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Study abroad options expand
for Summer Break
By Laurel Jorgensen
The Daily Northwesterner,
London, 13 January 2004
China among new sites; program
pushes better awareness of cultural issues.
Students studying in Poland will
stay in Krakow, "the literature capital of Poland
and Eastern Europe in general," said Andrew Wachtel,
the founder of the program and the chairman of the Slavic
languages and literature department.
During their visit, participants
can choose from classes in economics, Polish-Jewish
relations or Polish culture, and visit historic locations
such as Auschwitz.
Amid sub-freezing temperatures,
some students already are thinking about Summer Break.
Students turning in applications to study abroad this
summer now can choose from 12 different programs, including
several new offerings.
A revamped program in London,
a site in Poland and a public heath program in China
are among the newest options.
Applications for all programs
-- including other trips to Thailand, Mali, Italy, France,
Croatia, the Czech Republic and Mexico -- are due by
Feb. 16 to the study abroad office.
Weekly information sessions about
summer study abroad are held at the Study Abroad Office
at 630 Dartmouth Place on Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 4:30
p.m. and Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
About 450 students study abroad
each year, according to the office.
Adding new programs could increase
the number of students participating, especially because
summer study abroad programs give students the opportunity
to travel abroad without interrupting their course schedule.
"I think academic-year programs
are wonderful, but the reality is that there are a lot
of students out there that can't squeeze it in,"
said Kelly Collins, assistant director of the summer
study abroad programs.
When the office decided to revive
the recently cut London program, the staff focused on
its academic content, she said.
"There are quite a few programs
run by other providers and universities that offer standard
British literature and history courses," Collins
said. "We thought it would be nice to do something
out of the ordinary."
The six-week program offers courses
in modern history and literature as well as English
theatre. Students also visit local destinations such
as Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Students studying in
Poland will stay in Krakow, "the literature capital
of Poland and Eastern Europe in general," said
Andrew Wachtel, the founder of the program and the chairman
of the Slavic languages and literature department. Wachtel
said he was confident the new program would generate
student interest.
"There's a reasonably
large contingent of students of Eastern European or
Jewish background who have wanted to go there for something,"
he said.
During their visit, participants
can choose from classes in economics, Polish-Jewish
relations or Polish culture, and visit historic locations
such as Auschwitz.
For the China program, students
can explore the Beijing region while studying health
issues such as the role of government in health care,
the organization of the health care system, environmental
health, addiction and violence.
The new program is part of a
campuswide initiative to increase awareness about international
public health, said Devora Grynspan, director of the
office of international program development.
"China offers a very interesting combination of
traditional and modern medicine," she said. "It's
very important for students to learn about how culture
shapes both the delivery of health and health policies."
Grynspan said educational offerings
such as the study abroad programs contribute a vital
component to a student's education.
"We live in a world where
the U.S. cannot be isolated," she said. "When
(students) graduate, they have to be ready to do anything.
If you are not aware and if you don't know how you fit
in internationally, you're not going to be successful
and not (going to) be able to make a real contribution."
Study Abroad Summer Programs
London, Thailand, France, Italy,
Mali, Croatia, Prague (Czech Republic), Krakow (Poland)
, Mexico City: Public Health, Mexico City: Mexico in
Transition, China: Public Health Program, China: Emerging
Legal and Economic Structures
-- Source : Study Abroad Office
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