Loyola Marymount University | Indonesia | 2027
APPLY HERE BY NOVEMBER 22nd!
Join us for an info session!
November 11, 5:30-6:30pm - Malone 112 RSVP
November 16, 4-5pm - UHall 2228 RSVP
November 17, 5:30-6:30pm - Del Rey North RSVP
November 18, 5:30-6:30pm, Malone 306 RSVP
November 19, 5:30-6:30pm St. Robs 233 RSVP
What does it mean to lead with purpose and live a fully human life in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence?
On Purpose brings together a group of LMU undergraduate students for a spring course and a ten-day immersion in Yogyakarta and Jakarta, Indonesia. The program is open to undergraduates who will continue at LMU as full-time students in fall 2027. We will spend time with students, educators, community leaders, artists, and others who are thinking about many of the same questions we are: How is technology changing the way we learn, work, relate to one another, and make decisions? What do we want to hold onto? What kind of leaders do we want to become?
This is not a program about becoming an expert in AI. It is a chance to step away from the usual conversation about tools and efficiency and ask deeper questions about people, relationships, dignity, faith, culture, and the common good. As Pope Leo reminds us in Magnifica Humanitas “No computational system, however sophisticated, can create a heart that gives itself, or a conscience that discerns good from evil. Even when machines excel in efficiency, a human face that asks to be gazed upon remains the center of our history.” Pope Leo XIV, Magnifica Humanitas, no. 233.
Why Indonesia?
Indonesia gives us a chance to look at these questions from a different cultural and religious context. In Yogyakarta and Jakarta, students will learn alongside local partners, including members of the Sanata Dharma University community, and encounter people approaching technology, leadership, education, and community life in different ways.
The experience
Prepare
Students will take a mandatory 1-unit spring course before traveling. The course will be organized around the DELTA framework, Ignatian discernment, intercultural preparation, and Indonesian history, culture and society. In the class, we will explore several topics, including questions of purpose, dignity, embodiment, love, transcendence, agency, and discernment in the age of AI.
Encounter
The group will spend ten days in Yogyakarta and Jakarta. The immersion will include conversations, site visits, cultural experiences, shared reflection, and time with students and leaders from a range of communities. The goal is not simply to learn about Indonesia, but to learn through relationships and experiences that are different from our own.
Return
The experience does not end when the group comes home. Students will take part in a post-immersion reflection process and help share the cohort’s learning with the LMU community. The larger question is how the experience might shape the way students lead, make decisions, build community, and use technology in the organizations and spaces they already influence.
A few questions we will carry with us
- What does it mean to be human in an age of AI?
- How do we use technology without letting it flatten our relationships or our attention?
- What can another culture teach us about leadership, community, faith, and the common good?
- What can only be learned through direct encounter with people and places?
- How do we return to LMU ready to lead differently?
Program details
Course registration
BCLA 3998.01 - SS: Encounter, Leadership, & AI (CRN 72588)
Fridays, 11:50-1:30
Meetings only on the following dates: January 29, February 5, February 19, March 12, March 19, April 2, April 16.
1 unit
Credit/No-credit (only)
Instructor consent required to register
Travel dates
May 16-27, 2027
Yogyakarta and Jakarta, Indonesia
Who can participate?
The program is open to full-time LMU undergraduate students who will return to LMU as full-time students for the 2027-2028 academic year. The cohort will include approximately 20-25 students from across campus.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible to apply?
The program is open to full-time LMU undergraduate students who will continue at LMU as full-time students in fall 2027. Students must have a GPA of 2.0 or above to qualify for the program.
Do I need to be using AI to do this?
No. This is not a technical program, and students do not need a background in AI, computer science, or technology. The program is for students interested in questions about leadership, purpose, human connection, culture, faith, and the common good in a world increasingly shaped by technology.
What does participation include?
Participation includes the application and interview process, a mandatory 1-unit spring 2027 course, required in-person preparation meetings, the ten-day immersion in Indonesia, post-travel reflection, and a campus engagement project, presentation, workshop, or similar opportunity to share the cohort’s learning.
When will the spring course meet?
Fridays, 11:50-1:30
Meetings only on the following dates: January 29, February 5, February 19, March 12, March 19, April 2, April 16.
What are the travel dates?
The current travel dates are May 16-27, 2027. Students should keep the full travel window available. Final flight times and the detailed itinerary will be shared with selected participants.
What should I expect from the travel experience?
This is an intensive educational immersion, not a vacation. Students should expect long travel days, possible flight connections and delays, a significant time change, a full daily schedule, regular group reflection, and the need to remain flexible when plans change.
How physically demanding will the immersion be?
The program may include substantial walking, stairs or uneven surfaces, standing for periods of time, public transportation, movement between sites, heat, humidity, rain, and long days. Program staff will work with selected students to plan appropriate support and accommodations.
Do I need previous international travel experience?
No. Previous international travel or air travel is not required. Selected students will receive preparation for international group travel.
Do I need a passport?
Students will need a passport and to follow entrance guidelines that meets Indonesia’s entry requirements. Applicants may apply without already having a passport, but selected students may need to begin the application or renewal process promptly.
Will I need a visa or vaccinations?
Entry, visa, vaccination, or other health requirements may apply. The program will provide current requirements and next steps to selected participants.
Will the group travel together?
Yes. LMU will arrange the group transportation and itinerary, and students will depart and return on the same itinerary. Flight routes, times, activities, and dates may change because of travel, weather, safety, partner, or operational conditions. This is a requirement for program participation.
What does the program cost?
Students are expected to pay visa and any vaccines required by your health professional. Basic food, lodging, airfare and program fees will apply but students should bring money to purchase any items that are not included.
What if I have dietary, religious, health, disability, or other access needs?
Students are encouraged to communicate privately with program staff about support or accommodations that may affect participation. This information will not be used to determine selection. Selected participants may be asked to complete separate confidential health, accessibility, dietary, emergency contact, and travel forms.
Can I participate if I have a job, internship, athletic commitment, family obligation, commencement, or summer program or Summer I class?
Students must be available for the full immersion and all required preparation and follow-up activities. Applicants should identify any obligation that could affect an early May 16 departure or full participation until our return May 27.
What is the selection process?
Submitting an application does not guarantee selection. The application includes written responses, and applicants may then be invited to participate in an interview. Applicants invited to interview must do so within the published timeline to remain eligible for consideration.
Applications open: November 6
Applications due: November 22
Sign up for interview: week of November 23
Interviews: Nov 30- Dec 4
Apply here.
What happens after the group returns to LMU?
Students will participate in a post-immersion reflection process and help share the cohort’s learning through a campus project, presentation, workshop, or similar activity.
Who should I contact with questions?
Please email deltaonpurpose@lmu.edu with any questions about the program. Responses may take a little time, so thank you for your patience.
About DELTA
DELTA is an initiative of the University of Notre Dame's Institute for Ethics and the Common Good. Its work focuses on human formation in the age of AI and invites people to think more deeply about dignity, embodiment, love, transcendence, and agency.
On Purpose is supported by a DELTA On Purpose grant.