97-05-02 Trustees: Report on International Programs

COORDINATION TO STRENGTHEN OHIO STATE’S INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

     COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University’s international
programs are joining together to help prevent students from being
linguistically and culturally landlocked.  The university has
restructured its resources in order to build an academic canal to
other societies, languages and countries.

     “Ohio State is profoundly and variously embedded in the
international scene,” Kermit Hall, dean of the College of
Humanities, told the university’s Board of Trustees Friday (5/2).
However, variety had led to a diffusion of resources and energy.

     The solution is three new administrative entities to connect
and strengthen efforts.  They are the Oversight Committee on
International Affairs, the Office of International Studies and
the International Studies Council.

     Hall chairs the oversight committee, an umbrella
organization that provides direction to the office and council.
Its members are deans, faculty and Ohio business leaders with
interest or experience in international matters.

     “We want to prepare our students to live, learn and work in
an international environment,” Hall said.  It also wants to give
international efforts at the university a shot in the arm.

     Another goal is to give the Ohio economy a boost.  “Ohio
will be the supreme beneficiary of our new international
efforts,” Hall said.  Students who have experiences outside their
own cultures will be open to the idea of international business
and trade, which can only bring more jobs to Ohio, he said.

     The new Office of International Studies promotes cooperation
and collaboration among six area study centers, which focus on
specific geographic regions.  It oversees operations and enhances
administrative efficiency.  Richard Gunther, professor of
political science, is the executive director.

     Gunther also chairs the new International Studies Council,
which brings together directors of area study centers, plus
administrators of nine programs with international components.
The council helps faculty exchange information with students,
expand outreach efforts, and integrate international learning
into the curriculum, Gunther said.

     The three new entities report to Ed Ray, senior vice provost
for academic affairs.

     Students don’t need to go far from home to find other
cultures:  125 countries are represented on the central and five
regional campuses.  Plus, distinguished experts teach in Ohio
State classrooms.

     There are ample chances for travel, however.  Study abroad
efforts have blossomed in five years from 20 programs in 14
countries to 76 in 53 countries.

     Area studies centers conduct teaching and research on
Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, western Europe, Slavic
countries and eastern Europe, and East Asia, including Japan.
Nine other global programs are in international education and
business education, employment training, English as a second
language, foreign languages, agriculture, and an undergraduate
major.

     The Mershon Center offers peace and security studies.  And
the Midwest Universities Consortium for International Affairs
(MUCIA) links 10 of the United States’ largest public research
institutions.  In 55 countries, MUCIA provides technical
assistance, help with building institutions, and long- and short-
term training.

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Contacts: Kermit Hall, College of Humanities, (614) 292-1882 or
hall.409@osu.edu; Richard Gunther, Office of International
Studies, (614) 292-6266; Ed Ray, Office of Academic Affairs,
(614) 292-5881 or ray.1@osu.edu


[Submitted by: Von Vargas  (vargas.12@osu.edu)
               
Fri, 2 May 1997 16:27:12 -0400 (EDT)]
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