UTCommAbroad

New $300 Million Scholarship Program Created to Support Graduate Studies in China

em55555 — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:19:37 +0000

The Schwarzman Scholars program will pay all expenses for 200 students each year from around the world for a one-year master’s program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, one of the partner institutions of The University of Texas at Austin. Click here to access the New York Times article with details on the announcement: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/21/world/asia/us-financier-backs-china-scholarship-program.html?pagewanted=all&_r=4&

Blakemore Freeman Fellowships for Advanced Language Study

em55555 — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:59:02 +0000

Language Grants for Graduate Students and Mid-Career Professionals

Blakemore Freeman Fellowships fund an academic year of advanced language study abroad for college graduates using an East or Southeast Asian language in their careers. Blakemore Refresher Grants are short-term grants intended to provide mid-career professionals an opportunity to refresh their language skills. They are available to former Blakemore Freeman Fellows, professors teaching in an Asian field at a university or college in the United States and professionals working in an Asian field.

Blakemore Freeman Fellowships are awarded for one academic year of advanced level language study in East or Southeast Asia in approved language programs.

Eligible Languages & Programs

Blakemore language grants are awarded for study of the following modern languages of East and Southeast Asia: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamesem Indonesian, Khmer and Burmese. Studies are undertaken at specific institutions, many of which are partners of The University of Texas at Austin.

To be eligible for a Blakemore Freeman Fellowship, an applicant must:

Be pursuing an academic, professional or business career that involves the regular use of a modern East or Southeast Asian language
Have a college undergraduate degree
Be at or near an advanced level in the language as defined in the grant guidelines (Minimum requirement is 3 years of study of the language at college level or equivalent fluency)
Able to devote oneself exclusively to full-time intensive language study during the term of the grant. Grants are not made for part-time study or research.
Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States

The postmark deadline for 2014 language grants will be December 30, 2013.

Application forms for 2014 will be posted on the website by late June.

Please refer to the language grant page to review application forms, grant guidelines and eligibility requirements for previous years. The FAQ page has answers to many common questions.

You may also contact Cathy Scheibner by phone at (206) 359-3684 or email.

Grants for summer travel to Brussels through EUCE

em55555 — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:35:19 +0000

The European Union Center of Excellence at UT Austin is pleased to offer grants to two Texas high school teachers and three UT Austin undergraduate students to travel to Brussels in the summer of 2013 through the EUCE Brussels Program. The trip is funded through the support of the European Commission and organized by the Network of European Union Centers in the U.S.

All Texas high school teachers are eligible. However, special consideration will be given to those who teach a course or courses that deal with some aspect of the European Union and to those who are involved in the Euro Challenge.

All UT undergraduate students may apply and may be from any discipline. Special consideration will be given to those in a program or major that study some aspect of the European Union.

Funding includes round-trip airfare to/from Brussels, five nights of hotel and some meals.

The 2013 trip will take place June 16-June 21, 2013. The agenda is currently being organized but should be similar to previous years (see agenda below).

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on March 29, 2013. No late applications will be accepted.

More information: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/european_studies/Funding-Opportunities/Undergrad%20Funding%20Opportunities/EUCE-Brussels-Program.php

The College of Communication Study Abroad Photo Contest is underway. Cast your votes!

em55555 — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:12:32 +0000

Student entries for the College of Communication Study Abroad Photo Contest (2012-2013) are now available on Facebook, and the voting has begun. Please log in and cast your vote, by “liking” your favorite photo(s) by Friday, April 19 at noon:

College of Communication Study Abroad Photo Contest 2012-2013

While you’re there, please feel free to “like” UTCommAbroad and share with your Facebook friends.

Prizes

Prizes are available for the winning photo entries. Several honorable mentions will also be announced. Selected work will be featured on College of Communication media wall, website, social media applications and print materials.

Ditch the Doubt, Make Plans to Study Abroad

hromer14 — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:10:46 +0000

By: Elizabeth Hinojos

Like many of you in the audience, I was, at first doubtful of studying abroad. As a senior who completed an exchange program during the fall semester, I was hesitant to venture to Spain (a land I’d always dreamed of exploring), because of a pending graduation date in nine months time. My prominent issue was the courses that were offered as recognized credit—I needed upper division Journalism classes that would count toward my major. This seemed so tedious and difficult at the time, especially when there were no courses listed that would count toward my degree plan. But after a little encouragement from my advisers, I had some sense knocked into me. “This is an opportunity of a lifetime and any other experience is incomparable.” Once this splash of cold water made me open my eyes a little wider, I started to work.

It wasn’t easy but I literally petitioned dozens of classes from the University of Navarra’s course curriculum to count for credit at UT. After much research and a bit of waiting to see the official course schedule for the fall semester at Navarra, I made my decision to embark upon the greatest journey of my life.I tell you this because it is easy to peruse through exchange programs and quickly realize they are not a perfect fit for what you want. Whether it is the class offerings that do not coincide with your degree plan, or total mortification of a later graduation date, with some commitment to research these issues can easily be overcome. In fact, once you decide to actually study abroad the rest of the “baggage” can easily be tucked away. Because, in the end, any pre-departure concern or issue will seem so miniscule and insignificant in comparison to all the marvels you will have discovered once the adventure has run its course.Pamplona is a fairly small and very secure town, however, it radiates a modest urban city vibe. People walk the streets at nearly all times of the day. There are a multitude of cultural activities to partake in, shops, bars, restaurants, etc. Essentially everything is within walking distance but if you like to bike this can definitely come in handy—I did so myself. So, in terms of accessibility it’s a great option; not to mention, it’s easy to wander aimlessly through the streets and find beauty in the most unexpected of places. Because believe me, Pamplona is in a gorgeous geographic location surrounded by lush green hills and charming open farmland on the outskirts of town. The “Casco Viejo” (Old Town) is also a great place with lots of activity. There is a local feel and overall friendly people who frequent the area.The University of Navarra has a very nurturing exchange program; the staff creates an environment where it’s easy to make friends. The International Student Organization plans frequent events so feeling lonely does not usually become a problem with all there is to do. I was able to meet my three closest friends from abroad on our first day at orientation. The campus is also a great place, its physical appearance is gorgeous and my experience with the professors was very positive. I ended up taking five out of seven classes in Spanish. Sure, it was very challenging, but my professors were usually at their disposal and entirely willing to help. The Communications faculty at Navarra is very up-to-date with equipment and technology. Since I am involved with KVRX, the student-run radio station here at UT, I wanted very much to take advantage of the resources at Navarra. Their radio station is the utmost impressive! There are four sound booths and their frequency streams all day. In my radio production class (which was taught in Spanish) I was required to attend a three-hour workshop, aside from weekly lecture, where I would help produce the hourly news updates and work on recording audio interviews and sound editing.

It was also very enriching to take my journalism classes in Spanish. It made me re-think many things about journalism in general from contextualizing stories to the kinds of stories I want to write. In a multimedia Journalism class I documented audio and video interviews with people of Basque descent. Because Pamplona is on the border of the Basque Country, the culture is richly infused throughout the city—incidentally enough, one of my favorite things I witnessed during my stay.

In the end, people are people, no matter where their birthplace resides. You may find that some are friendlier than others, but more importantly, you will be exposed to an environment completely foreign (and perhaps just as if not more beautiful) to your own. It was simple for me to become emotionally attached to Pamplona, the Navarra region, Spain, and Europe in general. I now have future plans to try and live there one day because I realized that five months was simply not enough in this glorious place so far from home.

More photos by Elizabeth here.

CANCELLED: Fulbright Workshop for Communication Students Scheduled for April 3

em55555 — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 21:34:18 +0000

This event will be rescheduled. Sorry for any inconvenience this cancellation may cause.

“5 things NOT to do after returning from abroad”

hromer14 — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:49:14 +0000

YOU’VE BEEN ABROAD AND now you’re home. You’re more worldly, more cultured, and excited to share your experiences with your friends and family. You feel like a changed person, but the problem is, everyone else is exactly the same. And not only that, they expect you to be the same, too.

Read full article here.

International Travel Workshops Announced for Select Study Abroad Programs to Mexico

em55555 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 22:31:34 +0000

UT Study Abroad has announced two program options in Mexico, as follows:

1. Exchange Option (summer, fall & spring) – Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM) in the city of Querétaro
2. Affiliate Option (summer, fall & spring) – Institute for Study Abroad, Butler University (IFSA) in the city of Mérida

The programs are open to students from all colleges and schools. In order for students to be eligible for these programs, they must attend an International Travel Workshop on the following dates:

1. February 7, 2013 from 4:30 – 6 pm
2. February 22, 2013 from 4:30 – 6 pm

This will be an opportunity for prospective and enlisted students to ask questions, learn about health & safety, and other concerns associated with travel to Mexico, before final program deadlines for Summer 2013 and Fall 2013, which are February 15th and March 1st respectively.

Study Abroad Helps Students Become Well-Rounded Individuals

hromer14 — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 17:10:21 +0000

By: Samantha Kline

Study abroad benefits students of any major because you have the opportunity to learn about another culture. This specifically pertains to Radio-Television-Film because in this field I will be working with many different kinds of people, most likely from cultures and backgrounds different from my own. Because of study abroad, I now know how to adapt to another culture and be accepting of the cultural differences. I believe the experiences that students have while studying abroad help them to become well-rounded individuals.

Major: Radio/Television/Film and Business Foundations Program

Program: International Marketing Program in Paris

Country: Paris, France

Journalism Student Explores Interest in Sports in England

hromer14 — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:48:20 +0000

By: Larissa Liska

As a Journalism major, it’s important to learn and understand how people from other cultures live. I want to become a sports journalist, and I want to be more aware of how people in other countries react to sports in their culture and social life. I was able to count the course in my Maymester study abroad program toward my Bridging Disciplines certificate, as well as conduct research after the program to count toward my BDP connecting experience.

Major: Journalism

Minor: English and BDP Certificate in Cultural Studies

Program: Maymester Program: Sport and English Society

Country: Leeds, England