Students Win Gilman Awards for 2019-2020 Study Abroad

• June 8th, 2020
• in Education Abroad International Main

Two UA Faculty Members Named Fulbright Scholars

• May 20th, 2020
• in International Main

May 19, 2020 | From UA News

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Two University of Alabama faculty members will receive Fulbright Scholar Grants for the upcoming year.

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers approximately 470 teaching, research or combination teaching and research awards in more than 125 countries.

The faculty members are:

Dr. Subhabrata Chakraborti, professor, department of information systems, statistics and management science, Culverhouse College of Business

Chakraborti was awarded a Fulbright Teaching and Research Scholar Award to the Federal University of Sao Carlos, in Brazil. He will be hosted by the production engineering department and will be involved in research, teaching and mentoring.

The collaboration will focus on capacity development in teaching and research, with a research focus on modern process monitoring in the era of analytics and big data. Research will involve developing and applying advanced statistical methods, including nonparametric methods, in a number of industries within and outside Brazil where process monitoring is vital.

Chakraborti will also help mentor and guide research and publication efforts, and to that end, will deliver seminars covering state of the art research techniques using his 2019 co-authored book, “Nonparametric Statistical Process Control” published by John Wiley. Teaching, research and mentoring activities are expected to open new doors and form the basis of a broader relationship between the two universities and various programs.

Dr. Glenn Tootle, associate professor, department of civil, construction and environmental engineering, College of Engineering

Tootle was awarded a Fulbright Teaching and Research Scholar Award to the University of Trento in Italy. He will teach courses in paleohydrology and hydroclimatology, focusing on Alpine watersheds in the region.

Tootle will collaborate with UniTrento faculty and students to evaluate critical water resources challenges including the development of tree-ring based reconstructions of streamflow and snowpack; identification of climatic drivers of streamflow and snowpack; and long lead-time forecasting of streamflow for water supply. He will concurrently conduct research in these areas and work on developing an exchange program with students from UniTrento, UA and the nearby University of Innsbruck where he has led a study abroad program since 2012.

World Friends Day

• May 6th, 2020
• in English Language Institute International Main

A student from Ukraine teaches elementary students about her culture.

World Friends Day is a fun and exciting event that happens twice a year in the Fall and Spring Semesters. Students from the English Language Institute (ELI) visit elementary schools to present their cultures in the form of games, songs, dances, costumes and language activities. In Fall 2019 ELI went to University Place Elementary, and in Spring 2020 to Faucett-Vestavia Elementary. These two forums reached over 600 local school children. World Friends Day is a favorite event for everyone, and we hope to continue it in 2020 – 2021.

Students from Argentina share their music.

A Brazilian student gets elementary students involved in her culture.

A group of South American students participate in World Friends Day.

A South Korean ELI student teaches an elementary student how to use chopsticks.

Japanese students join World Friends Day.

Students from Argentina plays a game with elementary students.

Students create materials for the elementary school students.

Students from Colombia and Venezuela interact with students.

A student from Saudi Arabia teaches the Arabic alphabet.

A Turkish student plays a game with elementary students.

Turkish students show a painting technique using string.

Chinese students watch an elementary student play a game.

A group of Middle Eastern students share their culture at World Friends Day.

World Friends Day

Four UA Students Win Critical Languages Scholarship Award

• April 14th, 2020
• in Education Abroad International Main

Four UA students were selected as recipients of the Critical Languages Scholarship Award to participate in overseas language study during the summer of 2020. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, CLS has unfortunately suspended all summer language institutes for 2020. Despite this disappointing news, we wish to congratulate our winners, who will be eligible to reapply for the award for the 2021 application cycle.

David Ewing, a finance major, was selected to study Chinese in Tainan, Taiwan.

Elena Guerra, a Romance Languages and Spanish double-major, was selected to study Russian.

Katie Lightfoot, a German major, was selected to study Turkish at Ankara University TOMER in Bursa, Turkey.

Bria Samuels, a German MA student, was selected to study Turkish at Ankara University TOMER in Bursa, Turkey.

The Critical Language Scholarship program is part of a U.S. government effort to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages. CLS scholars gain critical language and cultural skills that enable them to contribute to U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.

The program provides scholarships to U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to spend eight to 10 weeks overseas studying one of 14 critical languages: Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Swahili, Turkish or Urdu.

The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains. CLS scholars are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship and apply their critical language skills in their future careers.

Students interested in Critical Language Scholarships, Boren Scholarships or Fulbright Awards may contact the Capstone International Center at cic@ua.edu for more information.

Fulbright Scholarship Students at the ELI

• March 9th, 2020
• in English Language Institute

Fulbright ELI Students Outside of B.B. Comer

This spring the English Language Institute (ELI) at UA is welcoming five Fulbright scholarship students.

The Fulbright students come from Guinea, Haiti, Laos, Namibia, and Rwanda. The students will study English 20 hours a week for five months, as well as participate in seminars and cultural activities. After completing the ELI, they will begin graduate studies in the United States in August.

One of the current Fulbright students, Akser Mpugulu from Namibia, said of the program, “Now that I got a Fulbright scholarship, I am very honored and I look forward to help reduce poverty in my community if not eradicate it.”

This is the third year the ELI has been selected to host Fulbright Long-Term English Placement students. The ELI is pleased to partner with the Fulbright organization to support international exchanges.

Alabama Model UN Team Sweeps at McMUN and MUNE

• February 17th, 2020
• in International Main

Alabama Model UN Team Sweeps at McMUN and MUNE

• February 17th, 2020
• in International Main

The Alabama International Relations Club’s traveling Model United Nations team has continued their dominant performance streak at the McGill Model United Nations Assembly (McMUN) January 23^th -26^th and the Model United Nations at Emory (MUNE) February 6^th-9^th.

The 12 delegates selected to represent Alabama at McMUN travelled to Montreal to compete in a wide range of committees ranging from the United Nations Environmental Program to the European Court of Human Rights. Competing against over 1,000 delegates from across the world, the team was successful in securing eight awards over the course of the weekend.

Sophomore Catharine Del Carmen came out on top winning Best Delegate (1^st place) representing Kenya in the 2020 African meeting on Science and Technology, advocating for the spread of sustainable methods of technology. Head Delegate (team captain) Andrew Smith also secured a 1^st place finish winning Best Delegate in the innovative Formula 1 Committee.

In the divisive International Organization for Migration, junior Madalyn Frazior won Outstanding Delegate (2^nd place) debating in the interests of South Africa. Sophomore Camden Lethcoe represented the university in the Furthest Shore space committee earned an Honorable Mention (3^rd place). In Moneyval, junior Sarah Conrad was awarded an Honorable Mention for her work on anti-money laundering policy. The Double-Delegation composed of senior Russell Puffer and freshman Brett Bonikowski also awarded with a Verbal Commendation (4^th Place) representing Mexico in the 300-person Special Political and Decolonization Agency (SPECPOL). This performance earned the team a top 5 finish at the most competitive conference of the spring semester.

Just two weeks later, the team travelled to Atlanta for the Regional Model United Nations at Emory Conference with 16 delegates, including several first-time competitors. The topics debated included a range of both historical and contemporary committees.

The weekend ended in triumph as the team earned five awards. Senior Russell Puffer was selected as Best Delegate in the OAS Special Mission debating 1982 Honduran Politics and the strengthening of Honduran Institutions. In the fantasy joint crisis committee Morningstar, based of the series of the same name, Alabama Delegates brought home two awards. Sophomore Victoria Carl was awarded Outstanding Delegate, and, in a breakout performance, freshman Alexandra Nabity secured an Honorable Mention. Head Delegate Andrew Smith continued his awards streak with an Honorable Mention in the 24-hour Chernobyl Committee and Sophomore Andrew St. Charles was awarded an Honorable mention in the Crisis of the 3^rd Century exploring the tumultuous politics of Ancient Rome.

After finishing the fall 2019 semester ranked Top-50 in the World Division of Collegiate MUN, the team has started the spring semester with two exceptionally strong performances. The goal is to secure a Top-25 ranking by the end of the 2019-2020 school year.

Next up for Model UN team is WorldMUN hosted by Harvard University in Tokyo, Japan from March 16^th-20^th, the Virginia International Crisis Simulation by the University of Virginia from March 26th-29^th, and the University of Chicago Model United Nations Conference from April 9^th-12^th.

Students interested in learning about Model UN can attend a meeting of the Alabama International Relations Club in 340 Bidgood on Thursday evenings at 7:00pm to learn more about the club and its opportunities. Information can also be found at https://international.ua.edu/airc/.

ELI welcomes students from Chiba University in Japan

• February 14th, 2020
• in English Language Institute International Main

Chiba University nursing students at a welcome reception held at the Capstone College of Nursing

This spring the ELI welcomed 34 Japanese students from two Chiba University programs.

One of the programs is a two-week English + Nursing Program. The ELI partnered with the Capstone College of Nursing to offer observations of nursing classes, clinical immersion, simulator tutorials, tours of medical facilities, and assistance with the WellBAMA program. The students also take English classes with a focus on medical terminology. It has been 20 years since UA and Chiba University’s School of Nursing established this program.

The other program is a four-week Language & Culture Program offered through the ELI. The students attend three hours of English language classes each day. The classes focus on writing, speaking and American culture. In addition, the students experience university life and activities, as well as visit various southern cities including Atlanta and New Orleans. The ELI has offered this program to Chiba University students for over 25 years.

Before coming to UA, the Japanese students in both programs collaborated online with UA students in the Capstone College of Nursing and with the Applied Linguistics/TESOL program. These are two of four programs between UA and Chiba University which incorporate Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) components.

Later this month, another group of Japanese students from Chiba University will come to Tuscaloosa to visit local schools in coordination with the College of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

Chiba University Language and Culture students in front of B.B. Comer

UA Again Recognized as Top Producer for Student Fulbright Awards

• February 10th, 2020
• in International Main

February 10, 2020 | From UA News

TUSCALOOSA — For the fourth time in five years, The University of Alabama was recognized as a Top Producing Institution for Fulbright U.S. Student Awards. 

“The University of Alabama will continue offering transformational educational experiences and innovative education-abroad opportunities for our students,” said UA President Stuart R. Bell. “Through the Fulbright Program, UA’s award winners transcend borders to address critical global issues through teaching and advanced research projects. It’s a shared future we’re shaping, and I’m proud of how UA faculty and staff mentor and influence our students.”

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the premier educational exchange program of the United States Department of State. The Fulbright Award offers grants for independent study and research and for English teaching assistantships overseas. The highly competitive program selects about 1,900 award recipients from more than 11,000 applicants each year.

“These Fulbright Award recipients exemplify the results of UA’s commitment to a student-centered education that offers a global perspective to all students during their time at the Capstone, and we take pride in the continued national recognition for our international programs,” said Dr. Teresa Wise, UA associate provost for international education and global outreach.

As a top producer with 11 Fulbrights serving abroad in 2019–2020, Alabama is in company with other top research institutions in the nation.

This year’s Student Fulbright Award winners are Tommie P. Brazie (Germany), Amanda Filardo (Kazakhstan), Courtney Geary (Jordan), Ciara Malaugh (Romania), Larry Monocello (South Korea), Amica Rapadas (Taiwan), Pamela Grace Turner (Colombia), Sophia Warner (Germany), Samantha Wetzel (Germany), Ellery Wiemer (Germany), and Madeline Willoughby (Malaysia).

“Dedicated faculty, staff and administrators across campus work many hours with our students to win these awards, and the Fulbright leadership team at Capstone International Center, Modern Languages and Classics and the Center for Community-Based Partnerships helps students polish applications for success in the Fulbright competition each year,” said Dr. Beverly Hawk, director of global and community engagement.

Students interested in applying for next year’s Fulbright program can learn more at international.ua.edu and us.fulbrightonline.org, or by sending an email to UA’s Fulbright advisers, Megan Wagner megan.wagner@ua.edu, Dr. Matthew Feminella mfeminella@ua.edu, or Dr. Beverly Hawk beverly.hawk@ua.edu.

Friends of Fulbright Scholarship Students at UA

• January 23rd, 2020
• in English Language Institute

Friends of Fulbright students being welcomed at the airport.

This spring the English Language Institute (ELI) at UA is welcoming ten Friends of Fulbright scholarship undergraduate students from Argentina.

The Friends of Fulbright scholarship students take nine hours of English instruction per week and observe three University of Alabama undergraduate or graduate classes related to their majors. The goal of the program is for students from Argentina to gain familiarity with attending U.S. universities and experiencing life in the U.S. In addition to classes, the students participate in cultural activities on and off campus. The students plan to pursue graduate degrees after completing their undergraduate studies in Argentina.

This is the third year the ELI has been selected to host Friends of Fulbright. Guillermo Brauchli, a former Friends of Fulbright Scholarship student studying electrical engineering, said of the experience, “I find this program really fruitful in helping me to improve my English and getting involved with American culture. I really enjoyed my time in Tuscaloosa and I definitely plan to come back one day.”

The ELI is pleased to partner with the Fulbright organization to support international exchanges.