International Campus Update
International Campus Update is a monthly e-mail and online newsletter about international issues, events, and announcements at the University of Minnesota, compiled by the Office of International Programs.
Interested persons may request to receive this newsletter as an e-mail update:
International Campus Update welcomes submissions. Please send items to be included to the editor:
Jennifer Schulz
Phone: 612-624-0557
Email: schul160@umn.edu
October 21, 2009
International Campus Update is a monthly e-mail and online newsletter about international issues, events, and announcements at the University of Minnesota, compiled by the Office of International Programs.
In This Issue:
- Headlines
- Program News
- Professional Notes
- Study, Service Learning, Intern, Volunteer, Work, and Travel Abroad
- Funding Opportunities and Announcements
- Events
Headlines
NEW GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT GRANTS: The Office of International Programs, as part of its Global Spotlight initiative, is pleased to announce four all-University grant programs—two for faculty and two for graduate students:
- Major International Research Grants with a Focus on Africa or Water in the World
- International Collaborative Seed Grants with a Focus on Africa or Water in the World
- Doctoral Fellowships for International Research with a Focus on Africa or Water in the World
- OIP International Pre-Dissertation and Small Grants Competition for Doctoral Students
During this biennium, the focus of the faculty grants and one of the student grants is on the Global Spotlight themes of Africa or water in the world. For all awards, completed applications are due by noon on Monday, February 15, 2010. Awards will be announced by mid-April. (MORE)
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK 2009 is November 16-20. All departments, campuses, organizations, and student groups are encouraged to plan events that highlight the University's support of international education. In 2008, International Education Week at the University of Minnesota included almost 40 events, sponsored by a variety of colleges and departments. International Education Week was first declared by the U.S. Departments of State and Education in 2000 as part of their effort to encourage policies and programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study in the U.S. Organizers are encouraged to submit events to be included on the calendar. (MORE)
ALUMNUS NAMED AMBASSADOR: Sam Kaplan, University alumnus and attorney from Minneapolis, is the new U.S. ambassador to Morocco. He follows in the footsteps of a long line of Minnesotans who have served as ambassador, including Vice President Walter Mondale (Japan) and most recently Benson Whitney (Norway). Kaplan visited the University on September 9 to learn more about the University's many activities in and with Morocco. Another Minnesotan, Miguel Diaz, a Roman Catholic theologian from St. John's University and the College of St. Benedict, will serve as ambassador to the Vatican.
INTERNATIONAL ALUMNI AWARDS: Six international alumni have been awarded the University’s 2009 Distinguished Leadership Award for Internationals. The award honors alumni, former students, and friends of the University who have distinguished themselves in their post-university work as leaders in their professional careers. The recipients are Elijah Bitange Ndomo, Kenya (CSOM); Per-Harald Grue, Norway (CFANS/CBS); Muhammad Haj-Yahia, Israel (CEHD); Miki Horie, Japan (CEHD); Ajay Pandey, India (IT); and Eliana Sousa Silva, Brazil (HHH). The deadline for the next round of nominations will be in February 2010. (Read recipient bios and see photos)
MINNEAPOLIS-IRAQ SISTER CITY: The city of Minneapolis has formed a sister-city relationship with the city of Najaf, Iraq. A delegation from Najaf visited Minneapolis in September.
IN MEMORY: Nobel laureate and University alumnus Norman Borlaug died September 12. He is remembered as the “father of the green revolution” that brought modern farming techniques to developing countries in the 1960s and '70s. (MORE)
Program News
CENTER FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH ON LANGUAGE ACQUISITION (CARLA) has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Education's International Research and Studies Program that will provide professional development for teachers of four critical Asian languages. The grant, Asian Learner Language: Tools for Teachers, will total over $440,000 over the next three years and will begin in September 2009. CARLA director Elaine Tarone is the principal investigator of the grant. (MORE)
CHINA CENTER CELEBRATES 30 YEARS: The China Center will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Coffman Memorial Union. The keynote speech “America and China Working Together” will be given by former U.S. Congressman Mark Kennedy. Reservations are $40 per person and must be made by November 9. (MORE)
UNIVERSITY OFFICE IN BEIJING: The University will officially open its first international office in Beijing on October 22. The office will focus on undergraduate recruitment and alumni relations as well as offer services to University faculty, staff, and departments to support their work in China. Services include: use of meeting space, office support (such as copying, internet access, and cell phone usage), in-city arrangements and airport pickup, and translation. (MORE)
CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE: Joan Brzezinski has been named the director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Minnesota. Brzezinski served as acting director of the institute and previously as assistant director of the University's China Center.
FLAP FUNDING FOR IMMERSION: Foreign Language Assistance Program funding has been awarded to the Minnesota Mandarin Immersion Collaborative (MMIC), an association of four Mandarin immersion programs that will work in collaboration with several units at the University, including the Confucius Institute and the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA). The five-year grant will develop a K-12 Mandarin immersion program with a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curricular focus that will equip students with global literacy for effective participation in the world community.
GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT INITIATIVE:The OIP Global Spotlight Initiative sponsored two activities for incoming freshman during Welcome Week, one focused on the issue of water and one focused on Africa:
- Taking Responsibility for a Great River: More than 100 freshmen took a boat trip down the Mississippi River to learn more about the great river and become aware of how they can be good stewards of the river during their time at the University. Speaking to the students were representatives from the National Park Service, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the Gophers Ranger Program, the U’s sustainability initiatives, and the Institute on the Environment.
- Investing in Women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Bernadette Longo, a faculty member in the Department of Writing Studies, and Chingwell Mutombu, Founder of the First Step Initiative (FSI), led a session in which students were able to talk via Skype with women entrepreneurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo who have become involved with FSI, a Minneapolis-based non-profit organization providing micro-loans to help change lives. (Watch student video stories)
ISSS SHORT-TERM PROGRAMS: During summer 2009, International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) hosted three short-term programs from different regions of the world:
- Korea: In partnership with the College of Education and Human Development, ISSS hosted 21 secondary education teachers from Korea. Participants attended CARLA summer workshops and English courses provided by the Minnesota English Language Program.
- North Africa: 18 students from Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco and Libya participated in the Study of the United States Institute for Student Leaders. The goal was to heighten participants’ awareness of the history and evolution of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions.
- Norway: In collaboration with the College of Biological Sciences, ISSS hosted 12 undergraduate Norwegian students as they participated in the 2009 Summer Institute for Norwegians in the Sciences.
Professional Notes
J. BRIAN ATWOOD, dean of the Humphrey Institute, has been named president of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA). His two-year term began in June. APSIA member schools represent North America, Asia, and Europe.
MARÍA BREWER and DANIEL BREWER, faculty in the Department of French and Italian, have been named Chevaliers de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Knight of the Order of Academic Palms) by the French Ministry of Education. The award, which honors major contributions to French national education, was made at the Consulate General of France in Chicago on Ocober 16.
MEREDITH McQUAID, associate vice president and dean for international programs, has been elected a member-at-large of the board of directors of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The term begins January 1, 2010.
Study, Service Learning, Intern, Volunteer, Work, and Travel Abroad
NEW DIRECTOR: Martha Johnson was named director of the Learning Abroad Center in June. Johnson, the former associate director, replaces Al Balkcum who was director for more than 30 years. She has worked in education abroad since 1991 and has served in numerous leadership positions and task forces of international education organizations. (MORE)
NEW PROGRAM IN MOROCCO: The Learning Abroad Center this fall launched a new Arabic language and culture program in Fez, Morocco. The program is a partnership with the Arabic Language Institute in Fez, which is the preeminent institution in the Maghreb for the teaching of Arabic as a foreign language. Language classes range from beginning to advanced Modern Standard Arabic. (MORE)
PHOTO CONTEST: Entries are now being accepted for the 2009 International Photo Contest sponsored by Global Ambassadors, the student group for learning abroad alumni. Deadline is 4 p.m. on Wed., Oct. 30, 2009. Contest is open to University of Minnesota undergraduate and graduate students only (see COMPLETE RULES). Winning photos will be selected during International Education Week from Nov. 16 to 20. Winners will receive travel-related prizes. (See LAST YEAR'S WINNING PHOTOS)
FACULTY AND STAFF RECOGNITION: On September 16, more than 50 University faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the achievements of the more than 100 individuals who were engaged in activities that promoted and supported education abroad at the University of Minnesota during the 2008-09 academic year.
SPAN: Through Student Project for Amity among Nations, one of Minnesota's oldest study abroad programs, students travel abroad to conduct research on a self-chosen topic and build bridges of understanding across cultures and continents. SPAN is located at the University of Minnesota, but is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all of the state's colleges and universities. In summer 2010, students can research in Russia or South Korea. Applications are due November 9. (MORE)
Funding Opportunities and Announcements
CRITICAL LANGUAGE SCHOLARSHIPS: Six undergraduates and five graduate students from UMTC were awarded Critical Language Scholarships for language study abroad during summer 2009. The Department of State launched the scholarships in 2006 to increase opportunities for American students to study eleven critical-need languages overseas, including eight that are taught at UMTC: Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Russian, Turkish, and Urdu. Participants in the CLS Program are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period and apply their critical language skills in their future professional careers.
GILMAN: UMTC is one of the top schools in the number of students receiving Gilman International Scholarships during the Fall 2009/Academic Year 2009-2010 cycle. Six students received the award, which provides scholarships to U.S. undergraduates with financial need for study abroad, including students from diverse backgrounds and students going to non-traditional study abroad destinations.
VOLUNTEER SCHOLARSHIP: University of Minnesota student Tom Mitchell received a scholarship to volunteer abroad teaching English in Thailand this summer from World Endeavors, a study, volunteer, and intern abroad business. Mitchell taught English to children at the local village school in Wat Tan, Thailand. Mitchell is a Carlson School of Management student majoring in Human Resource Development, Youth Studies, and Educational Psychology with a minor in Chinese.
Events
MESTENHAUSER LECTURE SERIES: OIP is pleased to announce the creation of the Josef A. Mestenhauser Lecture Series on Internationalizing Higher Education. The annual lecture will provide an academic forum in which scholars from around the world will be invited to present thought-provoking scholarship on the internationalization of higher education. Appropriately, Dr. Mestenhauser, professor emeritus in the College of Education and Human Development, will be the featured speaker at the first lecture. Mestenhauser will present "Reflections on the past, present, and future of internationalizing higher education: Discovering opportunities to meet challenges" on October 28, 2 to 4 p.m. lecture and discussion, 4 to 5 p.m. reception, at the Cowles Auditorium and Atrium, Humphrey Center. This lecture is co-sponsored by the Organizational Leadership, Policy & Development in the College of Education and Human Development. RSVP by Oct. 26: nunnx016@umn.edu
CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE:
- The Confucius Institute is recognizing the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China with a photo display at the University International Center. (MORE)
- The Confucius Institute is presenting a performance of Peking and Kunqu Opera on Sunday, Nov. 1. “Highlights of Classical Chinese Theater” will include popular scenes from famous Peking and Kunqu Operas such as “At the Crossroads” and “The Peony Pavilion.” This is a rare opportunity to see Kunqu opera—designated a masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. (MORE)
Film Screenings: Oberlin-Inanda: The Life and Times of John L. Dube (2006) and
Cemetery Stories: A Rebel Missionary in South Africa (2009)
Oct. 28, 2009;
7:30 p.m. (one showing only)
Oak Street Cinema,
309 Oak St SE, Minneapolis
The story of John L. Dube, a remarkable educator, entrepreneur, and anti-apartheid politician, and his connections with the United States, is told in two 55-minute documentaries made by Malian director Chérif Keita, professor of French at Carleton College and author of Salif Keita: Ambassador of Malian Music. These films have never been shown in the Twin Cities. The director will introduce the films and answer questions afterward. Free and open to the public.
CARE International Gallery Walk
Nov. 9, 2009; 3:30-5:00 p.m.
101 University International Center (map)
The College of Education and Human Development is hosting 20 CARE International staff from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ghana, Honduras, India, Malawi, Mali, and Tanzania for a poster session on measuring and understanding impact of educational initiatives on girls and boys in marginalized communities. If you are interested in or currently do work in any of these countries, or want to learn more about education and development, CARE, or the U of M research partnership, come by the Gallery Walk and meet these international guests. RSVP by November 4: morga003@umn.edu (MORE)
2Tuesday Global Spotlight Series
The Circle of Eritrean Culture and Community through Digital Storytelling
Nov. 10, 2009; Noon-1:30 p.m.
101 University International Center (map)
Presenter: Walt Jacobs and Sophia Neguse, African American and African Studies.Two digital stories on Eritrean culture and community were produced as part of a fall 2008 U of M class on “Digital Storytelling in and with Communities of Color.” The presenters will discuss both the process and outcomes of making these digital stories and preview a new work in progress. The 2Tuesday Series is a monthly event to highlight University of Minnesota activities related to the Global Spotlight focus on Africa and/or Water in the World.
Events noted with the spotlight logo support the Global Spotlight initiative—a biennial focus on a region of the world and a pressing global issue. In 2009-2010, the focus will be on the continent of Africa and the issue of Water in the World. For more events or to include your event on the calendar, go to the Global Spotlight website.
University of Minnesota
International Campus Update
Vol. 10, No. 5
Office of International Programs
Associate Vice President and Dean: Meredith McQuaid
Editor: Jennifer Schulz
International Campus Update is produced monthly during the academic year. The next issue will be sent in early November. International Campus Update welcomes submissions. Please send items to be included by Wednesday, Oct. 28, to schul160@umn.edu or call 612-624-0557.