Global Studies Archive

Iraqi-American Universities Conference

Mr. Fred Clark; Dr. Hadi Al Khalil, DIrector, Iraqi Cultural Attaché, Embassy of the Republic

of Iraq; Dr. Michael Kryzanek; Dr. Jabbar Al-Obaidi

In February, Mr. Fred Clark, Executive Vice President for External Affairs; Dr. Michael Kryzanek, Executive Director of the Center for International Engagement; and Dr. Jabbar Al-Obaidi, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies, attended the Supporting Iraqi Education: Iraqi-American Universities Conference in Washington, D.C. While there, they met with representatives of the government of Iraq and Iraqi universities, continuing with BSU's mission to expand partnerships and establish ties with international universities. Mr. Clark signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) between BSU and their respective universities with Dr. Bahram Khorshid, President of Kirkuk University (pictured below left with Mr. Clark), and Dr. Akeel Abed Yaseen, President of the University of Kufa (pictured below right).

Trip Strengthens Ties to China

Drs. Howard London, Michael Kryzanek and Wing-kai To,

Tianamen Square Gate, Beijing

 

Posted on February 3, 2012 - Permalink

Three BSU delegates made a trip to China, where they strengthened ties and developed several new exchange programs with BSU's partner institutions in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
The delegates were Dr. Mike Kryzanek, director of global studies and executive director of international engagement, Dr. Howard London, provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Dr. Wing-Kai To, professor of history and coordinator of Asian Studies. First stop on the trip was Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU), followed by Shanghai Normal University (SHNU), then the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd).

"The mission [at BJTU] was to renegotiate BSU's partnership agreement," said Dr. Kryzanek. "We also finalized the details of a plan to bring twenty Jiaotong faculty members to BSU this summer for a month to enhance their English-language teaching strategies."

Dr. Kryzanek said the visitors will live on campus, take courses with BSU faculty and will also have the chance to visit cultural and historic sites in the region.

Next was a stop at SHNU, where the delegates continued to explore new academic programs for students and teachers. "We developed a new initiative in which prospective middle school teachers from Shanghai Normal will come here to examine how middle school teachers and principals conduct instruction and deliver their course work," said Dr. Kryzanek. "In addition, we're exploring with officials at Shanghai Normal the possibility of offering a 'two-plus-two' program in global management. Students there would spend their first two years at Shanghai Normal and then come to Bridgewater for two years to receive a joint degree."

Officials at SHNU also extended an invitation to BSU's management faculty to visit and teach at the university and conduct joint research.

HKIEd was the final stop of this journey, where the BSU delegation met with officials to discuss opportunities for new student exchanges and lay the groundwork for another "two-plus-two" program starting in 2013. During the trip, two BSU faculty members -- Dr. Mark Brenner and Dr. Jing Tan, both of the Department of Social Work -- joined the delegation in presenting papers at an international conference in Hong Kong titled Re-Emerging China, which was attended by scholars from throughout the region.

Overall, Dr. Kryzanek described the trip as a success. "We not only renegotiated existing partnerships, but we were able to develop new programs, which will significantly expand opportunities for Bridgewater students and those at the participating institutions to enhance their understanding of world cultures," he said. (David K. Wilson, '71, University Advancement)

 

Delegation from Shanghai Normal University visits BSU

from left: Limin Wang, exchange faculty, Yiming Gu, IT Director, and Tongke Ning, Finance Dept. Chairman, all of Shanghai Normal University; Provost Howard London, BSU; Xuncheng Mao, Dean, College of Finance, Shanghai Normal; Xiangrong (Sharon) Liu, Asst. Professor, and Peter Sietins, Chair, Dept. of Management, BSU; Xiong Shi, Vice Dean, College of Finance, Shanghai Normal.

 

Dean Xuncheng Mao and a delegation from the College of Finance of Shanghai Normal University visited BSU in October of 2011. During their visit, they met with Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Howard London, Dean of the Ricciardi College of Business Dr. Marian Extejt, faculty from the Asian Studies Program and the College of Business, and staff members of the CIE. Shanghai Normal University is an active student exchange partner with BSU.

Jordan Visit

In June, a delegation from Bridgewater State visited Jordan. Pictured above are Dr. Jabbar Al-Obaidi and Ms. Mary Delgado signing an agreement with Yarmouk University President Dr. Sultan Abu-Orabi. With Dr. Al-Obaidi, Ms. Delgado, and President Abu-Orabi are Bridgewater State University graduates Safaa Al-Smadi, Naveen Bani-Mehlm, and Hadell Al-Haddad, who are now teaching in Jordan.

Israel Visit

Vice President Ed Minnock, Provost and Vice President Howard London,

and President of Haifa University Aaron Ben-Ze'ev.

 

 

A delegation from Bridgewater State recently visited Haifa University in Israel to explore the ways in which the two universities can expand their partnership agreement. Pictured above are Vice President Ed Minnock, Provost and Vice President Howard London, and Haifa University President Aaron Ben-Ze'ev. As a result of the visit to Haifa University, Bridgewater State will move forward with a range of programs such as student study abroad, faculty exchanges, international conferences, and close collaboration in the areas of education, social work, and the sciences.

Cape Verde Visit

President Mohler-Faria meets with Cape Verdean Prime Minister José Maria Neves to discuss the

partnership between Bridgewater State and the University of Cape Verde.

 

In November, a delegation from Bridgewater State led by President Dana Mohler-Faria visited the African island nation of Cape Verde. Vice-Presidents Ed Minnock and Mike Gomes, Chief of Staff Bryan Baldwin, and Executive Director of the Center for International Engagement Mike Kryzanek were part of the delegation. The chief purpose of the visit was to determine the needs of the University of Cape Verde and how BSU could assist the University. During the visit Dr. Mohler-Faria visited with the Cape Verdean Prime Minister José Maria Neves and also spoke to students at the School of Business.

 

President Dana Mohler-Faria with three University of Cape Verde exchange students who

will be spending next semester at Bridgewater

 

Bangalore Visit

Dr. Ed Minnock, Dr. Uma Shama, Professor P. Balaram, and Dr. Michael Kryzanek

 

In October, Dr. Ed Minnock, Dr. Uma Shama, and Dr. Michael Kryzanek visited the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, India, in order to establish closer ties with this prestigious institution of science. They met with the Director, Professor P. Balaram, (pictured above), and other institute officials, who received proposals for new ties in the areas of joint research on transportation issues, student exchanges, and science curriculum development with great interest.

 

While in India, Dr. Kryzanek posted observations to the Enterprise blog, which can be found in the online archives of the Patriot Ledger. Click on the below link to read Dr. Kryzanek's observations.

 

Search - Quincy, MA - The Patriot Ledger

 

Last Modified: December 6, 2012