NIU Selected for 2012 India Initiative of the International Academic Partnership Program (IAPP)

NIU is one of eleven schools selected to participate in the 2012 India initiative of the International Academic Partnership Program (IAPP) through the Institute for International Education (IIE).  To learn more about this exclusive program, check out NIU Today here.

Heart of Hearing in Hong Kong

This summer audiology Professor King Chung led a study abroad program entitled Heart of Hearing to Hong Kong where they exchanged ideas with scholars and medical experts, provided free hearing tests to underserved residents and visited local landmarks.  To read more about this amazing program, please check out NIU Today here.

Twelfth Annual Parade of Flags

Nearly 500 local fifth graders will carry the international flags of over 200 nations during the Twelfth annual Parade of Flags, set to step off at 11:30 a.m. Friday, September 16, 2011, from the east side of Huskie Stadium.

Participants will march along Lucinda Avenue to the Martin Luther King Commons, where Dr. Deborah Pierce, Associate Provost of International Programs, and Daihee Cho, an NIU student in the Department of Accountancy will address the audience.    

“We hope the excitement of the Parade helps DeKalb area fifth graders open their minds to the world,” said Pierce.  “A global perspective holds so many opportunities for them, and the pathway to those opportunities can start right here at NIU.” 

The students, their teachers, chaperones and other parade participants will enjoy a pre-parade luncheon on the grass near the stadium (rain location is the Convocation Center).  

Also prior to the parade, participating students from DeKalb District 428 will have an opportunity to meet with NIU international students and study-abroad participants, to learn directly from the NIU students about other countries where they have lived. 

“Parade of Flags celebrates the partnership between NIU and District 428 as both organizations seek to prepare young people for the global marketplace of the 21^st century,” Pierce said. 

In the last academic year NIU enrolled students from nearly 90 nations, with India and China sending the largest numbers.  NIU also enrolls students from such nations as Nepal, Turkmenistan, Eritrea, Benin, and Saudi Arabia, demonstrating the great diversity of the international student body.

19th Annual Study Abroad Fair

The NIU Study Abroad Fair is back and better than ever!  This year's theme is "Get Some Mileage Out of Your Education!"

Come to the NIU Study Abroad Fair on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 for the chance to peruse all of the fabulous programs being offered to students during this academic year.

Are you interested in studying abroad but not sure where you want to go? Representatives from programs in 75 different countries will be at the fair to help you decide which program is right for you!

Many people aren't sure if they can afford to study abroad. Attend the Study Abroad Fair and talk with financial aid representatives who will show you how and where to get financial assistance to help get you on your way.

There will also be photos from this year's Study Abroad Photo Contest.  Be sure to stop by and vote for your favorite photo!  

So plan to stop by and "Get Some Mileage Out of Your Education!"  We look forward to seeing you on September 21!  

Click here for more information about the 2011 NIU Study Abroad Fair!

Viva España - Learn More About This Summer's Spanish Languge & Culture Program in Toledo, Spain

Northern Illinois University's Spanish Language and Culture Study Abroad Program in Toledo, Spain just wrapped up its summer 2011 session. This program, led by Nicholas Henriksen, a Foreign Languages & Literatures faculty member at NIU, gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the language and culture of Spain for 5 weeks. Participants earn academic credit in intermediate and advanced classes in Spanish language during the weekdays, and attend cultural and historical activities at night as well as during the weekends. Students on this program have the opportunity to explore Toledo, Spain, arguably the most important city in Medieval Spain. It is a place of rich cultural fusion, which makes it an captivating destination for students studying abroad. Aside from the language and culture, students enjoy the chance to meet other students from around the globe at the University of Castilla-La Mancha.



Toledo, Spain



To get an inside look at what life was like this summer on the NIU Spanish Language and Culture program, check out http://niuintoledo.blogspot.com/. You can see pictures and read first-hand descriptions from students who participated in the 2011 program. You can even follow a link on the blog to connect with students from this trip. ¡Qué bueno!

Summer 2011 Participants on the Spanish Language and Culture
in Toledo, Spain Study Abroad Program

Chair Strauss Stresses That All Are Global Ambassadors

At the March 24, 2011 Board of Trustees meeting, Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees Chair Marc Strauss shared an experience that showed NIU is truly an international institution and that that all those connected with NIU are global ambassadors.  As per his statement below, taken from the March 24, 2011, Minutes of the Board of Trustees, no matter where one is, if he or she is wearing or carrying the NIU logo, the NIU brand is represented.  NIU's international presence is growing, and we all need to be good ambassadors for our institution. 

"Last weekend, I had an experience I want to share with you this morning, Chair Strauss said.  On my back back from a trip overseas, I changed planes in Frankfurt, Germany.  I was wearing an NIU polo shirt with a Huskie on it, and I was recognized by a group of NIU students who spent their spring break in Poland and were returning to NIU.  They saw my NIU shirt and quickly identified that I had a relationship with the university, but did not have a clue who I was.  Later, while waiting in the immigration line on that same trip, I was asked twice about NIU - once by the gentleman standing between me and reentry to the country, who asked whether I was a football coach.  So here was someone else who recognized an NIU affiliation.  These exchanges, albeit brief, proved to be a reminder of our NIU brand, not only to our region, but to the world over.  Our brand is much more than a logo or a tagline.  It is NIU - our students, our alums, our faculty, our staff and our community.  We are truly all ambassadors for the institution, and it was brought home vividly to me over the last weekend."

Matthew Robert Jagel Receives U.S. Student Fulbright Award for 2011-12





The Institute of International Education has announced that NIU doctoral student Matthew Jagel has received a Student Fulbright Fellowship for the academic year 2011/2012.  A student in NIU’s Department of History, Matt will be conducting research in Cambodia during his fellowship year. His research focuses on the story of Son Ngoc Thanh, one of Cambodia’s modern heroes, as the centerpiece of a broader study of the US-Khmer relations.  Matt hopes his research and project will result in a better understanding of the geopolitical considerations that influenced American foreign policy in Southeast Asia and provide a glimpse into the characters that attempted to steer an independent Cambodia.

The U.S. Student Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and is coordinated in the U.S by the Institute of International Education.  The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for U.S. graduating college seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study, conduct research abroad or be an English teaching assistant for one academic year. 

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers three kinds of grants:  study/research, English Teaching Assistantships (ETAs) and travel-only grants. 

In recent years NIU students have been quite competitive in this prestigious competition, so Matt Jagel is following in the footsteps of some outstanding Huskies as he begins his Fulbright year in Cambodia. 

Applications for the 2012-2013 grants are now open, and the NIU campus deadline is September 23, 2011.  For more information contact Dr. Deborah Pierce at 815-753-1989 or via e-mail dpierce@niu.edu .

College of Education Alumus Teaching in China

Ryan Hart, a 2006 graduate of Northern Illinois University's Elementary Education program, is teaching at the Beijing World Youth Academy in China.  To read about Ryan's reflections on his experience as an American living and working in Beijing, click here and you will be directed to the NIU College of Education's interview with Ryan. 

Call for 2012 Phi Beta Delta Calendar Photo Submissions

The Zeta Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Delta at Northern Illinois University is calling for photo submissions for its 2012 calendar. Deadline for submissions is 4:30 p.m. on July 1, 2011.

Students who have returned from study abroad or international students enrolled at NIU may participate in the photo contest for the Phi Beta Delta calendar.  Students should email their three (3) best photos from their study abroad experience (study abroad students) or from their home country (international students) to niuabroad@niu.edu.  (Please note that this is an email inbox.  If files are large, please send them in separate emails.)  Additionally, a CD or flash drive can be dropped off at the Study Abroad Office, Williston Hall 417. 

Students should include captions for each photo to identify what is in the photo, as well as where it was taken.  Students are also asked to include how they would like their names to appear when receiving credit for the photograph.

Once all photo submissions have been received, the photos will be reviewed and selected for inclusion in the calendar by the Phi Beta Delta calendar committee members.  Winners will be notified via email.
 

2011 Phi Beta Calendar Photos

Please note that all photos become the property of the Division of International Programs and the Zeta Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Delta at NIU.  By entering this contest, students agree to the use of their photos on any or all International Programs websites, print advertising, flyers, posters, handouts, PowerPoint presentations, or any other use that International Programs' departments deem appropriate.  The Division of International Programs will identify the person who submitted any photo when it is used.

For questions concerning the Phi Beta Delta calendar photo contest, please contact the Study Abroad Office at 815-753-0700 or the International Student and Faculty Office at 815-753-1346.

NIU to Receive Donation of Rizal Manuscripts

Dr. Jose P. Rizal

In celebration of the sesquicentennial of Dr. Jose P. Rizal's birth, Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim of the Consulate General of the Philippines Chicago will donate copies of the original manuscripts of two of Dr. Rizal's famous novels to Northern Illinois University on Friday, May 6, 2011.  The novels Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) and El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed), published by the National Historical Institute of the Philippines, will be dedicated as tokens for the Chicago celebration of Dr. Rizal's 150th birth in an effort to propagate, enlighten, and increase the awareness of the public about Rizal's literature, not only to the Filipino American community, but also to the broader American audience.  The Consulate will also be holding yearlong activities, including art exhibits, workshops, cultural presentations, film showings, storytelling sessions, lectures series, and book discussions about Dr. Rizal's life, work, and famous novels in different venues around Chicagoland. 

NIU was chosen for this honor for various reasons, including being the home of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, one of only seven Title VI Southeast Asian National Resource Centers in the United States.  Additionally, the NIU University Libraries are home to the Don V. Hart Southeast Asia Collection, an impressive collection of Southeast Asia related materials, such as original manuscripts, field notes, photo albums, original art work, rare books, large and expensive folios, and palm-leaf manuscripts. "NIU has a thriving Asian community, which is vital to the university's global initiatives," said Lina Ong, Director of the International Training Office at NIU. NIU has also hosted the Philippine Youth Leadership Program, sponsored by the U.S State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, for the last eight years.  "The generous donation from the Philippine Consulate General of copies of the original manuscripts of the famous novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo will further boost the rich resources available to NIU's Southeast Asian, and in particular, Philippine, programs, " said Ong.

Original Cover of Noli Me Tangere

Jose Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines and is considered the greatest symbol of Filipino nationalism. With hopes of securing political and social reforms for his country and to educate his countrymen, he published several works with highly nationalistic and revolutionary tendencies.  Two of those works are being donated to NIU.  In March 1887, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not), a satirical novel exposing the arrogance and despotism of the Spanish clergy, was published in Berlin, and on September 18, 1891, El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed), a more revolutionary and tragic sequel to Noli Me Tange, was printed in Ghent. Because of his fearless exposures of the injustices committed by the civil and clerical officials, Rizal provoked the animosity of those in power. This made him troublesome to the Spanish officials of the Philippines.

When the Philippine Revolution started on August 26, 1896, he became a target of those in power.  He was arrested and charged with rebellion, sedition, and illegal organization.  He was convicted of all three after a mock trial during which he was not allowed to confront any witnesses. He was imprisoned in Fort Santiago in Manila from November 3, 1896, until his death on December 30, 1896, via gunshot at Bagumbayan Field.

NIU Hosts 8th Year of Philippine Youth Leadership Program

PYLP 8 Participants in Manila

Northern Illinois University is hosting a five-week institute from April 16 to May 21, 2011, for 22 Muslim and non-Muslim Filipino students and 4 adult leaders from the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and surrounding areas.  This institute, or exchange program, is funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and has been since 2002.  The exchange program's goal is to transmit knowledge and build action strategies among participants related to the following themes: civic education, leadership development, respect for diversity, inter-ethnic cooperation, volunteerism and community engagement.  By drawing on the example of civic society and diversity in the United States and by understanding the larger regional context in which contemporary conflicts in Mindanao exist, participants will acquire new perspectives to support future grassroots efforts to build closer cooperation and understanding among the different cultural, religious, and political groups in the southern Philippines.  This project is undertaken in partnership with the International Visitors Program-Philippines Alumni Foundation, Inc. (IVP-PHILS), and builds on the Philippine expertise of the major project supervisors.  Together with our partner organization, NIU is currently running the eighth year of the Philippine Youth Leadership Program. 

PYLP 8 Participants at NIU

PYLP year 8 is comprised of 22 third-year high school and first year college students, aged 15-17 years, and 4 adult leaders.  They were selected from all geographic parts of the ARMM and nearby areas in an open, merit-based recruitment strategy.  Through a range of formal and informal interactive learning workshops and site visits, the NIU-based institute will focus on advancing four general goals:  1) facilitating a dialogue and promoting greater mutual understanding and respect between Muslim and non-Muslim youth from the ARMM and surrounding provinces; 2) creating, educating and empowering a new generation of young leaders with a strong sense of civic responsibility and commitment to community development and meaningful social change; 3) increasing their understanding of American institutions that support ethnic diversity and religious pluralism; and 4) promoting a better overall understanding of the United States—its people, culture, values, civic institutions, and varieties of leadership.  

PYLP 8 Participants after the Official NIU Welcome Luncheon

The participants will attend sessions at NIU, Chicago and its suburbs, and Washington, D.C.   Dr. Susan Russell, Professor of Anthropology and Dr. Lina Ong, Director of the International Training Office, are co-directors of this program.            



Associate Director of International Admissions Attends Educational Trade Mission to Indonesia and Vietnam

Sim Chin

Northern Illinois University was represented during the first educational trade mission to Indonesia and Vietnam with Francisco J. Sanchez, the U.S. undersecretary of commerce for international trade.  Sim Chin, Associate Director of International Admissions, represented NIU on this fact-finding mission for potential students and educators that took place from April 2 through April 8, 2011. 

More information on Sim's historical mission can be found in NIU Today.

Study Abroad Travel Grants Available for Summer

Northern Illinois University students looking for money to go on study abroad have some special opportunities this summer.

Engineering Students in China

The Office of the Provost is offering a minimum of $20,000 in travel grants for summer 2011 study abroad programs.  The Provost's Travel Grant for Study Abroad will award grants in amounts between $200 and $1,000 to students who enroll in summer 2011 study abroad programs for credit through the NIU Study Abroad Office.

NIU Students at Oriel College, Oxford

An additional $675 from the Zeta Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Delta has been added to the total  pool that is available.  These additional funds were obtained from the sale of 2011 calendars filled with stunning images from around the world taken by NIU study abroad students.  The Zeta Gamma Chapter is in the planning stages for the 2012 calendar.

Students may obtain applications for the Travel Grant from the Study Abroad Office and will be accepted through May 6, 2011.  For more information about the Travel Grant or about Phi Beta Delta calendars, please contact Pamela Rosenberg in the Division of International Programs at prosenberg@niu.edu or 815-753-9530.

Student Fulbright Workshop to be Hosted by International Programs

The Division of International Programs at Northern Illinois University will host a Student Fulbright Workshop on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the University Suite of the Holmes Student Center.  At the workshop, Megan Spillman, a representative from the Midwest Regional Center of the Institute of International Education, will give a presentation on the Student Fulbright Program and answer questions.

The Student Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and is coordinated in the United States by the Institute of International Education.  This is a highly competitive program that provides funding for students to study, research, or teach abroad at the post-baccalaureate or graduate level worldwide.

Melissa Shalter

Brandi Smith

NIU has a history of success in the Student Fulbright competition.  Last year, two NIU graduates were awarded Fulbright grants to Austria.  Brandi Smith of Chicago was awarded a grant to conduct research and be a teaching assistant in Vienna, Austria.  Melissa Shalter of Ottawa received an English teaching assistant grant.  Past NIU Fulbright students have characterized the program as "...a tremendously productive and fulfilling experience." and "...the culmination of a lifelong dream."  The prestige of the fellowship program is recognized worldwide.

The program was established in 1946 by the U.S. Congress to "enable the government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries."  after Senator William J. Fulbright introduced a bill in the U.S. Congress in 1945 that called for the use of surplus war property to fund the "promotion of international good will through the exchange of students in the fields of education, culture, and science."

For more information about the Student Fulbright Workshop, please contact Sara Clayton in the Division of International Program at sclayton@niu.edu or 815-753-9526.



Scholarly Conference Support Offered by Zeta Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Delta

 

Scholarly conference support is being offered to graduate student members of the Zeta Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta at Northern Illinois University.  A total of $675 is available to support graudate student members who will present, or who have presented, papers on international topics at scholarly conferences.  Conference dates must take place between January 1 and December 31, 2011.  Applications can be obtained from the NIU Phi Beta Delta website or from Pamela Rosenberg in the Division of International Programs.  Deadline for submission is May 1, 2011.




Images from 2011 Calendar



Funds for the conference support were derived from the sale of 2011 calendars filled with stunning images from around the world taken by NIU study abroad students.  The Zeta Gamma Chapter is in the planning stages for the 2012 calendar.  For more information about the scholarly conference support or on the 2012 calendar, please contact Pamela Rosenberg at prosenberg@niu.edu or 815-753-9530.

International Programs Business Manager wins National Award



Pam Rosenberg

At its annual conference March 31 – April 1, Phi Beta Delta, the Honor Society for International Scholars, will present its 2011 Edward S. Blankenship Outstanding Staff Award to Pamela K. Rosenberg, Business Manager for the Division of International Programs and Treasurer of Zeta Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Delta. 

The Blankenship Award recognizes outstanding leadership and support of the development and activities of a local chapter of Phi Beta Delta. As Treasurer of NIU’s Chapter, which was founded on November 18, 2004, Rosenberg has been instrumental in maintaining a very high level of continuing support from NIU faculty, staff and students inducted into the Chapter.  

Pam with the PYLP Group

“Pam’s outstanding performance as our Chapter Treasurer has greatly facilitated the development and growth of Zeta Gamma Chapter,” noted Deb Pierce, Associate Provost for International Programs, who nominated Rosenberg for this national recognition.  “To her business acumen she adds a passionate dedication to the goals of international education and to those of Phi Beta Delta.” 

Anne Seitzinger, Director of Study Abroad, and Sara Clayton, Administrative Assistant, also appreciate Rosenberg’s leadership in insuring the financial viability of Zeta Gamma Chapter.  “She welcomes any challenge and has the capacity to go above and beyond in dealing with everything from finances, policies, and customer service to new initiatives, projects, and more.”  

Pam and PYLP Group

With a strong base of continuing members and with excellent faculty leadership, including current Chapter President Christopher M. Jones, Chair of the Department of Political Science, Zeta Gamma Chapter has twice been named “Outstanding Midwest Regional Chapter” of the international society. “Membership in Phi Beta Delta is an excellent way to recognize NIU faculty, staff, and students engaged in international education and a superb conduit to promote global understanding across the university community,” said Jones.


Dancing with PYLP Group



Study Abroad Program Director Jeffrey Chown named 2011 Board of Trustees Professor

Northern Illinois University has named Jeffrey Chown one of three 2011 Board of Trustees Professors—an honor that recognizes international prominence in research as well as excellence in all facets of teaching.

Professor Chown is the founder of NIU’s Media and Culture program in Ireland.  The program was founded in 1991 and is the result of an ongoing institutional relationship between NIU Departments of Communication and English and Dublin City University.  The program is coordinated by the NIU Study Abroad Office.

For more information regarding Professor Chown and the Board of Trustees Professor award, please see the NIU Today.

School of Music Forges Partnerships in Costa Rica

The NIU School of Music recently began partnerships with two universities in Costa Rica.  Working with La UNED, Universidad Nactional de Educatión a Distancia, and The Instituto Nacional de Música, School of Music Director Paul Bauer, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts Rich Holly, School of Music Professor Robert Chappell, and School of Music Technician Dan Nichols traveled to San Jose, Costa Rica March 11 to 16 and demonstrated the use of Internet2 technology to administrators, faculty, and staff of the two institutions. 

The culmination of the weeks' meetings and events was a real-time, high-definition master class presented through Internet2 technology.  Professor Rodrigo Villanueva, from the School of Music in DeKalb appeared on a 50 inch monitor in San Jose and provided instruction to an audience of more than 20 students from Instituto Nacional de Música. The master class was hosted at a studio in the headquarters of La UNED. 

The School of Music brought five backpacks to San Jose, each filled with one laptop, two microphones, a small speaker bar, and various cables in order to demonstrate how inexpensively it is possible to access Internet2 technology.  At the conclusion of their visit, the School of Music left one of the backpacks with Instituto Nacional de Música so the School of Music can continue to provide master classes and private lessons to students there.