KU News Release

KU honored for innovative study abroad program

LAWRENCE — A University of Kansas study abroad program that immerses education majors in Italian classrooms and culture has been honored as an outstanding international initiative.

The Institute for International Education recently awarded KU an Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education. Six universities and colleges were honored. KU shares the award with Clemson University for the Maymester Study Abroad in Carpi, Italy. Barbara A. Bradley, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction at KU, plans and coordinates the program.

“It is gratifying that the IIE rewarded our efforts in preparing teachers to develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions to engage in culturally and linguistically responsive teaching,” Bradley said. “This award also recognizes the value of our collaboration with Clemson University and the Victoria Language Centre and, most important, it honors the dedication and commitment of the teachers, families, children and communities in and around Carpi.”

The Carpi program is a four-week program for education majors involving 70 to 80 hours in an Italian classroom. Participants prepare lessons to assist Italian children in learning English and about American culture. Each student lives with a host family, further immersing them in Italian culture. In 2008, 39 students participated in the program. There have been 165 participants since its inception in 2000.

“By studying in a non-English speaking country, participants experience many of the same challenges that English-language learners face living, working and attending school in the United States,” Carpi program officials wrote in award nomination documents. “We have data suggesting that prior to our arrival, participants often believe that they will learn enough Italian during the study abroad to engage in conversations … but quickly realize that learning another language is difficult.”

KU ranks 11th in the nation for participation in study abroad programs among public research universities, according to “Open Doors 2008.” In short-term study abroad offerings, KU ranks 16th.

The Heiskell award program is in its eighth year. The awards were established to promote and honor the most outstanding initiatives being conducted in international higher education among Institute for International Education’s membership association of more than 1,000 institutions. The awards will be presented in a ceremony March 19 at the United Nations as part of the Institute for International Education’s fourth annual Best Practices Conference for campus professionals.

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