I L L I N O I S S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y International Studies S U M M E R & F A L L 2 0 1 1 Spring 2011 N E W S L E T T E R July 7 MDI summer program begins July 31 Betsy Drillon set to retire August 15 international student orientation begins October 1 most applications for Spring 2012 Study Abroad due I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : New Study 2 Abroad Programs Summer 3 Development Training Program Japanese 4 Teachers in Training Boyd Scholarship Fully 6 Endowed Advisor to 6 Retire From the Director The International Studies and Programs Office (OISP) coordinates 77 overseas programs, including 36 two-way exchanges and 41 one-way study programs. Most programs are summer or semester-long programs and are open to students across different majors. Faculty exchange possibilities exist between Illinois State and universities in Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Illinois State University boasts a large number of international education opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and community members. These include study abroad programs, faculty exchanges, professional training courses, cultural programming and academic lectures and seminars. This newsletter edition highlights the work of OISP s Unit for International Linkages, which plays an active role in expanding the scope of international education on campus. Under the leadership of Professors T.Y. Wang and Issam Nassar, UIL is working to expand academic exchange programs with universities across the world. The unit also coordinates a popular weekly seminar series. I encourage you to read on and find out more about UIL and other exciting international education initiatives, then get actively involved in programs that Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Peru, Turkey, and Thailand. Those study abroad programs and faculty exchanges are an integral part of the University s longstanding commitment to international education. International education programs are maintained through formal agreements to exchange both students and faculty, pursue collaborative research and facilitate other interest and inspire you. It will open up a whole new world! Momar Ndiaye, Director, Office of International Studies and Programs Links to Universities Abroad Expand mutually beneficial projects between universities. OISP s Unit for International Linkages (UIL) is working to promote Illinois State s reputation throughout the world and expand the number of available exchange program options. The unit also organizes a popular international seminar series which offers a discussion forum on global issues to the campus and (Continued on page 2)
Students studying in Grenada, Spain participate in an excursion to Morocco. P A G E 2 ISU Students Abroad 112 in Fall 2010 187 in Spring 2011 260 in Summer 2011 103 in Fall 2011 New Study Abroad Programs The popularity of Study Abroad programs at Illinois State continues to grow. More and more students see the academic advantages and intellectual and personal enrichment that come from having an international education experience. Staff members in OISP s Study Abroad area have been very busy this semester promoting overseas study opportunities and advising students who are preparing to embark on programs in Europe, Asia, South America and Australia. Study Abroad staff members have already received more than 100 applications for fall 2011 programs. They are also processing 260 applications for summer programs. Short-term summer programs that feature language, history and culture studies continue to be strong favorites among Illinois State students. The Italian history and culture programs at La Scuola Lorenzo de Medici are excellent examples. That institution offers programs and study tours in Florence, Rome and Tuscania. New Study Abroad summer programs this year include an Eastern European theatre program in Prague, a European history tour and a family and consumer science program in France and Spain. This coming fall, Illinois State will send its first student to Beijing-Normal University for a Mandarin studies program. Fall will also see the first Illinois State students taking part in a criminal justice sciences program at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland, a business program at Waterford University in Ireland, and an internship program through Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Budapest, Hungary. Students also have the opportunity to study abroad at nearly 200 universities in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Canada through the National Student Exchange program. The program allows students to pay instate tuition to attend another institution for a semester or a full academic year. To learn more about Study Abroad and National Student Exchange programs available for students, visit internationalstudies.illino isstate.edu/ study_abroad_nse Students enjoy some free time at a new program site in The Netherlands. Links, continued... (Continued from page 1) local community. The Unit for International Linkages was established in 2005 and is directed by Politics and Government Professor T.Y. Wang, in collaboration with Associate Professor of History Issam Nassar. Since its inception, UIL has established and strengthened ties with universities in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and South America. Those ties have resulted in the establishment of new faculty and student exchange programs that have greatly enhanced international education opportunities at Illinois State and partner institutions in other nations. The benefits of study abroad extend beyond building students resumes, said Wang. It can expand their horizons because exchanges contribute to broadening the world understanding of those in the host cultures and those who come to visit. Likewise, faculty and staff who participate in international exchanges enjoy professional development experiences as they interact with inter- (Continued on page 3)
Summer Development Training Program Dozens of government and private sector officials from developing nations will be at Illinois State University July 7-30 to learn more about development project management. The training sessions, presented by OISP s Management Development International (MDI) program, support vital infrastructure work, public health initiatives, education programs and other development projects in nations across the globe. In order to meet the needs of nations working to improve the lives of citizens, the MDI programs focus on the effective implementation, management and evaluation of large-scale development projects, human resources management and the financial management of development projects. The classes are offered in both English and French and are taught by MDI staff members, Illinois State faculty and visiting scholars. The annual July training sessions typically attract 50 75 participants between the Anglophone and Francophone programs. Participants are primarily from African, Asian and Caribbean nations. MDI programs have shown steady growth since their inception in 2001. That growth can be directly attributed to MDI s responsiveness to real world development training needs, its flexible training programs and its experienced instructors. Courses consist of lecture and workshops that utilize computer applications and case studies. Participants put their course work skills into practice through individual class projects based on the needs of their home countries. The July training program also includes site visits to local government offices and businesses as well as cultural visits to Chicago, St. Louis and Springfield. Participants travel and training costs are paid by their home governments, sponsoring organizations and various international development agencies including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank. MDI also conducts independent study training sessions for individuals and small groups throughout the year, both on campus and in other nations. MDI staff members Alberto Pena, OISP associate director and MDI Anglophone coordinator, and Abdourahmane Thiam, MDI Francophone coordinator, also work throughout the year to market MDI programs, communicate with prospective participants and investigate opportunities to expand training session offerings overseas. For more information about the programs offered by MDI visit www.internationalstudies.il stu.edu/mdi P A G E 3 MDI training supports vital infrastructure work, public health initiatives, education programs and other development project in nations across the globe. (Continued from page 2) national professionals in their fields who offer different viewpoints. UIL is currently working on partnerships with two European universities. During May 2010, Wang and Rajeev Goel, a professor in the Department of Economics, visited the University of Passau in Germany. The two met with economics faculty (Continued on page 5) MDI faculty and participants discuss important development issues in Fall 2010.
P A G E 4 The homestay portion of the program is always a highlight for the students. it was especially important this year becuaseof the tragedy in Japan during the students visit here. Japanese Teachers in Training A group of 10 students from Hokkaido University of Education in Asahikawa, Japan spent four weeks in Bloomington-Normal during February and March learning about the American education system, enhancing their English language skills and experiencing life with American host families as part of Illinois State University s American Studies Program. The students, who are training to be teachers in Japan, visited District 87 and Unit 5 elementary and secondary schools to observe American teaching styles and to interact with American students. The Hokkaido students also attended language classes at the University s English Language Institute (ELI). Visits to cultural and historic sites in Chicago, Springfield and St. Louis were also part of the month-long experience. During their stay in Bloomington-Normal, the Hokkaido students lived with local host families. At the end of their time here, the students went home to profound changes in their native country. During their stay in Bloomington -Normal, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and a massive tsunami devastated a large area of central Japan, resulting in extensive damage and the death of thousands. Through phone calls, emails and social media messages, the students learned that their families were safe. The homestay portion of the program is always a highlight for the students, said OISP Associate Director Sarah Jome. I think it was especially important this year because of the tragedy in Japan during the students visit here. The students were able to contact their families and friends back home and they had the comfort of a home setting here during a very scary time. Students from Hokkaido University have been participating in the American Studies program since the 1990s. As part of an exchange program with Hokkaido University, American students travel to Japan every summer for a month-long study experience focused on education in a multicultural context. American Studies programs are also conducted during fall semesters for students from Paderborn University in Germany. The program for the German students focuses more heavily on American history, politics and culture. Homestays with local families are also an integral part of that program. Members of the ISU community who are interested in hosting students in their homes for these programs are encouraged to contact Sarah Jome at sjjome@ilstu.edu Students enjoy a meal with a host father.
P A G E 5 Links, continued... (Continued from page 3) members and university administrators as part of a site visit for an exchange program. The University of Passau is considered to be one of the best universities in Germany for the study of economics, law, and international cultural and business studies. A formal exchange agreement has been signed by both universities. Wang also accompanied School of Information Technology (ITK) Director Joaquin Vila and ITK Professor Tibor Gyires on an official visit to Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Hungary in June 2010. The delegation met with ELTE administrators to discuss internship opportunities for Illinois State students with companies in Budapest. ELTE, one of the oldest universities in Hungary, was established in 1635 and currently enrolls around 32,000 students. A memorandum of understanding was signed by administrators from both universities and a proposed internship agreement is currently in the signing process. In order to expand international education exchange opportunities with schools in the Middle East, Nassar visited Birzeit University in the West Bank this past December. The visit continued the discussion of a proposed exchange program that was initiated in 2007. An agreement is currently under negotiation. Birzeit University is the first institu- tion of higher education to be established in the Palestinian territories and offers a wide array of undergraduate and graduate programs. Officials from King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) in Thailand and Chungbuk National University in South Korea visited Illinois State during 2010 to tour the campus and meet with faculty members and University administrators. Proposed programs with those schools are currently under review. Work by UIL in recent years has also helped to facilitate academic exchange programs with Beijing Normal University, Tongji University in Shanghai and Universidad Nacional Tecnológica del Cono Sur de Lima and Universidad del Pacifico in Peru. The Unit for International Linkages also helps to connect international students and visiting scholars with the campus and surrounding community through a variety of academic and intercultural programming. The unit s most publicly visible work is the popular International Studies Seminar Series, a weekly speakers program that offers information on global politics, culture, arts and education. During the fall 2010 and spring 2011 semesters, Illinois State faculty members and visiting scholars spoke on a wide variety of topics including the current issues in Iraq, US- China relations, Cold War Drs. Wang and Nassar work together to promote ISU l i n k a g e s abroad. cinema in Germany, violence in Mexico, Islamic law in Egypt, battlefield experiences in Afghanistan and current political developments in Thailand. The seminars, cosponsored by the Women s and Gender Studies Program, attract an average of 30-50 students, faculty and community members each week. The objective of the International Seminar Series is to provide a forum to the campus community on international issues and concerns, Wang said. To attract an audience with diverse interests, the program intentionally invites speakers with various backgrounds, including actors, artists, journalists, historians, political scientists, sociologists, and US military personnel. The high attendance rate each week demonstrates the success of the program. For more information, visit the Unit for International Linkages webpage at www.internationalstudies.il stu.edu/ international_linkages or contact T.Y. Wang at tywang@ilstu.edu or Issam Nassar at irnassa@ilstu.edu The benefits of study abroad extend beyond building students resumes, said Wang. It can expand their horizons because exchanges contribute to broadening the world understanding of those in the host cultures and those who come to visit.
Illinois State University Office of International Studies & Programs Campus Box 6120 308 Fell Hall Normal, IL 61790-6120 Phone: 309-438-5276 Fax: 309-438-3987 E-mail: oisp@ilstu.edu www.internationalstudies.ilstu.edu Betsy Drillon, International Student Advisor, is set to retire after 31 years with the University. Betsy received her bachelor s degree from Illinois State where she also did graduate studies. She also worked in University Housing Services, the Music Department, the President s Office and the Undergraduate Studies Office prior to coming to the Office of International Studies and Programs in 1999. A retirement reception will be given in Betsy s honor in July (details are forthcoming). Boyd Scholarship Fully Endowed Thanks to donations by nearly 250 individuals and organizations, the Marilyn M. Boyd Memorial Scholarship for International Students has reached endowed status, ensuring that it will continue to support the educational goals of students from around the world. The scholarship was established in 2007 by Lisa and Benjamin Boyd in memory of their mother, Marilyn Boyd, who served as the program coordinator for Illinois State's International House program for almost 25 years until her death in 2007. The annual Boyd Memorial Scholarship is given to an outstanding International House student, with preference given to students from devel- oping countries worldwide or from emerging nations of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The first Boyd Memorial Scholarship was awarded during the spring semester of 2009 to Jaehun Lim of South Korea. Marilyn Boyd The second recipient of the Boyd Scholarship was Joanne Nayagam of Malaysia, who received the award in 2010. Nayagam is completing a Bachelor's degree in actuarial science and will graduate in this May. She is an active member of the United International Association registered student organization and the Actuarial Science Club, has served as Global Review president, an International Assistant, an I-House Ambassador, and has been involved with the International Friends community organization. Nayagam plans to return to Malaysia to work after graduation.