 |
Study Abroad Newsletter - December 2009
Upcoming Events and Deadlines
See http://www.muohio.edu/international/events.php for more information on upcoming events and deadlines, including times, locations and links for more information.
- Wednesday, December 9 and Saturday, December 12 - Study Abroad Pre-departure Orientation Session for spring 2010 students
- Thursday, December 10 - Last Study Abroad 101 session of the semester (they will continue in spring 2010).
- Monday, January 4 - Study abroad advisors will be back in the office following the holiday break.
- Sunday, January 24 -MUDEC (European Studies in Luxembourg) application deadline. For fall 2010 and spring 2011.
- Monday, February 1 - ISEP Exchange application deadline. Please contact Richard Menard well before this date if you plan to apply for a fall 2010 or academic year 2010-11 ISEP exchange.
- Wednesday, February 10 - NSEP Scholarship deadline. Please contact Richard Menard if you're interested in this scholarship.
If you are starting out your study abroad search, please attend one of our Study Abroad 101 Information Sessions. Dates and times can be found here.
Program Updates
- CEA updates:
- CEA is opening their eighth Global Campus in Shanghai, starting in summer 2010.
- Hint: If you're looking to study abroad in spring 2010 and you haven't applied yet, look at programs where you enroll in a university in the southern hemisphere (New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Botswana, Peru, Chile, Argentina, etc.). Most countries in the southern hemisphere are on a different calendar and their fall semester doesn't start until late January or early February, so they may accept applications as late as December!
Study Abroad Preparation Course
Are you planning on studying abroad in the future and want to know more about how to prepare for this life-changing experience? A new course has just been announced:
IDS 154, "Introduction to Concepts in Study Abroad: Intellectual and Practical Tools" will be offered this spring.
This 2 credit course will help students prepare for their exciting and transforming study abroad experience by providing conceptual and practical tools.
The class meets 3:20 – 4:35 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning February 15 in CUL 222. There is a limit of 20 students so register now!
A sample of learning activities and projects in the class will include:
- reflecting on personal, cultural, and professional reasons for studying abroad
- researching study abroad destinations
- learning about travel resources and skills
- learning about culture shock
- reflecting on American identity
For more information please contact Dr. Mary Jane Berman, Director, Center for American and World Cultures (bermanmj@muohio.edu).
Going it Alone: Testing and Gaining Independence
We have a wide range of study abroad programs at Miami for students from every field of study, for students with varying language levels and for students with varying levels of comfort in a foreign culture. Some students are looking for an opportunity to go out on their own and are looking for a very independent experience, while other students need more support or want to incorporate some of the comforts of home.
When you're going abroad, you'll never be completely alone. There will be other students who are in the same boat as you. But who will those students be?
If you're going on a Sponsored program like MUDEC, an FSB summer program or the faculty-led short-term programs, it's likely that the majority of the people participating in the program with you will be other Miami students. One advantage of going on a Sponsored program is that when you come back to campus after your study abroad experience, your program-mates will be here on campus with you. You might be in classes together or decide to room together based on the experiences you had abroad.
If you participate in an Exchange program like ISEP or one of the FSB exchanges, your classmates may be mainly local students from your host culture, and fellow exchange participants from around the world. Depending on the program, you might be one of very few Americans, but there will be other students from other countries who are going through similar experiences.
If you study abroad on a Co-Sponsored or Approved program, you'll be in a group with other American college students. Depending on the program, you might be the only Miami student, or there might be several others. These will be the students you meet at your orientation and who participate with you in the cultural activities and excursions provided by the program. Depending on the program and the arrangements you choose, you might also live with your fellow program members, take classes with them, do research with them and/or work on service-learning projects with them. Other programs integrate you into the local culture so that you only see your fellow Americans for special events and program-sponsored excursions.
Everyone has different interests and needs, and this is just one of the aspects of study abroad to take into account. Wherever you go, you'll meet interesting new people and be confronted by new ideas, values and experiences!
New Study Abroad Statistics Released
According to the IIE Open Doors report, a survey of international student and study abroad activity in the US, Miami is now ranked 23rd in terms of the percentage of students studying abroad. We're now up to 40% study abroad participation!
What does this increase mean to you? As Miami's numbers grow, more and more faculty members, staff and students become aware of study abroad and more paths are forged for future students, making it easier for the students who follow. Only about 1-2% of all US college students study abroad, so by joining those who do, you're setting yourself apart from the competition.
What's next? Miami hopes to increase study abroad participation to at least 50% and increase the length of these experiences so that at least 50% of students are studying abroad for a semester or a year. We also want to increase diversity in study abroad participation, get the word out to more students from underrepresented groups (males, Engineering and Science students, students from minority groups, students with disabilities) and make it easier for students to study in less-traveled destinations like the Middle East and Africa.
 In fall 2010, Dr Allan Winkler, Distinguished Professor of History and Director of the Humanities Center at Miami, will lead a one-time-only program to Kenya and Tanzania, which will be a joint program between Miami and Earlham College. The four courses that make up the program will be: History, Politics, and Cultures of Kenya and Tanzania; Wildlife Behavior and Conservation; Health and the Environment; and Kiswahili Language and Culture. The program will also fulfill the thematic sequence requirement.
The program will look at some of the diverse environments and cultures of these two African cultures. While both achieved in-dependence in the early 1960’s, Kenya moved in the direction of capitalism while Tanzania adopted socialism. Profound differences now exist between them economically and politically. These differences will provide a fascinating comparative experience and a deeper understanding of each country.
Throughout the program, students will live and study in an array of settings, such as game reserves, rural Maasai villages, cities, towns, and national parks. Living arrangements will include staying in hotels, camping, and living with families. Plans are underway for the new itinerary moving between Kenya and Tanzania. Among the sites likely to be chosen are: Usa River Tanzania for Kiswahili language instruction; Lamu Island Kenya for learning about Swahili culture; game parks and private game ranches in both Tanzania (Manyara and Tarangire) and Kenya (Masai Mara); an isolated Masai commu-nity in either Kenya or Tanzania; a small village near Lake Victoria Kenya; Iringa, a medium size town in Tanzania; and Nairobi, a large city and the the capital of Kenya.
If you're interested in learning more about this program, you can contact Dr Winkler at winkleam@muohio.edu or at 513-529-5132.
- For more information on study abroad programs in Africa, see the Programs page of our website.
This monthly newsletter is brought to you by the Office of International Education. Please remember: if you wish to subscribe, unsubscribe or read this issue online instead of through email, you can do so at
http://www.muohio.edu/international/sa-newsletter.php
|
|
