Overview

Bhutan’s Development Journey: Exploring the Convergence of Gross National Happiness and the SDGs

Program Overview

Dates: January 11–21, 2026

This 10-day immersive program, developed in partnership with Royal Thimphu College (RTC), offers a deep dive into Bhutan’s unique approach to sustainable development. You’ll explore how the country’s guiding philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) influences its progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The program examines the balance between modernization and tradition, exploring how Buddhist principles inform Bhutan’s approach to conflict resolution and societal development. We will also address contemporary challenges like reliance on hydropower and the “brain drain” of youth, all while observing Bhutan’s continued commitment to GNH.

This course builds on the legacy of Professor Jan Black, a pioneer of MIIS engagement with Bhutan. It continues her vision of providing students with firsthand insights into Bhutan’s unique governance model and its integration of GNH into policymaking.

What You Will Learn

  • Analyze Bhutan’s SDG Progress: Examine how policies on environmental conservation, sustainable economic practices, and social development are put into action.
  • Evaluate the Gross National Happiness Framework: Learn how this governance model moves beyond traditional economic indicators to prioritize cultural, environmental, and social well-being.
  • Investigate Cultural Resilience: Explore how Bhutan maintains its traditions, particularly Vajrayana Buddhist practices, amidst modernization.
  • Study Conflict Transformation: Understand how Buddhist principles and culturally informed diplomacy are used to address tensions between development and the preservation of traditions.
  • Assess Community-Based Business Development: Critically analyze how Bhutan fosters sustainable, locally-driven enterprises to build resilience and reduce reliance on external economies.

Learning Approach

This interdisciplinary program combines classroom learning with real-world experience:

  • Lectures & Seminars: Engage with experts from RTC and other Bhutanese institutions.
  • Field Visits: Visit conservation sites, community initiatives, and rural businesses. You will explore Bhutan’s stunning valleys and mountains, witnessing the nation’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
  • Cultural Immersion: Deepen your understanding of Bhutanese culture through community engagement and a unique homestay experience.
  • Conflict Transformation Focus: Participate in interactive sessions on participatory governance and conflict-sensitive development.

Who Should Attend

This course is open to all MIIS degree students and is particularly relevant for those in policy-related fields.

Program Arc

  • Fall 2025 (Pre-Departure): Prepare with a set of readings, group discussions, and reflections.
  • J-Term 2026 (Immersion): Maintain a detailed journal throughout your time in Bhutan, guided by prompts related to lectures, visits, and cultural experiences.
  • Spring 2026 (Post-Program): Showcase your experience through a final project. You can choose to create a blog, website, or an in-person presentation on a chosen theme, such as “Tensions Between Modernity & Tradition” or “Redefining Conflict Transformation.”

Academic Credit Options

Students participating in the program must take one of the following associated courses:

  • 4 units of ICC Credit
  • 2 units of ICC Credit
  • 3 units IPD/GGP Credit

Background & Rationale

Bhutan has emerged as a global leader in integrating sustainable development with cultural preservation, guided by the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH). This 10-day immersive program, developed in partnership with Royal Thimphu College (RTC), will provide students with an in-depth analysis of Bhutan’s efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It will explore the interplay between modernization and tradition, as well as the application of Conflict Transformation principles within Bhutan’s social context to balance development with cultural identity.

This immersive experience will also examine emerging challenges, such as reliance on hydropower exports and the growing brain drain among youth, alongside other development dilemmas, juxtaposed with Bhutan’s continued commitment to GNH and sustainable development.

The program will be organized and conducted in close collaboration with the Royal Thimphu College (RTC), Bhutan’s most reputable higher learning institution and a longtime MIIS partner. RTC’s faculty, research centers, and extensive local networks will provide critical academic resources, facilitate community engagement, and enhance policy dialogues, ensuring that students gain a comprehensive and well-supported educational experience.

Program Objectives

Analyze Bhutan’s SDG Progress: Examine policies on environmental conservation, sustainable economic practices, and social development.

  • Examine the Gross National Happiness Framework: Evaluate how Bhutan’s governance model integrates cultural, environmental, and social priorities to advance collective well-being as a central measure in achieving their SDGs, moving beyond conventional economic growth indicators. 
  • Investigate Cultural Resilience: Study how Bhutan sustains traditions, particularly Vajrayana Buddhist practices, while embracing modernization.
  • Examine Bhutanese Buddhist Approaches to Conflict Transformation: Explore how Buddhist principles inform Bhutan’s unique practices of resolving conflicts and transforming society, emphasizing the collaborative roles of the state and civil society in balancing tradition with the pressures of modern capitalism.
  • Analyze Policy and Governance Practices: Examine how Bhutan employs policy negotiation, participatory governance, and culturally informed diplomacy to address tensions between developmental progress and the preservation of cultural and spiritual traditions.
  • Evaluate Community-Based Business Development: Critically assess Bhutan’s strategies for fostering sustainable, locally driven enterprises that strengthen individual and community resilience and reduce reliance on external economic influences.

Honoring the Legacy of Professor Jan Black and MIIS Experiential Learning

This immersive learning experience builds on the pioneering work of Professor Jan Black, whose first Global Course to Bhutan laid the foundation for MIIS’s engagement with the country. Professor Black’s vision was to expose students to Bhutan’s unique governance model and its integration of a Gross National Happiness approach into policymaking. Through her leadership, MIIS students gained firsthand insights into Bhutan’s challenges and successes, establishing a precedent for future immersive programs.

This new initiative aims to build upon and expand that legacy, deepening students’ understanding of Bhutan’s evolving policy landscape while remaining true to the principles of experiential learning that Professor Black championed.

This program exemplifies the Middlebury Institute’s commitment to immersive, interdisciplinary education by equipping students with the analytical tools and intercultural competencies needed for sustainable development and conflict-sensitive policymaking. Through our partnership with Royal Thimphu College, students will benefit from unparalleled academic expertise, meaningful community engagement, enriching site visits, and authentic cultural immersion.

Scenes from 2016 Course