New International Agreement
Leads to Student Exchanges
Cal State Fullerton, the University of
Connecticut and two Brazilian universities developed student
exchange program. Faculty exchanges also are being planned.
May 19, 2005
By Pamela McLaren
Residents in states and countries where
there are beautiful coastlines know the value of those sandy
shores and pristine waters. That’s why four
universities have been working collaborating in an international
effort to bring a global outlook to their respective programs
in coastal marine management.
Cal State Fullerton, the University of Connecticut
and two Brazilian universities –Universidade Federal
Fluminense and Universidade Federal Da Paraiba – have
developed a student exchange program in which American and
Brazilian students will visit and attend courses with their
counterparts, as well as conduct research with faculty members.
Faculty exchanges also are being planned.
“Our goal is to create a joint effort
of educating students about the global implications of not
managing the development and use of our coastal seas and water
sheds,” said Steven Murray, a leading authority in marine
ecosystems who spearheaded this latest agreement for Cal State
Fullerton. The professor of biological science has received
more than $1 million in grants from several federal agencies,
including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“This dovetails with our mission of
creating a global outlook, and this agreement is definitely
a bidirectional one that ensures mutual benefits for all institutions,
faculty and students involved,” said Ray Young, associate
vice president for academic programs, who traveled to Brazil
in March.
Young stressed that the effort is a multi-departmental
one, noting that Ronald Harmon, professor of modern languages
and literates, was part of the March contingent to Brazil,
along with the study abroad director for the University of
Connecticut. Other CSUF faculty members involved in the effort
are Robert Voeks, professor of geography, and Linda Orozco,
professor of educational administration.
“We met with faculty members, examined
their facilities and had discussions with students,”
said Young of that March visit. “Their faculty members
are so interested in the arrangement because it gives them
the opportunity to share research, as well as opportunities
for their students to come to the United States and work with
American professors.”
In July, Murray and Voeks will visit the two
Brazilian universities to give seminars and explore opportunities
for establishing faculty collaborations.
In the fall, students from Brazil will travel
to California and Connecticut for study. American students
are expected to travel to Brazil in January.
“Our faculty can learn more about the
Brazilian culture and language,” added Young. “Working
with these Brazilian institutions has fabulous potential beyond
this effort. Their campus leaders have expressed an interest
in broadening our involvement into such fields as educational
administration, nursing and community health.”
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