Office of International Programs

Office of International Programs

International Campus Update

April 12, 2004

Headlines

RWANDAN PRESIDENT: Rwandan President Paul Kagame will visit the Twin Cities and the University of Minnesota and will give a free lecture at Williams Arena, April 19, 10-11:30 a.m. Kagame will offer insights on how his nation is rebuilding on the 10th anniversary of one of the world's worst genocides. Attendees are encouraged to bring kindergarten through university-level books to be donated to Books for Africa for distribution in Rwanda. In May, the University Bookstores will again sponsor the “Book and a Buck” campaign to collect books and money for Books for Africa. (see also REMEMBERING RWANDA in Events section below)

BORLAUG DAY: The Minnesota State Legislature recently named Oct. 16 “Dr. Norman E. Borlaug World Food Prize Day.” Borlaug is a University alumnus who received the Nobel Prize in 1970 for his role in the “Green Revolution” to help solve starvation around the world.

PARENTS WANT FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION: “Education Week” reports a growing desire of parents to enroll preschool children in foreign language programs. Experts say children who know a foreign language will be more competitive in the job market.
COMPLETE ARTICLE: http://www.edweek.org/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=28Language.h23 (requires free registration)

SUMMER TRAVEL PLANNING: The Learning Abroad Center’s Travel Services (230 Heller Hall) offers travel advice and information, railpasses, passport applications, passport photos at the cheapest prices around, and discounted guidebooks. Services available to the entire University community. MORE: 612-626-9000 (International students and faculty: see TRAVEL WORKSHOPS below.)

Program News

CHINA DAY: 400 local high school students who are studying Mandarin Chinese will participate in the China Center’s annual China Day on April 23. The highlight of the day-long event will be a live videoconference with high school students in China.
MORE: chinactr@umn.edu or 612-624-1002

CROOKSTON: Crookston campus held its annual international dinner April 3 with foods from Ghana, Vietnam, Serbia, and Montenegro and entertainment planned by UMC international students.

CSOM INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS: Randal Zimmermann has been named director of the Carlson School’s Office of International Programs. He will oversee the school’s array of international programs, including the study abroad programs the school offers to its students as well as its offshore degree programs in Austria, Poland, and China. Zimmermann has worked with the University for 13 years including serving as associate director for the Center for Nations in Transition.

CURRICULUM INTEGRATION CONFERENCE: 400 people from 120 colleges, universities, and study abroad programs, mainly from the U.S., but also Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Mexico, and the U.K., will attend the “Internationalizing the Curriculum” study abroad curriculum integration conference April 15-17 at the Radisson Hotel Metrodome. Conference is organized by the University’s Learning Abroad Center.
MORE: http://www.umabroad.umn.edu/conference/

ALUMNI AWARD: Dr. Ismael Abu-Saad received the University's Outstanding Alumni Award April 1 for his extraordinary efforts in establishing educational opportunities for Bedouin students in Israel. He earned a Ph.D. in educational policy and administration in 1989 from the College of Education and Human Development.

INTERCULTURAL TRAINING: International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) will again conduct a 10-day intercultural training program August 7-16 for 140 faculty from Eurasia and Southeast Europe who participate in the State Department's Junior Faculty Development Program. The faculty, sponsored by American Councils of International Education: ACTR/ACCELS, participate in this orientation program prior to attending U.S. colleges and universities for one year of professional development. The training program was designed by Barbara Kappler and Thorunn Bjarnadottir of ISSS.

STUDENT ASSOCIATION EXCHANGE: Eric Dyer, president of the Minnesota Student Association, and seven other U of M students participated March 25 in a video conference on "Citizens Rights and National Interest" with student association members from the University of Lodz in Poland. The conversation was part of an agreement signed by MSA and Lodz to share ideas and programs between the two universities and came about with the initial inspiration of a Lodz student, Blazej Moder, who participated in a work abroad program in the Twin Cities last year. Moder worked with the U.S. Embassy in Poland to organize the technical aspects of the conference.

TRAINING FOR GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING: Training for Global Understanding sessions were a great success again this spring. International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) launched the training series last semester to help faculty and staff better understand the University's international community and learn specific strategies for crossing cultural barriers in meetings, classrooms, and service settings. Approximately 190 people from more than 20 departments participated in the trainings. The program received very positive feedback, and ISSS is planning to continue the training in fall 2004.

Professional Notes

EVELYN SCHERABON FIRCHOW: Evelyn Scherabon Firchow, professor, Department of German, Scandinavian and Dutch, spent 2002-03 as visiting professor at the University of Graz in Austria.

SUSAN JACKSON: Susan Jackson, IMER Coordinator, and medical student CALEB SCHULTZ attended the 13th Annual International Health Medical Education Consortium Conference, "Achieving sustainable health development: challenges and innovations in nutrition and maternal and child health," in Guatemala in March. Schultz was on a plenary panel and spoke about his recent experiences in Haiti establishing a patient tracking system for the Hospital Albert Schweitzer Emergency Department.

Study, Work, Intern, and Volunteer Abroad

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE SERIES: All events held in 110 Heller Hall. Sponsored by the Learning Abroad Center. MORE: tgcmktg@umn.edu or 612-626-9000

INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS — STUDYING ABROAD: April 21, 10 a.m. – noon, Coffman Memorial Union rooms 303 A, B, & C. All students are invited to meet with faculty who have led study abroad classes, meet with advisers who have visited campuses abroad, get inspired by other students who have already studied abroad, get info from the Learning Abroad Center, sample international food, and watch multicultural dance and music performances. Sponsored by General College Student Board, Minnesota Student Association, and the Learning Abroad Center.
MORE: 612-626-8952 or johns194@umn.edu

MAGGIE BJORKLUND —: a senior with a double major in Spanish studies and global studies and a minor in foreign studies — has received a Spring 2004 CLA Undergraduate Internship Grant. She is interning as a community development intern with the Foundation for Ecological Defense in Ecuador and will be working on community development and legal issues centered on the preservation of the Ecuadorian mangrove ecosystem. She is currently participating in the MSID Ecuador program offered through the Learning Abroad Center.

Funding Opportunities and Announcements

DUNN PEACE SCHOLARSHIPS: Three students have been awarded 2004 Dunn Peace Research Scholarships to support their research in the area of peace.
MORE: http://www.international.umn.edu/funding/student_funding/dunn/dunnpeace.html

JUDD FELLOWSHIPS: 21 master’s and professional students have been awarded fellowships through the 2004 Walter H. Judd International Graduate & Professional Fellowships. Students are from 11 colleges and will travel to 29 countries. The fellowships are designed to increase opportunities for master’s and professional students to study, undertake internships, and conduct research projects abroad. Funding is provided by a gift from the Walter H. Judd Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation and additional funds from the Office of International Programs and the Graduate School.
2004 FELLOWS: http://www.international.umn.edu/funding/student_funding/judd/fellows/current.html

LUCE FOUNDATION: Richard Hermes, a graduate student in creative writing, is one of 15 scholars nationwide to receive a Luce Scholarship for a professional internship experience in Asia. Hermes was a Judd Fellow in 2002 (see Judd above).

MEDICAL SCHOOL: Applications for the Neal and Sarah Gault International Study Awards, the Maynard and Elaine Jacobson Travel Award (Scandinavian countries), Karolinska Travel Award, and Maimonides Travel Award (Israel) are now being accepted. These awards are generally given to medical students taking an international elective abroad during their fourth year or the latter part of their third year. The amount of the awards is generally $1,200. Application deadlines are April 30 and December 31.
MORE: 612-625-7933 or http://www.meded.umn.edu/IMER/

Events

AFRICAN HISTORY WEEK: April 12-17, events include film festival, political forum, African game night, and more. Sponsored by the African Student Association.
MORE: http://www.asaumn.com/Calendars.html

AUSTRIAN STUDIES: “Relationships between Continental and Transatlantic Migration in the Late Hapsburg Monarchy” by Annemarie Steidl, University of Salzberg and visiting postdoctoral fellow at the U of M. April 15, 3:30 p.m., 710 Social Sciences.

CARLA LUNCHTIME PRESENTATIONS:

CHINA BUSINESS COLLOQUIUM: A China seminar for U.S. businesses, April 29, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Company, LLP, Minneapolis. Participants will learn the finer details and latest information on doing business in China from seasoned business experts and gain a better understanding of the role Chinese culture plays in making business decisions. Co-sponsored by the China Center.
REGISTER: http://www.chinacenter.umn.edu/seminar/

CHINESE TEA CEREMONY: May 7, 4:30-6:30 p.m., 1-123 Carlson School of Management, $5 (free for members). Event includes a traditional tea demonstration/tasting and a presentation on the health benefits of tea. Sponsored by China Center Friends.
RSVP: 612-624-1002

FESTIVAL OF NATIONS: Minnesota’s largest multi-ethnic event will be held April 29-May 2.
MORE: 651-647-0191 or http://www.festivalofnations.com

GLOBAL HEALTH FORUM 2004: "Global Health in Times of Crisis," April 17, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Holiday Inn Metrodome. Presented by the AHC Students' International Health Committee.
MORE: sihc@umn.edu

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GRADUATION CELEBRATION: All international undergraduate, professional, and graduate students graduating or completing a program from fall 2003 through the end of 2004 are invited to attend a celebration with ISSS and the Office of International Programs, May 13, 3:30-6 p.m., Humphrey Ballroom, Radisson Hotel Metrodome. Families, academic advisers, and friends are also invited. A short program will begin at 4:15 p.m. No reservation is necessary.

LANGUAGE IMMERSION CONFERENCE: Registration has begun for “Pathways to Bilingualism: Evolving Perspectives on Immersion Education,” October 21-23, Radisson Hotel Metrodome, Minneapolis. Sponsored by University’s Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA).
MORE: http://www.carla.umn.edu/conferences/immersion/

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: 22nd annual Minneapolis/St. Paul film festival runs through April 17.
MORE: 612-331-3134 or http://www.mnfilmarts.org/mspiff2004

ITALIAN AMERICAN FESTIVAL: “The Secret of the Talking Bird,” a musical based on a Sicilian fairy tale — directed by UMD Chancellor Martin, lyrics by theater faculty member Tom Isbell, and performed by UMD students--will premiere April 22 as part of the 2004 Italian American Festival in Duluth. The festival will include a jazz concert (Apr. 16), an art exhibit from Palermo (Apr. 22-June 15), the opera “La Traviata,” an academic conference (Apr. 29-May 1), and Italian-American heritage events (Apr. 30-May 1).
MORE: http://www.italiafest.us

QUESTIONING THE QUEEN: “Questioning the Queen: Isabel I of Castile 500 Years Later,” an interdisciplinary symposium, April 30-May 1, Mississippi Room, Coffman Memorial Union. All events (except concert) are free and open to the public.
MORE: http://spanport.cla.umn.edu/Conferences/Isabel%20Website/Isabel.htm

REMEMBERING RWANDA: “Remembering Rwanda: Preventing Renewed Violence: Healing, Reconciliation, and Forgiveness after Genocide” by Dr. Ervin Staub, University of Massachusetts-Amherst. April 13, 3-4:45, 1-123 Carlson School of Management.
MORE: http://www.chgs.umn.edu/Educational_Resources/Events/events.html

TRAVEL WORKSHOPS: International students, scholars, and staff are strongly encouraged to attend an ISSS travel workshop before making travel plans for the summer. Workshops are open to F, J, and H visa holders at the University. Registration is not required. MORE: 612-626-7100

  • Wednesday, April 14, 10:30 a.m., 101 Walter Library
  • Wednesday, April 21, 2:00 p.m., 110 Heller Hall
  • Tuesday, May 4, 2:30 p.m., 110 Heller Hall

University of Minnesota
International Campus Update
Vol. 5, No. 3

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 May. International Campus Update welcomes submissions. Please send items to be included to schul160@umn.edu or call 612-624-0557.