Ohio State ranked a top university for international students

OSU students also studying abroad in record numbers

The Ohio State University ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities for the number of students studying abroad and for its international student enrollment, according to a national report released in November.

Ohio State is ranked 10th among the nation’s research institutions with 1,858 students studying abroad and 12th among all U.S. universities in hosting international students, with a total of 4,345* students representing 113 nations.

These findings were issued as part of the Open Doors 2007 report, an annual survey published by the Institute of International Education. It is the first time that Ohio State’s Study Abroad program has made the top 10 list.

Ohio State also ranked 6th nationally among research institutions with 955 students studying abroad for at least one quarter or more. The most popular destinations for Ohio State students to study abroad include: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, China and Brazil.

International students at Ohio State are from 113 different countries including, China (806); Korea (687); India (673); Taiwan (232); and Japan (101).

The data presented in the annual Open Doors report are obtained each year through surveys sent to over 2,800 accredited U.S. institutions.

*The IIE number does not match Ohio State’s reported international enrollment for 2006 of 3,650. The IIE definition of international students expands on Ohio State’s and includes two categories of students who are not currently enrolled in classes for credit. They include “Optional Practical Training” students who are not currently taking classes, but are continuing their education through practical training in their field of study; and other non-degree students such as those pursuing Intensive English education.

Study Abroad: Plenty of opportunity to study abroad in Spanish-speaking countries

Fernando Unzueta

Students are in luck if they want to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. Ohio State offers more than 20 programs to study a wide variety of disciplines in Argentina, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico and Spain. Why so many? “We stick with it,” said Rachel Sanabria, an academic advisor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. “If we run into a wall, we turn the corner. We have the staff and desire to persevere.”

The department has helped develop different models of study abroad programs that include short-term to quarter-to-year-long stays as well as exchange programs. From a service learning program in Montaña de Luz to a health and nutrition program in the Dominican Republic to a Spanish language and culture program in Granada, there is a something for everyone. Two of its long-standing programs include UDLA in Puebla, Mexico, Toledo, Spain and Quito, Ecuador.

“If something is not working well, we try to fix it, said Fernando Unzueta, associate professor and chair of the Spanish and Portuguese Department. “We revise the curriculum, visit with faculty, seek better and less expensive options. We try to change the program so that it will be more appealing.”

Unzueta believes the success of these study abroad programs can be attributed to collaborating with other faculty members and departments. With so many Ohio State students having double and even triple majors, the interdisciplinary approach to developing study abroad programs has worked best.

 “It is a self feeding giant,” Unzueta said. “The goal is to offer a large menu of offerings of high quality that are not so expensive so that a greater number of our students and OSU students at large can take advantage of studying abroad.”

The department also offers study abroad experiences to teachers from around the country, which also has helped Ohio State develop partnerships with other universities and provide more programs for students.

And if students are majoring in either Spanish or Portuguese, it is required that they study abroad or take a course that immerses the students in the Hispanic community in central Ohio.

A large percentage of Spanish and Portuguese majors study abroad, and more than 50 percent study abroad twice in their college careers. The numbers of those studying abroad has steadily increased over the years. In the 2004-05 academic year, 193 students studied abroad and in 2006-07, the number rose to 210.

“Taking advantage of study abroad programs has made our students more diverse,” said Terrell Morgan, an associate professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. “They’ve studied all over the world and it’s fascinating to hear their perspectives in the classroom.”

Growth in enrollment for Uzbek and Tibetan

Enrollment figures for Uzbek and Tibetan language courses were up last fall quarter, rising to six and 11 students, respectively. The Center for Slavic and East European Studies (CSEES) and the East Asian Studies Center (EASC) have been instrumental in launching these courses, recruiting students and providing continued support. Uzbek and Tibetan are categorized as least commonly taught languages, and supporting the introduction of these courses has helped each of these two area studies centers fulfill their mission as Title VI-designated National Resource Centers.

One of the priorities outlined in Title VI was for the CSEES to develop more competencies in Central Asia, and the result was Uzbek 101 making its debut in 2002 through video conferencing technology. The CSEES collaborated with the EASC and Indiana University to make the course available to Ohio State students. As Uzbek’s following remained steady, Ohio State has begun developing expertise on campus that did not exist before. A professor from Tajikistan has visited campus to teach three classes and Ohio State has hired an assistant professor in near eastern languages.

The success of Uzbek, which now has four courses, has led to the availability of classes in Georgian. Ten students already are enrolled in Georgian language courses and the CSEES hopes to build expertise in the area of The Caucasus in which the state of Georgia is located.

Since OSU is well known for its collection of and expertise in Tibetan and Buddhist art, offering students a course in Classical Tibetan was an easy choice. The EASC worked in conjunction with a number of collaborators including Ohio State’s Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures and the University of Michigan’s Department of Asian Languages and Cultures to bring Classical Tibetan language instruction to its first class of eight students through video conferencing in 2006. The course is taught by Professor Gareth Sparham of the University of Michigan, one of the leading experts in the field.

This year First Year Classical, Second Year Classical and First Year Modern Tibetan are offered. Students enrolled come from a wide variety of disciplines including business, art history and linguistics.

International Student Profile

Chen Yan

Name: Chen Yan
Home country: Sichuan, China
Year in school: Junior
Undergraduate: Human Resources

What are your career plans after college?
I am planning to find a job in the United States, otherwise, I will be going back to my homeland. After I have worked for three or four years, I will apply for the MBA program.  

How long have you been in the United States/Columbus?
I have to been in this country for two and a half years.  

Had you been to the United States before coming to Ohio State?
I was a transfer student from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio.

Why did you choose Ohio State?
For my major, there are not many schools that have this major in undergraduate school. I love OHIO. This is an amazing state to study in.

What most surprised you about your experience in Columbus and the United States?
One thing that really surprised me was that the people I met in the United States were really nice, especially the ones I met in church.  

What has been the hardest thing to adapt to since you’ve come to Columbus?
I guess it is the culture. It’s totally different between China and the United States.  

What have you done to keep yourself busy?
I travel a lot during the breaks between quarters. I also do a lot of volunteering for church. I like to hangout with my friends during the weekend. We go to the coffee shop, movies, bowling. Keeping busy is a good way to avoid missing home.

What is the most fun/exciting thing you’ve done since you arrived in Columbus and at Ohio State?
I think it is the football game.

How has the Office of International Affairs helped you adapt to campus life?
The advisors are really nice. No matter what questions I have, they explain to me all the details.

Ohio State political scientist revolutionizes international relations theory

Throughout most of the 20th century, scholars in international relations fell into two camps: realists who thought states are motivated by the quest for military and economic power, and liberals, who said war is futile and all states gain from mutual cooperation.

By the 1990s, however, another school of thought emerged: social constructivism. This school says that it doesn’t matter how much power a state has or how likely it is to go to war. What matters is how states perceive each other as rivals, enemies and friends.

One of the most cited authors in international relations today is Alexander Wendt, Ralph D. Mershon Professor of International Security in the Department of Political Science and Mershon Center for International Security Studies.

Feed his name into Google Scholar, and you will get 2,400 hits. Based on a survey of 2,000 international relations faculty in the United States, Foreign Policy magazine named him the third-most influential scholar in the field in the past 20 years.

Wendt’s work with Ohio State’s faculty and students also enriches campus intellectual life. He has advised both graduate and undergraduate theses, and organized two conferences held at the Mershon Center: “Realism and Constructivism: From Debate to Dialogue” and “New Systems Theories of World Politics,” both in 2005.

His current research projects, however, explore the idea of a quantum social science, the parallel between the international system and holograms, and the epistemology of ignorance about UFOs.

Bangladesh president visited Ohio State

Dieter Wanner presents Iajuddin Ahmed with an Ohio State sweater.

Ohio State hosted President Iajuddin Ahmed of Bangladesh last Oct. 31-Nov. 4. The president visited the Columbus and Wooster campuses to present a University Distinguished International Lecture on global warming issues and the role of education in addressing climate change.

His visit to Ohio State is an example of the university’s commitment to promote global awareness as an integral part of the academic experience. Integrating international perspectives into the campus environment stimulates academic programs, enhances research opportunities, fosters the exchange of ideas and establishes institutional links around the world.

During his stay in Columbus, President Ahmed met with OSU President E. Gordon Gee and other top university officials.

The collaboration with Bangladesh is part of Ohio State’s Climate, Water and Carbon Program — one of 10 high-impact programs chosen by the university for its Targeted Investment in Excellence (TIE) initiative, a $100 million commitment over five years to address some of society’s most pressing challenges.

New global health courses

As part of an initiative supported by Ohio State’s Center for African Studies, two new global health courses will be taught through the College of Public Health in 2008.  Introduction to Global Health will be taught Winter Quarter by Dr. Michele Shipp, a Research Assistant Professor in the college’s Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion; Infectious Diseases in the Developing World will be taught Spring Quarter by Dr. Kurt Stevenson, MD, MPH, an associate professor of epidemiology at OSU’s College of Medicine. Stevenson holds a joint appointment in the College of Public Health’s Division of Epidemiol.

“My view of this course is to see experts in many different health fields speak to students on a regular basis,” Shipp said. “Global health issues are vast and varied, from HIV-AIDS to war and violence and the displacement of people.”  

Stevenson’s global course will focus on tropical infectious diseases and those unique to the developing world. It will also examine topics such as the role of poverty, malnutrition, and poor access to medical care on the risk for developing infections. Humanitarian relief efforts also will be addressed.

The Center for African Studies was motivated to develop international health courses at OSU for a number of reasons. “Understanding health care issues in the context of Africa and other developing regions of the world is critical not only to improve health conditions, but also to promote economic development and to reduce conflict,” said Laura Joseph, Assistant Director of the center.

Interest in global health is growing fast on campus, as evidenced by the wait-list for Winter Quarter’s Introduction to Global Health, the success of the student-led Global Health Initiative, and the recently announced formation of a Global Health Center through the College of Medicine. Many global health issues eventually become local in nature. Columbus’ large Somali population, for example, copes with health issues endemic to East Africa, as well as those associated with their new Western lifestyles.

Snapshots of identity conflicts around the globe

Professor J. Craig Jenkins, Ohio State Chair of Sociology, and Dr. Esther Gottlieb, Outreach and Development Liaison for the Office of International Affairs, are the editors of the recently published book, “Identity Conflicts: Can Violence be Regulated?” Jenkins and Gottlieb based the book on a conference hosted in 2003 by the Office of International Affairs with funding from the Mershon Center for International Security Studies.

Sixteen contributing authors examine religious, ethnic and national identity conflicts, the violence that results, and how that violence can be regulated – the constraining, directing, and repression of violence through institutional rules and understandings. Chapters examine these issues in various parts of the globe, including China, South Korea, the Middle East, East Africa, Latin America and the Islamic world.  Offering new ideas about the regulation of identity conflicts at both the global and local level, this book will be of interest to policymakers, political scientists, human rights activists, historians, and anthropologists.

Preparing now for launch of Q’anjob’al course

Q’anjob’al, is one of 30 Mayan languages spoken today – primarily in Guatemala – by some 100,000 people. Soon the language will be taught at Ohio State with support provided by the Center for Latin American Studies, and the expertise of linguist Laura Martin and native Q’anjob’al speaker Gaspar González. Together, Martin and González are developing an introductory language course that will be offered online at Ohio State – and accessible to students and professionals all over the world – beginning Winter Quarter 2009.

Q’anjob’al has sister languages that are as close linguistically as Spanish and Portuguese and can be understood by speakers in nearby towns. The language has been written since the late 1960s and uses the Latin alphabet and punctuation marks found on any European keyboard.

“Learning a language like Q’anjob’al really helps us get a better idea of the culture and gives us the capacity to imagine the world in a whole new way – as Q’anjob’al speakers see it,” Martin said. “We think this is an unusual educational opportunity that will appeal to many students and be a model for the development of other courses in languages like Q’anjob’al, less commonly taught, but not less interesting.”

Martin specializes in Mayan languages and is recently retired after a 35-year academic career in foreign language pedagogy, linguistics and anthropology. González is a poet, painter, author and a faculty member of Mariano Gálvez University in Guatemala City. “We are educators, innovators, and lovers of Mayan culture and of Q’anjob’al, and we were unable to turn down a unique opportunity to bring it to a wider audience and to bring its students to its community,” Martin said.

Martin and González hope to attract students and professionals from a variety of fields including archaeology, anthropology, Spanish and linguistics, as well as doctors, dentists and those who work in the legal profession. Just like any first year foreign language course, the class will include grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. The added benefit of the online course will include wider access to teaching materials other than the typical textbook.

A second course of instruction is planned for Spring Quarter 2009, and if all goes as planned there will be a study abroad opportunity to Guatemala to provide students with a full cultural and language immersion experience.

Poetry as cultural bridge

Hans Utter

A recipient of several Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships from the Middle East Area Studies Center for the study of Persian language, Ohio State doctoral student Hans Utter has traveled extensively and conducted research in India, Turkey and Tajikistan. An enthnomusicologist, Utter is researching the commonalities between the Central Asian and North Indian music systems. This is his account of a notable experience during a recent trip.

A recent experience in the Pamir region of Tajikistan demonstrates the importance of cross-cultural communication. Tajikistan is full of contradictions: a country of fiercely independent, generous and hospitable people, a place of cultural wealth and material poverty, and a frontier “state” between ancient empires and political upheavals of the 20th century. As evidenced by the number of colleges and high levels of literacy, the Pamiries are among the most educated people in Tajikistan. However, the Pamir region is one of the poorest in the country; its proximity to Afghanistan gives the region great strategic importance and potential instability.

After making the acquaintance of a professor of Persian at a local university, I was invited to attend a conference on Rumi, the famous 13th century Sufi poet. Upon arrival at the conference, much to my surprise, I found my name was on the list of invited speakers. I had less than half an hour to prepare a paper (in Persian) for an academic audience. I decided to examine current political conflicts between Islam and the West through the lens of Rumi’s egalitarian and humanistic philosophy. I was concerned about the response both to the intelligibility of my Persian language and to my views on Islamic theology.

To my surprise and pleasure, my paper was extremely well received by the audience. I discovered that they shared my concerns regarding the misunderstandings between the Islamic world and the West, and agreed with my assessment of the dangers of religious fundamentalism, in whatever guise it appears. The poetry of Rumi acted as a bridge between two very distinct cultural viewpoints, and in the ensuing dialogue audience members expressed gratitude that I had taken the time to learn about one of their cultural icons. They were surprised to learn that Rumi’s poetry had become popular in America, and that many Americans are much more open-minded and egalitarian than the stereotype of the brash and insensitive imperialist.

This conference experience, and many other instances like it, contributes to my belief that learning different languages and cultures is one of the most promising avenues to generating positive and efficacious trans-religious and trans-cultural dialogue. Since American language, media, and belief systems enjoy worldwide exposure, it is difficult for Americans to empathize with the feeling of being under siege, culturally. For those unable to access a comparable lifestyle, poverty and political instability often create resentment towards perceived America hegemony. These feelings can foster the growth of religious fundamentalism. I have discovered that simply showing respect and appreciation of other’s cultural worlds can build a bridge between people. Apparent cultural differences can be transformed into a shared sense of a common humanity.

Grants – Eight Ohio State faculty awarded Fulbright fellowships

Recipients to conduct research abroad, promote global welfare

Ohio State's Fulbright fellowship recipients are:

The Ohio State University (Columbus campus)

• Robert Agunga, (Human and Community Resource Development), Bunda College of Agriculture, Blantyre, Malawi.
• Denise Bronson, (Social Work), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
• Wen Shyong (Charlie) Chern, (emeritus, Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics), National Chung Cheng University, Chia-Yi, Taiwan.
• Laura Justice (Teaching and Learning), University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
• Joy McCorriston (Anthropology), University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
• Christopher Reed (History), Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.

Ohio State University (Lima campus)

• Duane Roller (emeritus, Greek and Latin) at the University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

Ohio State University (Agricultural Technical Institute at Wooster)

• D. Rose Elder (Arts, Science and Business), the University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus, Eastern Mediterranean University, Mersin, Cyprus.

Ohio State's four visiting Fulbright Scholars include:

• Kwo-ting Fang, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Touliu, Taiwan, He is visiting the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science and Prof. Hojjat Adeli.
• Vladimir Kostal, Institute of Entomology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic. He is visiting the Department of Entomology and Prof. David Denlinger.
• Blerta Mustafa, University of Pristina, Pristina, Kosovo. She is visiting the School of Teaching and Learning and Prof. Karen Newman.
• Marina Grishakova, Department of Comparative Literature, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia. She is visiting the College of Humanities, Department of English and Dr. David Herman.

Fulbright feature – Denise Bronson

Denise Bronson

For 15 years, Denise Bronson has been traveling to Poland annually. In 1997 Bronson, an Associate Professor in the College of Social Work, initiated Ohio State’s Study Abroad program in Poland which takes her to Poland for short stays while serving as the program’s resident director. But this winter, Bronson will spend five months in Poland as a recipient of a Fulbright fellowship teaching at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland.

“It will be my longest stay to date in Poland,” explains Bronson. “This is an excellent opportunity to really experience living and working in Poland in a very different way. It is going to be a very interesting and inspiring time for me.”

While in Poland, she will teach students about social issues and programs to address social problems, and challenges in serving children and families. Bronson is excited about her extended trip to Poland and will enter the classroom with no set expectations. “I’m going to assess the students’ knowledge of social work and let the class evolve based on the student interests and background,” she said. “My overriding course theme is to examine social service programs worldwide, especially those for children and families, and discuss how these programs might be adapted to address issues in Poland.”

She has long been fascinated by Poland’s ability to pick up the pieces of its social services system after the fall of Communism. She is amazed the country has been able to rebuild its systems from the ground up in less than 20 years. While in Poland Bronson also hopes to work with local social welfare agencies to conduct program evaluations and to provide workshops on evidence-based practice in social work.

International profile

JJ Nakayama

JJ Nakayama
Associate Professor
Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, Department of Linguistics

Quote:
"Learning diverse views broadens one's horizon and enriches one's life. Though people are people everywhere in the world, their values and behaviors are not always the same because their cultures are different. The cultures shape their perspectives and actions. In today's world, one cannot be free from economic globalization nor globalization through media. To sail through today's world and immediate future successfully, it is vital to be internationally educated. Through learning about the world and diverse cultures, one can grow as a global citizen and respect others."

International Activity:
JJ Nakayama and colleagues from the East Asian Studies Center, the Institute for Japanese Studies, the Korean Studies Initiative and the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures took 16 secondary school teachers from Ohio, Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Minnesota to Japan and Korea in summer 2007. Prior to this study tour these teachers studied East Asia in regional National Consortium for Teaching seminars. Through their first-hand experience, they are now in a great position to teach about East Asia.

The Office of International Affairs is collecting quotes from a wide variety of Ohio State faculty, staff and students that raise awareness about the value of an international education.

International scholar research exposition

International Scholar Research Exposition

Eighteen scholars from 11 different countries showcased their research during a reception in November hosted by the Office of Research and the Office of International Affairs. OSU President E. Gordon Gee presented each of these scholars with a special certificate in appreciation of their work.

These scholars represented a host of academic departments from Greek and Latin to Mechanical Engineering to Entomology. Ohio State welcomes more than 800 international visiting scholars to its campus each year.

Taste of OSU and World Carnaval

Campus Dining Services Chef's Competition

Join the Office of International Affairs and more than 30 international student organizations as they present Taste of OSU and World Carnaval, Friday, January 25 at the Recreation and Physical Activity Center from 5 p.m. to midnight.

Enjoy international foods and cultural performances and, Campus Dining Services Chef’s Competition. Later in the evening, guests will be entertained by the sounds of international music. Admission is free and food and beverage tickets cost $1 each. The event, which is co-sponsored by Moonlight Madness and many other campus organizations, is open to all Ohio State students, faculty, staff, alumni, families and friends. For more information and to view a full calendar of events, visit oia.osu.edu.

If you wish to subscribe to Global Perspectives and receive this e-newsletter every quarter, please contact us at oia@osu.edu