The ISLE program is a study abroad program based in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The program is administrated at Bowdoin College.
"ISLE" Stands for "Intercollegiate Sri Lanka Education." Since 1982, over 400 students from the United States have studied in Sri Lanka through this program. Students come from nine different colleges: Bates, Bowdoin, Carleton, Colby, Grinnell, Holy Cross, Macalester, Swarthmore, and Whittier. Students from outside the ISLE consortium may also apply to the program, and their applications will be reviewed on a space-available basis.
Each ISLE semester lasts 15 weeks. For more information about session dates, application materials and deadlines, contacts and other administrative details, use the menu at upper left. You'll also find links there to activities and photos from the current (Spring 2009) and the most recently concluded (Fall 2008) ISLE programs.
For information on specifics of the program, such as academics and living in Sri Lanka, use the menu at upper right.
Below are links to further recent program reports and photos from Sri Lanka.
-2007 Program
-2006 Program
-2005 Program
-2004 Program
-2003 Program (posted by Portland State University)
In January, 2007, ISLE celebrated its 25 years of educating students about Sri Lankan culture and history. You'll find a history of the program, and a report on the Jubilee festivities here.
The ISLE Program established a disaster relief fund immediately following the terrible tsunami in 2004. You can get information here on organizations the program has helped, and read Sree Padma Holt's first-hand report after visiting the island a month later.