International Campus Update
March 15, 2002
- Headlines
- International Education After September 11
- Campus and College News
- Funding Opportunities and Announcements
Headlines
CHINESE ATTEND TRAINING PROGRAM: A delegation of 17 mid-level government executives from Beijing will arrive at the University April 3 to begin a four-month leadership training program. This is the first long-term training program offered by the China Center. The executives will attend business administration and public affairs courses taught by faculty in numerous collegiate units and will attend intensive English language training provided by the Minnesota English Center. The executives will also visit local businesses, farms, and government offices, and attend cultural events. It is hoped this program will enhance the cooperation between University departments and organizations in Beijing. The China Center has conducted several short training programs for Chinese executives since last September and additional delegations from China are expected to attend training sessions each year. For more information, contact Yuedong Zhou, China Center, at 612-624-2372 or zhoux051@umn.edu.
STUDY ABROAD CURRICULUM INTEGRATION: President Yudof addressed a group of 97 key curricular decision makers from all four campuses on February 28, stating that there is a "need to prepare our students for the global world and it is indicative of a culture that we need to transform here at the University of Minnesota." The group of Undergraduate Department and Discipline Representatives was introduced to the process of Study Abroad Curriculum Integration and attended break-out sessions to learn more about the opportunities available to their students. Over the next three years, faculty and academic advisers will collaborate to develop innovative advising materials and practices, and to strengthen relationships between college representatives and students. To learn more, please go to Curriculum.
FUN FACT: The Global Campus • Study Abroad office reports a 65 percent increase in the number of students inquiring about study abroad compared to last year.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
- International Student Graduation Reception to honor graduating international undergraduate, professional, and graduate students, their families, academic advisers, and friends. Friday, May 3, 2002, 3:30 to 6 p.m., Radisson Hotel Metrodome, short program begins at 4 p.m. No reservations are required. For more information, visit ISSS.
- International Education Week 2002 is scheduled for November 18–22. Watch for more announcements as the date approaches.
INTERNATIONAL PHOTO CONTEST: The winner of the annual ISTC International Photo Contest was Michael Pershern for his photo "Tending the Incense." You can see all the winning photos online. The contest was open to students and was sponsored by the International Service and Travel Center.
NEW CHINA CENTER WEB SITE: The China Center has introduced a newly designed Web site. A new feature of the site is a section describing the China Center’s training programs. The staff is currently working on a Chinese-language version of the site.
International Education After September 11
OIP continues to monitor news, legislation, and issues related to international education and the events of September 11. Updated information and resources are posted on the OIP September 11 Web site.
STUDENT TRACKING SYSTEM: There is much discussion between international education groups and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) regarding who should collect the proposed $95 fee to be charged to students in connection with the new SEVIS tracking system. Both the INS and the State Department are resistant to collecting the fee and are suggesting schools collect the fee. Another suggestion by the INS is for international students to pay the fee with a credit card via the Internet or by mail with a check drawn on American bank accounts. Several OIP staff are involved in the national discussion. Watch for updates in future issues of this newsletter. For more information about the SEVIS tracking system, visit the NAFSA Web site.
LANGUAGE CENTER FUNDING TO INCREASE: The federal government is dramatically increasing funding for study of the Middle East, South Asia, and other regions of new strategic importance since the September 11 attacks. The funds — an additional $20.5 million in 2002, a proposed $4 million more in 2003 — will double the number of fellowships for study of languages such as Arabic, Persian, Pashto, Uzbek, and Urdu. Four new academic centers will be set up to study Russia and the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia.
FEDERAL DIPLOMACY FUNDING: Testifying before a House subcommittee on March 6, Secretary of State Colin Powell said the Bush administration soon would request public diplomacy spending increases for the current fiscal year. He added, "The budget request also includes $247 million for educational and cultural exchanges that build mutual understanding and develop friendly relations between America and the people of the world. These activities help build the trust, confidence, and international cooperation necessary to sustain and advance the full range of our interests. Such activities have gained a new sense of urgency and importance since the brutal attacks of September. We need to teach the people of the world more about America and America's role in the world."
Campus and College News
CROOKSTON: Representatives from Ecole Superieure d’Agriculture, an agricultural college in Angers, France, visited UMC January 23 to discuss a summer study experience for students, which will begin late May and run through June.
HUMPHREY INSTITUTE: In December, Dean John Brandl and Zbigniew Bochniarz, director of the Center for Nations in Transition, presided over the graduation ceremonies for two cohorts of graduates of the Executive Master in Business and Public Management program at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland.
G. EDWARD SCHUH: Regent’s Professor G. Edward Schuh participated January 29 in a panel discussion "Making Development Policy in the New Era: Priorities, Politics, and Structures of U.S. Policymaking on Global Poverty and Hunger." The panel was part of a meeting of Resources for the Future in Washington D.C.
LIBRARIES: A new Digital South-Asia Language Archive is at http://lrc.umn.edu/dsala.html. The University Libraries Learning Resources Center has begun a project to digitize and make available via the Internet some of its South and Southwest Asia collection materials. This collection provides both instructional language recordings and readings of literary works. Materials will be added to the archive as they become available. Comments and questions can be directed to Dan Donnelly at d-donn@umn.edu or 612-624-6536.
MINNESOTA INTERNATIONAL CENTER: To register for any of the following programs, call 612-626-6204 or register online.
- "Canada and the U.S. Partners in Security & Prosperity" Michael Kergin, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., will address U.S.-Canada relations and the $1.3 billion in goods and services that cross the border each day. Wed., April 10; lunch at noon; program 12:30-1:30 p.m.; Windows on Minnesota, IDS Tower. MIC members & students $25, non-members $35, program-only seating $10.
- "Cuba and the U.S. An Economic Thaw?" Dagoberto Rodriguez, chief of the Cuban Interests Section at the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, D.C., will identify current and future economic challenges, Cuba's plan for addressing these issues, and the impact on U.S.-Cuba relations. Friday, April 19, 8-9 a.m., Windows on Minnesota, IDS Tower. MIC members & students $15, non-members $20.
SOCIAL WORK: Cari Michaels presented "The Role of Education in Prevention of Gender-Based Violence" at a conference in San Jose, Costa Rica, February 7 and 8. She spoke about using technology in education to prevent family violence.
Funding Opportunities and Announcements
STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS: Applications for University study abroad scholarships are now available in 230 Heller Hall or online. The application deadline for summer study abroad is April 5; fall semester and academic year is May 3.
SUMMER INTERNSHIP: Ten internships are available at the Asian Development Bank in Manila, Philippines, this summer. Open to master’s & PhD students. Includes airfare, lodging, and stipend. Internships available in economics, IT, business administration, environmental policy, and public finance. For more information and to apply, contact Kathleen Sellew, OIP, at 612-626-8834 or k-sell@umn.edu. Applications must be turned in to OIP by April 1.
U.K./IRELAND POST-GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS: The campus application deadline for the Rhodes, Marshall, and Mitchell scholarships is April 8, 2002. For more information on these and other national scholarships, go to the CLA Web site.
FULBRIGHT AWARDS ANNOUNCED: The Fulbright Scholar Program has announced lecturing/research awards in some 140 countries for the 2003-2004 academic year. The application deadline for traditional lecturing and research grants is August 1. Information about the awards and an application are available online. Or you can call 202-686-7877 or e-mail apprequest@cies.iie.org. The campus representative is Kathleen Sellew, OIP (612-626-8834 or k-sell@umn.edu).
FACULTY TRAVEL GRANT: Deadline is April 1 for projects commencing in May, June, July, or August. To receive an application, call OIP at 612-624-5580, stop by 645 Heller Hall, or download the forms or apply online.
SZENT-GYÖRGYI FELLOWSHIP: Opportunity for researchers living outside of Hungary to conduct research at Hungarian universities. Open to researchers with a PhD in most fields. Program lasts up to 12 months and includes monthly stipend. Application deadline is April 26, 2002. Application and more information are available online.
University of Minnesota
International Campus Update
Vol. 3, No. 2
Office of International Programs
Assoc. Vice President: C. Eugene Allen
Editor: Jennifer Schulz
Interested persons may request to receive this newsletter as an e-mail update by contacting the editor at schul160@umn.edu or calling 612-624-0557.
The next issue will be sent in April. International Campus Update welcomes submissions. Please send items to be included to schul160@umn.edu or call 612-624-0557.