UDC participates in Model OAS (MOAS) .

In April, Dr Shroyer of UDC who is a member of the coordinating committee of the OAS program prepared and facilitated the participation of UDC students in the recently concluded Model OAS session.  Students from more than 26 countries were in attendance and the UDC delegation successfully competed and ably represented the country of Guyana in these activities. 

The UDC delegation was well coached and advised by Mr. Paul Tennessee of OIPE who happens to be of Guyanese Heritage. In preparation for the Model OAS (MOAS) the students of Dr Shroyer's class received lectures from the distinguished Ambassador of Guyana Baney Karran and also had conversation with Ambassador Antoine of OIPE on drafting of resolutions.

A tale of integrity...

On Thursday April 21, 2011 Gloria C. Ngeno, a graduating MPA student,  proudly walked into the office of Ambassador Denis Antoine, Director of the Office of International Programs and Exchange (OIPE), University of the District of Columbia with a check in the amount of $3,000.  Eight months prior when Ms. Ngeno was trying to register for the fall semester and was not able to do so because of  her inability to complete payment for the previous semester. She had literally exhausted all of her avenues trying to raise funds to retire this past debt. Moreover, she did not actually know how she would pay for the fall semester. 

Ms. Ngeno shared her plight with Dr. Antonia Nowell, Professor of Public Administration in the School of Business and Public Administration.  After exhausting her resources, Dr. Nowell took Ms. Ngeno to the Ambassador Antoine.   He had been already been deluged by numerous student requests and his funds were nearly depleted.  However he managed to provide $3,000 for her to stay in school.   In Dr. Nowell’s presence, Ms. Ngeno promised to give the Ambassador ALL of the $3,000 back as soon as she became able to do so.

Because of this generosity, Ms Ngeno was able to register for classes; apply and be accepted as a Graduate Student Intern in the UDC PATHS program where she commenced to work part time; and, finish the 2010 fall semester with a GPA of 4.00.   With the part-time salary she now received from her internship, Ms. Ngeno was able to put aside a maximum amount each pay period with the goal of living up to her promise.  Of course she also had to live very frugally to do so.  Fulfilling her promise was gratifying to Ms Ngeno not only because it demonstrated her integrity but also because Ambassador Antoine indicated that he would now be able to use the $3,000 immediately for three students who were in dire need of immediate assistance.

Gloria Ngeno is an International student from Kenya, Rift Valley Province. She came to the U.S. in the spring of 2009 to pursue her Master of Public Administration degree.   She had previously completed her undergraduate degree in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics at Egerton University, Kenya and will receive her MPA degree on May 7, 2011 with a GPA of 3.96.  Ms. Ngeno is planning to pursue her PhD in international health at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Ivorians on UDC Campus meets with the Office of International Programs and Exchange.

On April 25, Ivorians on UDC Campus were called to meeting by  Director of International Programs and Exchange. Conscious of the challenges faced by students from that politically challenged country Ambassador Antoine and his staff met and held discussions with a number of students who are facing very severe economic challenges as a result of the situation in Ivory Coast.  There was a sigh of relief to learn that the situation there may be changing with hopes for a better situation.  Students discussed the impact of the political standoff on their family and their personal lives and the serious predicament in which they found themselves not being able to receive help from their family. In addition to the violence which has touch their families.  Ambassador Antoine said the meeting was to have the student know that the university was in solidarity and remains conscious of their situation.

UDC was the only U.S university to participate in Bangkok Sister City Youth Program 2011 in Thailand.

From Marcy 23-31, 2011, four students and one faculty chaperone from the University of the District of Columbia participated in the Bangkok Sister City Youth Program.  Mankah Angwafo, Reggie Davis, Rashid Hughes, and Adanna Quashie joined students from around the globe to address sustainable living practices, research studies, and pioneering techniques initiated by the King of Thailand.  Together with Professor Taharee Jackson, each student explored the agricultural innovations, energy alternatives, and “sufficiency economy” methods of the Thai people. They also enjoyed lessons in Thai cooking, dance, language, dress, and even kickboxing!  The group visited several of the Royal Development Study Centers throughout the country, the King’s own royal palaces, and world-renowned landmarks and attractions. 

Most importantly, participants forged new and lasting relationships with students and city representatives from a multitude of cities and have plans to continue tackling global problems and cultural divides by planning and attending a 5-year reunion. The Thai government officials, staff, and student interns who served as hosts and hostesses treated each UDC representative like fellow dignitaries, and their extraordinary service and hospitality will never be forgotten.  The students and faculty look forward to participating in this life-changing academic and cultural exchange for years to come!

Mankah Angwafo, Reggie Davis, Professor Jackson, Adanna Quashie, and Rashid Hughes (L to R) post at Thailand’s Grand Palace.  The world-famous attraction contains the Emerald Buddha, the country’s most sacred image.

Rashid Hughes, Mankah Angwafo, Adanna Quashie, Reggie Davis (L to R) and friends pose in traditional Thai dress.

Reggie Davis receives a lesson on how to play Thai instruments.

Mankah Angwafo receives a little help learning to play a Thai musical instrument at the Bangkok Youth Center.

Rashid Hughes has a lesson in traditional Thai dance.  He later showcased his new skills to the song “Loy Kra Thong.” 

Mankah Angwafo prepares to showcase her skills after a lesson in muay Thai kickboxing at the Bangkok Youth Center. 

Adanna Quashie and friends from other sister cities with Bangkok such as Fukuoka, Japan; Hanoi, Vietnam; Seoul, Korea; and Shouzou, China hunt and find treasures at Hua Hin Beach, a popular destination for Thai families.

Adanna Quashie actively learns how to deconstruct and reconstruct a dam at the “Check Dam” royal initiative.  The system of living and movable dams are placed in mall creeks to slow down the flow of water during flooding and to trap the rich sediment as high-quality topsoil for planting.

Reggie Davis, Mankah Angwafo, Rashid Hughes, and Adanna Quashie (L to R) enjoy themselves in a courtyard of the Royal Chitralada Palace, the residence of the King of Thailand.  They had just experienced wonderful demonstrations of the making of paper, natural charcoal, beeswax candles for use in the royal palace, vetiver grass erosion barriers, and products made from mushrooms, spirulina, and other foods grown at the palace.

Reggie Davis, Adanna Quashie, Professor Jackson, and Rashid Hughes (L to R) enjoy their last laughs as they bid farewell to the Bangkok Sister City Youth Program.  Fortunately for them, both Thai students pictured plan to pursue degrees at UDC in the very near future!

Each student was placed into groups and was responsible for gathering data and planning a final presentation based on all they had learned for a large audience including Thai government officials. Reggie Davis, a natural leader, takes the floor to present with an international group of fellow students.  They discuss alternative energy sources, sustainable practices, and multiple innovations as part of the King of Thailand’s Royal Initiative Projects.

Adanna Quashie, Rashid Hughes, and Reggie Davis pose with the Deputy Governor of Bangkok at City Hall.  After her opening remarks and warm welcome, students again enjoyed her presence at “Bangkok for Japan:  Together we Care,” an international fundraiser at one of Bangkok’s largest outdoor venues.  Proceeds of the event, attended by the highest ranking officials in Bangkok and Japan, went to victims of the tsunami and flooding in affected Japanese prefectures. 

UDC students attend Service-Learning Project in Merida, Mexico.

During the service learning activities prescribed in Merida, Mexico the students are engaged in reflective thinking at the beginning and the end of each service day activities that creates a valuable experience for students in the Respiratory Therapy program in UDC.

The focus of this service learning project was to provide UDC students with an opportunity to be involved in a global health project to understand the importance of global health diverseness. The faculty and students from the University of the District of Columbia were members of a team organized by Wheeling Jesuit University department of Physical Therapy in Wheeling, West Virginia.
Student’s reflection on their Service-Learning experience:
Ahmed Mahamed:  "You know this was a humbling experience for me..."
Whittney Gore:  " ...This was an eye-opener for me and made me realize how much we take

                                                     stuff  back home for granted ".

Solomon Johnson:  "...I realize how our hands were so important to fulfilling this task and how in  the process we recognized how important each of our contributions was to this goal." 

                                        Solomon, Whittney, Elgloria, Ahmed, Carolyn

Solomon Johnson, RRT Class of 2012

Leading International Humanitarian Groups Urge Congress to Maintain Bipartisan Commitment to World’s Hungry as FY2011 Budget is Finalized.

Washington, D.C. - As Congress moves toward finalizing legislation to fund the federal government for the remainder of FY 2011, we respectively request Members of Congress to maintain the longstanding U.S. commitment to addressing global hunger.  Dating back to the Marshall Plan, when the United States helped prevent hunger among a generation of Europeans, America’s commitment to the world’s hungry people has been steadfast.

Cuts of the magnitude proposed by H.R. 1 to global hunger programs would have a devastating impact on the world’s most vulnerable people.  Cuts of 42 percent to P.L. 480 Title II and the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program would eliminate feeding programs for approximately 18 million of the world’s poorest and hungriest people, including 2.5 million school children currently receiving school meals.  Cuts of approximately 75 percent proposed to Feed the Future would prevent between 11 and 14 million small-scale farmers from pulling themselves out of hunger and poverty with U.S. assistance; 4 million children would not have access to improved nutrition, resulting in stunting and child mortality…

For more information contact

voss@partnership-africa.org

An international Manchester student gets a fifth award for his work within 6 months.

Joseph Akinnagbe and his team at the University society Manchester Entrepreneurs received a fifth award within 6 months of working on their project. The fifth award was from the National Enterprise Educator Award for the support him and his group gave the graduate businesses such as GiveMeTap and Easy Sleep Music. He is an undergraduate and was also awarded Student of the Year by the National Union of Students.

Joseph also received a trophy and a cash prize from National Enterprise Educator Award organisers, the National Consortium of University Entrepreneurs and Young Enterprise. The Nigerian student was applauded by the judges for being creative and his ability to inspire and empower the individuals he worked with.

He has finished his tenure as president of the Manchester Entrepreneurs society, and is also a member of the Ernst and Young Top 30 UK Undergraduates, a National Black Achievers winner and a member of RAW Northwest, a group of the top 250 entrepreneurs in the region.
He is also a world youth leader with One Young World and was elected the International Student Officer in the University of Manchester Student Union executive.

You can follow him on twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/josephakinnagbe .

Tik Root, a Middlebury College student missing in Syria during a protest is found.

Tik Root a 21 year old Middlebury College student of Ripton, Vermont disappeared March 18, 2011 in Damascus. He  is studying this spring in an Arabic program through Damascus University.

Tom Root said his son likely watched a protest, but would not have participated. The U.S. embassy in Syria was seeking information on his whereabouts as his parents believe he was detained by authorities there during a demonstration. The Syrian Embassy in Washington D.C was also made aware of Mr Root's situation.
On saturday the student's parents declared that their son has been found, and they understand that he is safe. He remains in the hands of the Syrian authorities, who are currently responsible for him. 

Dr. Beverly Hartline presents a Girl Power Community Engagement Seminar in South Africa.

Dr. Beverly Karplus Hartline, the acting Dean of Engineering and Applied Sciences would be presenting a Girl Power Community Engagement Seminar in South Africa titled "Advancing Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering: Challenges and Strategies from the USA." on March 31, 2011.

This CSET Community engagement in South Africa is directed by Prof. Mamokgethi Setati, the Executive Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology.

For more information contact:

 Yvonne Tlhowe

tlhowy@unisa.ac.za

Tel: 012 - 429 8268

OIPE joins in congratulating Selvon Malcolm Waldron on receiving a grant from Brita FilterForGood as part of the 2011 Eco-Challenge program.

                                                      
OIPE, Malcolm, Jackie; Farley, Mark, Parker, Craig W. , Jumper and Barbara
 joins in congratulating Selvon Malcolm Waldron on receiving a grant from Brita FilterForGood as part of the 2011 Eco-Challenge program.
Selvon Malcolm Waldron , a MBA student in International Buisness is committed to sustainability here in UDC and is currently the Eco-Challenge Ambassador.

With so much crisis in the world, would our intellectual space be impacted on ?

With so much crisis in the world, would our intellectual space be impacted on?
How are our counterparts in colleges around the globe doing?
Are you paying attention to the challenges for college students in Japan, Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Algeria and Tunisia etc ?
How does the natural disater, demonstrations and global chaos affect youths, international students and what are the consequences?

UDC selected as one of the five U.S.-Ethiopian Universities Partnerships To Receive U.S. Embassy Money Grants.

Press Release                                                                                            

Embassy of the United States of America                                                        

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia                                                       For further information, call 011-130-7318

Addis Ababa, March 9:   The Embassy of the United States of America today announced the results of a small grant competition to provide seed money for innovative partnerships between U.S. and Ethiopian universities.  Five grants of $15,000 each will be awarded to new research, academic exchange and curriculum development partnerships between:

1.  Wollo University/Langston University -- Development of a Center for Small Ruminant Artificial Insemination.

2.  Wolaita Sodo University/University of Florida – Archeology and Cultural Heritage Management Training

3.  Jimma University/Cornell University – Clean-burning Cookstove Development Project.

4.  Hawassa University/Washington State University – Anthropology Teaching Support and Research Collaboration.

5.  Bahir Dar University/University of the District of Columbia – Research Partnership on Renewable Energy.

U.S. Ambassador Donald E. Booth noted:  “Ethiopia’s visionary expansion of tertiary education throughout the country opens up many educational opportunities.  The U.S. Embassy is delighted to provide initial funding to support new and innovative collaborations and partnerships between higher education institutions in Ethiopia and in the U.S.”

The objectives of the grant competition were to a) grow mutually beneficial and sustainable partnerships between U.S. and Ethiopian universities and colleges, b) introduce new higher education institutions to U.S. and Ethiopian partnerships, and c) strengthen the skills and experience of faculty and administrators in both countries in developing and implementing partnerships.

2011/16                                                               Internet Address:  http://ethiopia.usembassy.gov

Fukushima prefecture governor Yuhei Sato states people are angry over Japan nuclear chaos.

Engineers are racing to avert a nuclear catastrophe at Fukushima Daiichi, badly damaged by Friday's quake and tsunami. The governor of the region at the centre of Japan's nuclear crisis has groused official managing the evacuation of the region around the damaged Fukushima Daiichi power plant. The evacuation zone is said to be around 20km (12-mile).

Fukushima prefecture governor Yuhei Sato stated: "Anxiety and anger felt by people have reached boiling point." A population of 140,000 residents living around the facility was advised on Tuesday not to leave their houses.Fukushima prefecture governor Yuhei Sato said aid centers presently accommodating people who had been dislocated from their houses near the plant do not have enough hot meals and basic supplies.

"We're lacking everything," he states.Thousands of people have been said to be killed from the 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami.

Earthquake in Japan.

The world is reacting with shock at the huge quake and tsunami that has devastated Japan, although people there have learnt to expect natural disasters, this is the worst they have had since 1923, when the great Kanto earthquake distraught   Tokyo as fire swept across a city built of wooden houses, killing an estimated 140,000 people.

 Information from the Japan's Geonet network of around 1,200 GPS monitoring stations hints a large dislocation after the massive quake last week on March 11, 2011.The quake possibly moved the Earth on its axis by about 6.5 inches (16.5cm) and caused the Earth to rotate a bit faster which would shorten the length of the day by about 1.8 millionths of a second.Japan's coastline may have shifted by as much as 13 feet to the east after Friday's 8.9 Magnitude earthquake according to experts.

Food, water and fuel are said to be running short in some parts of Japan and large swathes of the country remain without power.The central bank has infused a record of 15tn yen ($184bn) into money markets, as the Tokyo stock market drops on the first business day since the earthquake. Prime Minister Naoto Kan advises his country to unite and rebuild as it struggles to survive with the wreckage done by the quake and tsunami. He states that Japan is facing its worst crisis since World War II.

Survivors comfort each another in Otsuchicho, Japan,where 10,000 people are unaccounted for after the earthquake.

Japanese soldiers and Red Cross workers are carrying out a relief effort in north-east Japan.

Rikuzentakata, a town with a population of 23,000 almost flattened out after earthquake, number of survivors not yet accounted.

Germany voted as best on an international index for supporting international students.

Germany has been voted as the best on an international index representing how well countries support international students.
It reflects Germany's policy of internationalisation in their university system and also an increase in number of universities courses are taught in English.
Source: BBC World: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12682858

Three UDC Honor Students visit Salzburg, Austria.

Three UDC honor students over the course of January 3 through January 10, 2011 visited Salzburg, Austria to represent UDC in the Global seminar themed: 'Global Citizenship: America and the World’. The seminar was sponsored by Mellon Fellow Community Initiative (MFCI) and was attended by college students across the US and globe.

The seminar focused on global leadership and student impact on the issue around the world. Implications of poverty, genocide, war and economic gap between some nations and the changes needed. The effects of all this problems on global students and how to prevent them. Among other things was a victim of the Bosnia and Herzegovina War in Eastern Europe addressing the students about the war and its impact to her nation and life.

The UDC students also gave a presentation on the global issues, the motivation and empowerment to make a difference in communities and globally.

UDC students.....

Some of the attendants at the seminar...

                                           College students making a presentation...

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Leading figures in higher education opposes government plans to limit UK visas for international students.

The government is consulting on plans to reduce student visas for those studying below degree level and to raise English language requirements. It says the system is abused and net migration needs to be reduced. It has pledged to reduce net migration from its current 215,000 to less than 100,000 by 2015.

But universities argue on the grounds that international students provide about 9% of the sector's income. A study for the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) advices the decision would slash the number of foreign students coming to UK universities which would result in a loss of billions of pounds in income.

The president of the National Union of Students, Aaron Porter raised concerns about the effect of the decision on some institutions like the London School of Economics, in which 70% of students are from an international background.

A Home Office analysis found that 20% of people who were granted student visas in 2004 were still in the UK in 2009. Immigration Minister Damian Green stated that "Too many individuals applying to study at below degree level have been coming here to live and work instead. We need to stop this abuse."

Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12296161

               http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12496610

Debate over international players in US college tennis.

In US college sports, a debate stirs between proponents and opponents of international players obtaining scholarships and competing in collegiate sports. BBC's Franz Strasser drew together the opinions of leading tennis coaches and officials in US college sports which included Jill Hultquist (women's tennis coach, University of Washington) , Tim Cass (Associate Athletics Director, University of New Mexico), Mike Lancaster (owner athleticscholarships.net), Tony Minnis (men's tennis coach, Louisiana State) , Rodney Harmon (former USTA men's tennis director), Geoff MacDonald (women's tennis coach, Vanderbilt) and others.

Read more at:   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12561545

Global Health Issues: A Focus on the Role of Nurses.

The Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health states that an additional 2.6 to 3.5 million healthcare workers would contribute significantly to the lowest-income countries reaching the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5. The requirements to achieve this universal health coverage in a wider range of countries would be higher.

The progress report on the  global action taken demonstrates some advances, as well as challenges requiring increased attention, in the priority countries most affected by health workforce challenges.The second Global Forum on Human Resources for Health (HRH) reviewed progress and renewed the commitment to strengthening the health of the global populations. The global supply and distribution of the nursing workforce is essential towards acquiring this goal.