CAMP Global

CAMP global is a new initiative started by Millersville University’s (MU) Office of International Programs and Services (IPS) in the hopes of achieving comprehensive internationalization on campus. CAMP Global takes faculty and staff through a multi-year journey that includes learning about IPS’ vision and values related to internationalization.

The first cohort, which launched in Spring 2019, saw 4 faculty members attending several meetings with the program leaders, Dr. Patriece Campbell, Director of International Programs and Dr. Jason Petula, Faculty Coordinator of Internationalization. The first year culminated in a visit to Kenya with the EDU Africa Organization. The first cohort included Dr. Karen Rice, Dr. Aaron Haines, Dr. Marion O’Sullivan, and Dr. Deborah Tamakloe.

As a part of the program, CAMP Global participants travel in order to observe the policies and processes of foreign universities and organizations which empowers them to integrate new ideas into MU’s own international programs. Site visits allow faculty to gain first-hand experiences to create new MU Guided programs.

To participate in CAMP Global, faculty members must agree to lead a trip abroad within one year of return, while staff members must identify and improve policies and processes in efforts to promote internationalization. Next summer, the first year cohort will lead programs to Tanzania and Kenya.

If you are interested in learning more about CAMP Global please contact Dr. Patriece Campbell Patriece.Campbell@millersville.edu  or Dr. Jason Petula Jason.Petula@millersville.edu.

 

Summer Study Abroad Highlights

Throughout the Summer Millersville University hosted several MU Guided trips abroad.  These trips allowed students to focus on specific areas of their studies and learn about the world, as well as the impact they can have on it, in a more hands-on way.  The countries that were featured this summer include Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Iceland, and an assortment of countries across Europe.

Each program made use of the country it took place in to make a significant connection between the student’s areas of study and the study abroad experience itself.  For example, students participating on the guided trip to Iceland completed a course on sustainability.  Being one of the most sustainable countries in the world (all of Iceland’s electrical energy is produced through renewable means!) all the trips and activities students participated in for this trip were related directly to their coursework.

Such an experience is indispensable and provides students with a new and much more realistic perspective of their studies.  Learning about emergency management is one thing, actively helping a town recover from a hurricane is another.  This was something students who traveled to Puerto Rico over the summer were able to do.  Likewise students enrolled in the music program at Millersville were able to travel across Europe and see the places where famous composers once lived, worked, and performed.

The faculty guided trips abroad this summer were very successful.  They provided a unique experience that will help students in their personal and professional lives for years to come.  Thank you to Dr. Jason Petula, Dr. Ximena Catepillan, Dr. Karen Rice, Dr. Christy Banks, and Dr. Len Litowitz for all your time and effort in making these programs so special for everyone involved!

If you are interested in leading your own trip abroad view resources on our website here.

CHEPD Graduation Ceremony

This summer, Dr. Daniel Wubah participated in the graduation ceremony for the Cooperation on Higher Education and Professional Development Program (CHEPD). Millersville University has been a member since 2015. The program sees the mobility of international students in dual-degree programs between China and the United States. The program was developed by  China Education Association for International Exchanges (CEAIE), China Center for International Educational Exchange (CCIEE), and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).

 

During the ceremony and conference, Dr. Wubah spoke on the importance of music and the arts at MU. He also participated on the President’s panel, discussing the future higher education collaborations between China and the U.S.

The program has so far seen 20 students come to study at Millersville over the past several years in Art & Design, Biology, Business Administration and others. Four Millersville students in the initial cohorts have  graduated from the program.

Higher Education with BNU

Millersville University just had the pleasure of hosting students from Beaconhouse National University (BNU) in Pakistan for a program focusing on higher education in the U.S.  Over the course of two weeks, BNU students attended classes on topics such as academic writing, research methods, and university application process.  They also toured several of Millersville University’s academic programs including science & engineering, and the arts.

Like other short-term international groups Millersville has hosted over the summer, BNU students also got to experience all the hot spots in PA and surrounding areas.  They explored downtown Lancaster on first Friday, experienced roller coasters in all their terrifying glory at Hershey park (apparently Pakistani amusement parks don’t compare), enjoyed a hallmark of American culture by watching a Barnstormers game, Listened to a concert in Lititz, toured the nation’s capital in Washington DC, and much more!

The BNU students are a fine group of men and women and their stay at Millersville passed by with great celerity.  Many of them hope to return to America for graduate school. Thanks for a great time BNU!

If you would like to learn more about Millersville’s English Language Institute and their short term programs read more HERE.

Summer 2019 with CCNU

The CCNU students are sporting the Millersville “We Are Global” t-shirt!

Undergraduate students from Central China Normal University came to Millersville University (MU) this summer to hone their English language skills.  These students, spent two weeks taking classes at Millersville’s English Language Institute (ELI) with instructor Mrs. Janet Purcell.

Academic classes, however, were only a part of the CCNU student’s US experience. Throughout the program students participated in various cultural trips to local sites in Pennsylvania and popular cities in surrounding states.  Some of these trips featured local attractions such as the MU ropes course, the scenic Chickies Rock vista, an Amish village tour, and a fourth of July outing in Lititz.  Outside of PA students toured museums in the US capital in Washington DC, and explored the buzzing metropolis of New York City, touring sites like Ellis Island and the Empire State building.  These fun excursions not only provided time for relaxation and sightseeing, they also immersed students in the English language and gave them the opportunity to learn about US culture firsthand. 

Both by way of formal classes with Mrs. Purcell and immersion in the language through fun trips and activities, students participating in this short-term program were able to learn and experience a lot in the short time they spent in the US.

Dr. Danial A. Wubah greets the students at their Farewell Dinner Reception.

If you would like to learn more about Millersville’s English Language Institute and their short term programs read more HERE.

Teaching in China: Summer 2019

This summer Traci Currie and Tiffany Diebold, two of Millersville University’s (MU) English Language Institute (ELI) instructors, traveled to Northeast Agricultural University in China to teach students enrolled in MU’s dual-degree program.  The dual-degree program allows students in partner schools around the world to complete a portion of their studies right here in Millersville, PA!  In order to prepare these students for MU classes which will be taught entirely in English, Traci and Tiffany spent their five weeks in Harbin working hard to improve the English language abilities of their class. This is an indispensable experience for Chinese students who are used to most classes being taught in their native language and classroom format.  Both inside and out of the classroom MU’s dual-degree students were able to practice their English with our ELI instructors and prepare themselves to make the most of their upcoming MU experience!

Check out some pictures of Traci, Tiffany, and their class in this video highlighting their five-week language learning adventure!

Teaching at NEAU Summer 2019

Two ELI instructors taught at Northeast Agricultural University in summer 2019. These are some pictures from their program.

IPS Office Has Moved

The Office of International Programs and Services (IPS) has moved! The IPS Office was previously located in both Cumberland House and Adams House.

Operations has expanded over the last few years and now include: study abroad programming and development, international student and international scholar services, international partnership management, the English Language Institute (ELI), and more! The IPS Office promotes a variety of activities, programs, and clubs and organizations that adhere to IPS’s mission of enriching the academic and cultural environment, and internationalizing Millersville University. Read more about IPS here.

Our new address is below. We look forward to serving you in our new location!

MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY
International Programs and Services
Lyle Hall 1st Floor, 40 Dilworth Road, Millersville, PA 17551

Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30AM – 4:30PM
Phone: 717-871-7506
Email: International@Millersville.edu

Office of International Programs and Services (IPS)

Office of International Programs and Services (IPS)

MU Guided: Capstone in Sweden

Dr. Jason Petula, Assistant Professor and Faculty Coordinator of Internationalization, led a group of students for an educational practicum experience in Stockholm, Sweden.

This program was geared towards students working on their Integrative STEM Education Methods (ISEM) minor and allows for students to implement their skills in different cultural context. Participants had the opportunity to work with both teachers and students at the Internationella Engelska Skolan (International English School), the largest free school organization at the compulsory level in Sweden.  The International English School organization is now officially partners with Millersville University, after building closer ties over international education for several years.

The ISEM minors traveled to Sweden during Winter 2019 for their capstone course.  But, they took the long way to Sweden.  After breakfast in Copenhagen, they arrived in Vilnius, Lithuania – taking in snowshoeing, a trek to Trakai Castle, and the Winter Market to celebrate Russian Christmas.  A bus ride brought them to Riga, Latvia to explore the old city and learn about the House of Blackheads.  Finally, they crossed the Baltic Sea, aboard a ferry, to Stockholm to begin their course at Internationella Engelska Skolan Nacka to rendezvous with their host families to begin their course.

 

Dr. David Teaches at Huaqiao University in China

The below article was written for the Fall/Winter 2018 Newsletter for Applied Engineering, Safety & Technology Department.

Ni Hao! Sad to say – my Chinese extends not far beyond “hello”, but thank goodness for Google Translate!  I needed it, having spent seven weeks last summer in the Peoples Republic of China – five as a visiting instructor and two more weeks touring.

The opportunity to teach in China came about through a cooperative exchange program between Millersville University, the China Center for International Educational Exchange, and host institutions in China. As the first MU faculty member to be offered a position through CCIEE, I traveled to China with little knowledge of what to expect and much anticipation. After a fourteen-hour flight to Beijing, and soon after, another three- hour flight south, I was within an hours drive to my final destination, Huaqiao University (HQU) in Quanzhou, the Fujian province. Up to this point, I had no direct contact or communication with anyone at the university. To my delight, upon arriving at the Xiamen airport, students greeted me with a welcome sign, big smiles, and fortunately, good command of English. These were my students. It was 1:00 pm, I was still jet lagged, and they informed me that we had class that evening at 6. But “you could cancel”, they said – I declined, and met the rest of my 32 students that evening.

The HQU campus and the cultural change were daunting at first. With a student assigned as my assistant to help me get settled, and another as my academic liaison, I quickly learned to navigate the HQU campus and academic policies and procedures. With an enrollment of about 23,000 students in undergraduate through doctoral level offerings, HQU is considered of medium size in China, and is rather self-contained. The campus offered multiple dining facilities each specializing in different, mostly Asian, cuisines. Shops of all types, a small supermarket, personal care establishments, coffee bistros, shoe and leather repair are all within the campus walls. Besides students, nearly all faculty, staff and administrators live on campus, most in rented apartments, with some privately owned. My campus apartment was spacious and a short walk to my classroom building. While I always believed MU to have a beautiful campus, and still do, the HQU campus was especially picturesque and manicured with lakes, pedestrian bridges, flowers, banyan, mango and jackfruit trees, many tranquil pathways and a hiking trail up and around the nearby mountain.

I was assigned to International Business department, teaching a required Production and Operations Management course to sophomores.  All IB students are required to speak English and many of their classes are taught in English. While there are similarities to my teaching experiences at MU, there were some differences as well – including a 10-minute break for every 50 minutes of instruction, sounded by loud bells. Other differences included the cameras in the front and back of classrooms rooms (I waved upon entering the room not knowing who, if anyone was watching), final exams that were vetted by “someone” in administration (two versions required for their analysis and they determine which to administer), a lectern remotely unlocked and locked for each class, and student seating that appeared to be straight out of Little House on the Prairie. Although I was not provided a course syllabus or even a course description, I was required to provide a detailed “teaching plan” to include daily objectives, lecture content, goals, review questions, homework, etc., and the class time I allotted for each. Students move through their program in cohorts so there is a close bond between them and they were not too different from my students here. They are glued to their smartphones and dress in clothing printed with English words, phrases and sports teams. One day I arrived to class and noticed a student was wearing a t-short with Pittsburgh emblazoned across the front.  I commented about it, and the student looked down at writing and said “Yeah, what is that?” I explained.

Technologically, China is a contradiction of old and new. Ancient structures shadowed by architecturally interesting new construction. Chinese currency, the Yuan, is used little as payment and often discouraged. Rather, the Chinese prefer payment by smartphone using the ubiquitous app WeChat. Even smallest of street vendors accepted WeChat payments that is essentially a Facebook PayPal type product. WeChat was also the means by which I communicated and shared teaching materials with students. Concerned at first about using WeChat for that purpose, I soon discovered that the administration sanctioned it and used it as well for University communication; there was no course management software. I also found WeChat convenient for keeping in touch with family in the US via its free video chat feature.

Traveling in China was surprisingly easy and felt safe, and the parks, museums and public spaces beautiful. My wife met me in Beijing after my stint at HQU. Wherever we went, the Chinese people were friendly and helpful.  I have many stories of strangers inviting me to join them for ceremonial tea, offering rides to my destinations, re-filling my water bottle, and more.  In Quanzhou, I found the bus system a convenient, inexpensive and reliable way to tour. While traversing the countryside, high-speed rail systems smoothly and comfortably carried passengers at speeds of over 300 km/h passing large cities unknown to me, with tall modern buildings and wide roads. In all, I toured five well-known cities Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Xiamen, Guilin, as well as the environs in and around Quanzhou, a non-touristy, small by Chinese standards, city of 8 million at the end of the ancient Silk Road.

I am grateful to Millersville University and my Chinese hosts for providing such an incredible opportunity. My understanding of China and its people is far different from what I expected, and I look forward to one day returning.

– Dr. Barry G. David

 

End of Semester Celebration – Fall 2018

The English Language Institute (ELI) celebrated students who graduated from the program this past week. It was also an end of semester send-off for other international students.The event also allowed the students to learn about major holidays in the U.S. and holiday customs, sing songs, and have a brunch together.

The ELI held a series of presentations by Level 3 students. The prompt for the presentations was “How would you make the ELI more welcoming for international students?” 4 students gave speeches on inspiration quotes, bonding through a campfire evening, sharing local customs and holidays, and brightening up physical spaces with real plants that the students would take care of. It was inspiring to see the students display their progress in language ability and confidence.

Two students who graduated the program this term are Yina Wang and Reem Abdulaziz Balfas. Congratulations!