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| Bulgaria and Greece | Korea | Morocco | South Africa |
Country: BULGARIA and GREECE
Seminar Title: Bulgaria and Greece: A Shared Past and a Common Future
Dates: Tentative - Late May to early July 2008
Program Content:
Greece is regarded as the cradle of western civilization and the birthplace of democracy, western philosophy, the Olympic games, literature, political science, major scientific principles, and drama. Greece has a long and eventful history, a rich cultural heritage, and is also a modern country - a member of the European Union (EU) and a major player in the Balkan peninsula.
The objective of the Greek portion of the seminar is to provide an overview of Greece and Greek history; culture, past and present. Participants will be introduced to the country's history and culture and will experience contemporary life through visits to archaeological sites, schools, universities, nature reserves, museums and cultural centers. Visits will be combined with lectures by professional staff that will tie in the educational, political, cultural and historical significance of the places visited.
The geographical balance of the seminar has been designed to include the northern part of the country, which has a particularly rich cultural heritage and environmental interest. Participants will be have the opportunity to experience areas ranging from Athens and the Peloponnese, Delphi, and to explore the city of Thessaloniki in the North and the famous archeological sites of Pella and Vergina. Also, a day trip to the Holly Mount Athos, which best exemplifies the Byzantine past of Greece, will take place.
The Bulgarian portion of the seminar aims at helping expand the participants' knowledge of Bulgaria, the Bulgarians and their culture, in the context of the country's recent accession to the EU and its millenniums - old history linking it culturally, politically and socially with southeastern Europe and the Balkan region.
The program will have both an academic and a travel component. The first week will be devoted to presentations and discussions on key topics, e.g., Bulgarian culture in a historical perspective, political and economic issues of today and tomorrow, Bulgaria and EU, Bulgaria and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), the situation in the Balkans, ethnicity and religion, and Bulgarian education, arts and literature. The academic portion also involves meetings with Bulgarian educators and professors from the major universities in Sofia, government officials, university administrators, public figures, poets, musicians, artists, visits to museums and art galleries, and one-day trips to historic sites. The travel part of the program includes visits to places of historical and tourist interest all over Bulgaria: Veliko Turnovo, the Black Sea coast (Varna, Burgas, Nessebar and Sozopol), Plovdiv, etc.
Web Sites: www.fulbright.bg and www.fulbright.gr
Country: KOREA
Seminar Title: Korea in Transit
Dates: Tentative: June 29 - August 2, 2008
Program Content:
Korea has stood in the spotlight of international affairs on several occasions in recent history. Aside from being the only divided country remaining on the planet, Korea is alive with political issues, rising international stars in athletics and entertainment, and rapid industrialization, all nestled in the world's mecca of information technology.
After war ravaged Korea in the 1950's, the country went through great changes in politics, economics, international relations, and culture. Participants will have an opportunity to look into the history and traditions of Korea in order to better understand Korea's current position. Factors such as an open society, efforts towards reunification, rapid economic growth, and relationships with the United States, Japan, and China, are constantly evolving.
Participants will visit museums, a folk village, and palaces during their stay in the capital city of Seoul. More specifically, visiting ancient traditional residences at Andong and walking through life in the historic capital of the Ancient Shilla Dynasty in Gyeongju will give participants a taste of Korea's rich history and culture.
Korea's economic growth and rapid industrialization over the past 60 years has nearly erased any reminder of where it was after the war. The greatest advancement, however, will be that of an entire country enveloped in the wireless network formed by the world's leading advancements in electronics and information technology.
In keeping stride with the trend towards globalization, Korea has also designated Jeju Island as an international free trade province. Participants will be treated to "behind the scenes" glances at how schools prepare their curriculum for students to gain international exposure, and equip them for the future.
Participants will also hear about current tensions on the peninsula between North and South Korea. They will also visit the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) to further their understanding and absorb the history behind the separated countries. Lastly, participants will be given time to prepare their own project and make a presentation to the group at the close of their program.
Web Site: www.fulbright.or.kr
Country: MOROCCO
Seminar Title: The Delicate Balance Between Traditional Identity and Modernization in Morocco
Dates: Tentative: Late June - end July 2008 (four weeks plus two optional weeks for independent research)
Program Content:
This seminar will give participants the chance to develop a broad appreciation for the history and millennial Arabo-Islamic-Berber civilization of the Kingdom of Morocco. More specifically, the seminar will focus on the impact of globalization and modernization on this traditional culture.
The first week in Morocco will be spent in the capital, Rabat, and will be devoted to an intensive language and cultural orientation. The in-country orientation will consist of a series of lectures designed to reinforce and expand upon pre-departure readings covering a broad range of topics including pre- and post-independence history, the country's unique linguistic situation, on-going reforms of the political, legal and educational systems, and the current national emphasis on human development.
The travel phase of the seminar will be integrated into the overall academic curriculum with lectures and site visits conducted by highly qualified speakers including academics, artisans, artists and writers, and representatives from the public and private sectors. Among the topics covered will be traits of Islam in Morocco (including an exploration of its mystical dimensions embodied in Sufism); education in Morocco from a historical perspective and an overview of current programs to reform it; traditional versus contemporary art and music in Morocco; the evolving position of women in Moroccan society; an overview of the Moroccan economy and the direction of efforts to promote sustainable development; the Berber element of Moroccan identity and culture; and the impact of emigration (rural-urban, as well as foreign) on Moroccan culture and economy. The itinerary will include major urban centers as well as smaller towns and rural villages. The group will visit the "Imperial Cities" of Meknes, Fez and Marrakesh and Morocco's industrial and commercial heart. Rural areas visited will include the Middle Atlas mountains, an agricultural community south of Marrakesh and oasis villages in the Saraha desert. In the Middle Atlas town of Ifrane, the group will visit Al Akhawayn University, Morocco's only English-language university. A four-day homestay will be arranged with Moroccan families in order to provide participants with an intimate window onto Moroccan family life, culture and customs.
Web Site: www.macece.org
Country: SOUTH AFRICA
Seminar Title: Student Achievement and Workforce Development in Disadvantaged Populations
Dates: Tentative: July 9 - August 15, 2008
Program Content:
South Africa's educational goals mirror those of the U.S. Department of Education to promote student achievement and preparation for a global work force, but South Africa and its educational institutions face enormous challenges stemming from the apartheid legacy. As in the United States, ensuring both access to education and success in an academic environment promotes wide discussion and has resulted in a variety of South African programs targeted at disadvantaged and previously disadvantaged youth. United States teachers, faculty and administrators will engage with teachers, officials, think tank representatives, and academics in South Africa on these issues and explore the range of access and achievement programs, while comparing and contrasting them to United States practices. South Africa, 14 years after the dawn of a hard-won democratic system, provides a fascinating educational landscape and laudable goals that will resonate with American educators dealing with similar issues of diversity, educational access, student preparedness, and work force development.
Once in South Africa, the program will focus on how educators prepare students from diverse backgrounds for both postsecondary study and the workplace while ensuring academic success. Topics will include, but are not limited to:
Achieving university-level language, reading and writing skills: South Africa has 11 official languages but university instruction is offered in either English or Afrikaans, often a second, third or even fourth language for the majority of South African students. Participants will explore language-based remedial programs, English as a Second Language programs, pilot projects such as bilingual degree programs, and other initiatives aimed at creating access to educational opportunity for disadvantaged youth. Specifically, participants will have the opportunity to visit a reading and writing center for long-distance learners, successful secondary schools in disadvantaged communities in both rural and urban settings, and engage in round-table discussions with leading academics on the issues of language and academic literacy.
Academic literacy: South African students are often not equipped with basics such as computer skills. Recent research has prompted positive changes in how institutions support students to ensure academic achievement. Programs such as the School Net South Africa, an organization providing computer support to schools, will be visited, and meetings will be arranged with Young Engineers of South Africa and Mindsent Network to discuss IT (information technology) curriculum development and the use of electronic educational materials.
Work force development: Education and labor structures have joined forces in South Africa to promote employability through skills training. Visits to Further Education and Training Colleges, or FETs (similar to United States vocational schools), will highlight private-public partnerships such as one between the National Chamber of Mines and an FET that offers workspace and market access for young artisans working in metal.
Through direct observation, interaction with South African educators, students, and area experts, as well as curriculum development guidance, seminar participants will take home ideas and materials to assist in creating quality curriculum for incorporating into their United States classrooms, as well as sharing with their colleagues and communities.
The U.S. Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa will administer the seminar on behalf of the United States Department of Education.
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