Lumpur and is the well-known haven for drug addicts and sex workers.

“What we are doing in the PT foundation is basically AIDS/HIV awareness and prevention. We also have free and anonymous aids testing and screening,” said Jeremy Kwan, the chief officer at PT Foundation.

PT foundation was started in 1987. This was also during the time when the HIV/AIDS epidemic was first detected in Malaysia. However, the logo and phrase of the “Pink Triangle” dates back to the holocaust period in the 1940s when homosexuals were thus marked to signify their deviant sexuality.  “Today it has been appropriated as a symbol of empowerment for sexual minorities,” said Jeremy Kwan.

Students were briefed on the concept of safe sex, shown the right way to put on a condom, and helped assemble safe sex packs.  Inside the safe sex pack, which the PT Foundation calls the “survival kit of today”, are usually 2 condoms,  a packet of lubricant and information cards on help hotline and places to go for free HIV/AIDS testing.   

Later on, the students were taken for a short walk through the back alleys of Chow Kit before arriving at a place of refuge for the vulnerable communities in the area. Here, they can sleep, clean up, do their laundry, given food, and even have their small children attend tuition classes. Damsha, the Senior Program Manager, said that no matter how bad the situation could be for them, the center provided them with that little bit of hope. “No one will be left behind here. They are all treated the same and no one is different. No one gets special treatment and no one is treated badly,” she added

It was an eye opening afternoon that challenged most of our perceptions on taboo subjects. According to Max Tan, a final year Communication student, “Just because they are sex workers doesn’t mean they should be discriminated against. Many did not choose this kind of life and even if they did, they may have much choice in the matter.” One of the key objectives of PT Foundation is to break the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS.  As the main NGO working on HIV/AIDS prevention among marginalized groups on the streets of Kuala Lumpur, it has faced several serious challenges. In 2005, it was almost shut down due to lack of funding. Recently, the organization has turned twenty-one years of age.

 “It’s good to know that there are people right here in Malaysia who will not succumb to the norm,” said Anthea Haryoko, an Indonesian student.   

“PT Foundation inspires me in its efforts to make us understand the importance of safe sex in a society like today,” added Kelvin Tan, a first year Arts student. - by  Batul Mohsinali

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baguio and Sagada, Philippines 2007

An eye opening Philippines experience for Monash students

6 February 2008

A group of 18 students from the School of Arts and Sciences, along with two lecturers acting as chaperones had a taste of the Philippines when they visited the country for a study tour from 12 – 21 December. The study tour was hosted by the Cordillera Studies Centre of the University of the Philippines, Baguio City Campus.

The 10-day trip saw the students visiting two cities namely Baguio and Sagada. Baguio which is also known as the Summer City of Philippines, is in the seat of the Cordilerra Administrative Region.

At Baguio’s University of the Philippines’ Cordilerra Studies Centre, the students were first briefed on the historical, socio-political, geographical and economic background of the city, as well as current issues it faced.

On their second day in Baguio City, the students attended an afternoon seminar with the Cordillera People’s Allliance (CPA), an organization representing the rights of indigenous people in the region, and a session with the Baguio City Muslim Association. The interactive and informal talks gave students an insight into issues affecting minorities in the region and an opportunity to interact with local people.

Apart from these organizations, the students also attended a talk by representatives from the Northern Dispatch Weekly (NORDIS), a weekly newspaper covering the three regions of Northern Luzon, Cordillera, and the Cagayan Valley.

The fourth day of the study tour took the students to Sagada city, where they saw for themselves its famed rice terraces. During their stay there, the students had a chance to go hiking and spelunking at the Sumaging Caves.

During their caving expedition, the students had to maneuver themselves through tiny passages that opened up to fascinating chambers and splendid rock formations. To make it easier for them to go through the caves, their guides advised them to walk barefooted and this gave them the experience of walking on a ‘bed’ filled with bat guano!

In Sagada, the students also had a chance to see the famous Hanging Coffins. The 200 year-old coffins are neatly stacked and hung onto a limestone cliff.

The students also visited the Sagada National High School, where they met local residents. In Sagada, the group also tried out some of the local delicacies like balut. Balut is a nearly developed duck embryo which is boiled and eaten.

All in all, the students learned much about life in Baguio City and Sagada. The different people they met, the things they saw and experienced were truly an eye-opener for them.

One of the trip’s chaperones, Dr Yeoh Seng Guan said, “If there are any learning points that my fellow travelers can discern from this year’s trip to what may seem to be exotic and unfamiliar worlds, I believe there are two.”

“Firstly, it is the tenacity of the human spirit in search for better livelihoods as embodied in the courageous daily struggles of local communities and civil society groups.”

“Secondly, the singular wisdom and necessity of valuing and protecting cultural diversities wherever they may be found in order to shape a more convivial place for all,” he added. – by Anita Hadi

 

Bangkok, Thailand 2005

The School of Arts of Monash University Malaysia together with Communication Student Alliance (COSTA) organized a study trip to Bangkok recently in early July. Entitled, "In Search of Bangkok", the tour comprised of 19 students from the Communication faculty. Equipped with a video camera, note pad and curious minds, they set foot in the capital of Thailand to don the role of novice journalists. Dr Yeoh Seng Guan, who is the Coordinator of the Communication programme, headed the six-day tour, along with the help of course manager Sasikalah Devi Balasingham. 

"One of the objectives of the study tour is to expose the students to some of the social, cultural and political realities of a neighboring Asean country. Another is to allow students the opportunity of practicing their journalistic and writing skills in an unfamiliar environment" he added. To overcome the language barrier, students from Chulalongkorn University based in Bangkok acted as tour guides and translators.  

The itinerary involved meeting representatives of various non-governmental organizations and scholars. For example, at the Foundation for Women, students were given insights into issues dealing with the trafficking of women and children within Thailand and around the region. At Duang Prateep Foundation based in Klong Toey, the largest slum in Bangkok, students were given a first-hand account of welfare work extended to slum-dwellers. Near to the famous traveller’s enclave of Khao Sarn, the villagers of Pommahakan related their plight of eviction due to plans of urban redevelopment. Finally, Professor Ubonrat Siriyuvasak, a communications lecturer at Chulalongkorn University provided an update of the challenges of media reform in Thailand. 

“I think the most significant thing about this trip is the fact that we experienced the non-commercial version of Bangkok. As media students, I think it’s important for us to know the realities behind the representations as portrayed by the mainstream media. I felt it was such an eye-opener to all of us there” said Kerry-Ann Augustin, president of COSTA.  

Tan Meng Yoe, also a final year student, explained that the planning for the trip started late last year. "I am glad that we were made involved at all stages of the planning as it enabled us to learn to work as a team" he said. 

“The issues that we explored in Thailand prompted us to think about similar issues in our home country, and to reflect on the work of Thai civil society groups like the Duang Prateep Foundation and their quest to help the less fortunate,” said another student, Sharifah Shazana.  

Visit to Kampung Chang Lama, Malaysia 2005

 

A group of 11 students from Monash University recently experienced the lifestyle of the Orang Asli  in the state of Perak. Kampung Chang Lama, a  Semai community located near to Bidor played hosts to the students. 

The trip was organised by Dr Yeoh Seng Guan, who is the Course Coordinator of the Communication Program from the School of Arts and Sciences with the assistance of Ms Puah Sze Ning, a final year Communications student. The trip was a follow-up to a Photo and Orang Asli Handicraft exhibition organised a couple of months earlier.

Dr Yeoh said that the primary aim of the trip was to expose the students to the culture and concerns of the Orang Asli. “The students showed a high level of enthusiasm throughout, although most of them have not experienced the lifestyle in a rural environment prior to this trip,” he said.  

Students were given an insight into how, for the Orang Asli, their cultural and economic survival is closely linked to the natural environment. Ms Puah further mentioned that the trip enabled the participants to learn the importance of respecting the belief of others. “We had a very pleasant trip and were overwhelmed by our host’s friendship and hospitality. We were pampered with different types of food and mastered the art of using the sarong,” added Ms Puah. 

Ms Katrin Shmidt, 23, a second year Science student said that she had a wonderful experience discovering the culture of the indigenous people. “The Orang Asli strongly believe that people who abuse the forest and its wildlife will be subjected to retribution and punishment. Moreover, they are contented with what they have and do not take more than what they need,” said Ms Schmidt. 

Ms Farhah Isyqi, 24, a second year Communication student said that the trip was educational in terms of getting to know the problems of the Orang Asli community firsthand. “They are very hardworking, approachable and friendly people. I was amazed to find out that they wake up as early as 4am in the morning to carry out their chores. The younger generation is actively involved in spreading awareness on the importance of education among children,” said Ms Isyqi.