The IC² Institute provides opportunities to study abroad for both graduate and undergraduate students at The University of Texas at Austin.    As a member of both the U.S.-Brazil Sustainability Consortium (USBSC), and the North American Sustainability, Housing, and Community Consortium (NASHCC), the Institute helps facilitate international student exchange between the following entities:

• The University of Texas at Austin and the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems (CMPBS) at Austin, TexasUSA
• Ball State University at Muncie, IndianaUSA
• Federal Center for Technological Education of Parana (CEFET/PR) and the Technology Institute of Parana (TECPAR) at Curitiba, Parana Brazil
• Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul at Porto Alegre, Brazil
• Dalhousie University at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• McGill University at Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Instituto Tenologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) at Monterrey, Neuve Leon, Mexico
• Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) at Mexico City, Distrito Federal., Mexico

These organizations offer students the opportunity to work in international, interdisciplinary, and project-based sustainability education and research experiences. 

Education Mission

As societies embrace sustainability, it is necessary to develop meaningful links to environmental responsibility as well as social and economic realities. There is a need to better understand how regions, cities, and communities can function in ways that are sustainable with a focus on being environmentally responsible, socially equitable, and economically viable. The USBSC and the NASC programs will increase student sensitivities and abilities to understand sustainable dynamics in diverse social, economic, and educational contexts. Through project-based learning the USBSC builds on the disciplinary-based education of students. It provides classroom and community-based experience in diverse contexts include experiences that prepare students for work in diverse (physical, cultural, social, economic) environments. The Consortium integrates classroom- and project-based learning in developed and informal communities (favelas) in order to:

1. Overcome traditional academic barriers to encourage interaction among diverse students, faculty, professionals, and communities
2. Build on students' established language and cultural skills so they can effectively work in international professions concerned with environmental, cultural, and economic sustainability
3. Leverage established academic programs and assets to better educate students to be globally aware leaders in their professions and communities

Current students participating in these programs include: 

• Kathryn A. Vanderwater (Halifax, Canada)
• David Chih-Wei Tao (Montreal, Canada)

Invitation to Participate

No matter what your academic background, we provide international opportunities to broaden your views concerning how different cultures consider and react to the environment, economic development, and social needs. The program accepts undergraduate and graduate students in the second half of their programs of study. To learn more about these opportunities, please contact Dr. David Gibson, davidg@icc.utexas.edu, Associate Director.