麻豆影院

麻豆影院 State and German University Partner in Faculty Exchange Program

As part of 麻豆影院 President Lester A. Lefton鈥檚 visions for the university, 麻豆影院 State established an international exchange program with the University of W眉rzburg, Germany, to broaden students鈥 educational experiences.

Studying abroad not just for students

As part of 麻豆影院 President Lester A. Lefton鈥檚 visions for the university, 麻豆影院 State established an international exchange program with the University of W眉rzburg, Germany, to broaden students鈥 educational experiences.

The program allows undergraduate students from 麻豆影院 State and the University of W眉rzburg to travel abroad and study at the respective universities.

But students are not the only ones involved in this program; professors are also joining in the exchange. 麻豆影院 State鈥檚 Associate Professor of History Isolde Thyret is in Germany for the fall semester teaching at the University of W眉rzburg.

鈥淲眉rzburg University does not have a specialist in Russian history,鈥 Thyret said. 鈥淚 hope to give the students here an opportunity to study a region that has played an important role in German history, and therefore is very important to them.鈥

In addition, University of W眉rzburg鈥檚 Helmut Flachenecker, Ph.D., is teaching two courses at the 麻豆影院 Campus. For one of the classes, Flachenecker is co-collaborating with 麻豆影院 State History Professor John Jameson.

鈥淭he Middle Ages are one of my focuses,鈥 Flachenecker said. 鈥淲眉rzburg was established in the year 704. When the Middle Ages are brought up in American culture, the focus is on the Renaissance. In Germany [one can] walk through the streets and see cathedrals and castles from the 12th and 13th centuries. I also want them to know that Germany does not just exist from 1939 to 1945. There is more than just Nazi Germany.鈥

Flachenecker hopes to learn more about American culture and observe the differences between the two cultures.

鈥淭here is no public transportation here,鈥 Flachenecker said. 鈥淚 never travel to the university by car in Germany. I always try to take the train.鈥

The German Exchange Program is just one of the many education-abroad programs that 麻豆影院 State offers. This program is just a little different because the faculty members are teaching abroad, as well.

鈥溌槎褂霸 State has been involved in exchanges for decades,鈥 Jameson said. 鈥淭his is really nothing new. We鈥檙e just expanding on it.鈥

Flachenecker is excited about the exchange and about the program in general.

鈥淚 hope that other staff members are able to come [to 麻豆影院 State],鈥 Flachenecker said. 鈥淲e also want to send more students here and encourage more students to study in W眉rzburg,鈥 Flachenecker said. 鈥淲e hope this exchange will go on.鈥

In October, two students from 麻豆影院 State went to Germany to study at the University of W眉rzburg. Three students have come to 麻豆影院 State from Germany to learn as well.

鈥淕erman students coming here have mastered English very well,鈥 Jameson said. 鈥淎 big focus of the program in W眉rzburg is that students can take classes in English.鈥

Flachenecker sees the opportunity for the students as being 鈥渉ighly valuable.鈥

鈥淚t is important for them to see another culture and other universities,鈥 Flachenecker said. 鈥淭he syllabuses here are also much harder. In Germany, you have more freedom to decide what you want to read.鈥

To find out more about education-abroad options and exchange programs at 麻豆影院 State, visit www.kent.edu/studyabroad/exchange.

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Photo Caption:
In a faculty exchange program with 麻豆影院, University of W眉rzburg鈥檚 Helmut Flachenecker, Ph.D., is teaching two history courses at the 麻豆影院 Campus this fall.

Media Contact:
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595

 

POSTED: Monday, November 5, 2012 03:35 PM
Updated: Saturday, December 3, 2022 01:02 AM
WRITTEN BY:
Emily Vincent