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(Posted: August 30, 2012) The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith is sending its first exchange students to the University of West Bohemia in the Czech Republic and to Ritsumeikan University in Japan.
Elizabeth Mason, 20, of Charleston and Jason Eide, 19, of Fort Smith leave in early September for their destinations. Mason will be in the Czech Republic for four months, and Eide will study in Japan for 10 months.
Takeo Suzuki of Fort Smith, executive director of international relations at UAFS, said the University has written agreements with the two institutions.
"We have agreements of understanding with 17 institutions in seven countries," said Suzuki. "This is our first time to send students to these two locations, however. The two students, who will live in dorms at their host institutions, will receive UAFS credit for their studies through a class called Overseas Study."
Dr. Ray Wallace of Fort Smith, provost and senior vice chancellor, say the exchange programs are evidence of the University's fulfillment of initiatives in the institution's strategic plan.
"The plan, as introduced a couple of years ago by our chancellor, includes a goal of promoting global learning initiatives," said Wallace, "and one specific action step is to enhance global experiences with opportunities to study abroad. These two students will be making history for the University with what they are doing."
Mason, a 2010 graduate of Charleston High School and a junior radiography major at UAFS, is the daughter of Tami Mason from Rogers and Robert Mason from Charleston. She has never been out of the country, but she wanted to experience a different lifestyle and culture while attending school and before she officially applied for the radiography program.
Mason talked to Suzuki, and he mentioned the University of West Bohemia. After a little research, she decided it would be a memorable, learning experience.
"I am taking philosophy and a Czech language course, so overall, I just expect to be able to understand their lifestyle, language and views on the world," she said. "It will be very interesting to learn."
Mason believes being able to understand and accept someone else's views will not only help her now, but in a career, especially if she goes into a health-care field.
"This experience will put me in a position where I have to be social, bold, independent, and overall have an understanding personality," she said. "That would help any degree program working with people. Also, I will be immersed in a completely different school system, so I will most definitely have to adapt to learning and studying with completely new methods."
Eide, a 2011 Southside High School graduate and a sophomore programming major at UAFS, is the son of Jennifer Eide of Fort Smith and Michael Eide of Longmont, Colo. Although he previously visited Canada, his trip to Japan is his first exchange program venture.
"I hope to meet new people and visit places that will not only expand my understanding of foreign cultures, but also challenge my current picture of the world," said Eide. "I also expect to be challenged daily in my studies of the language."
Eide, who already assists international students in their everyday activities at UAFS, said he found out about the study abroad opportunity from Suzuki and through the UAFS Japanese courses. He believes studying abroad will enhance his learning at UAFS.
"It will make me a much more cultured individual," said Eide, "but by learning another language, I believe it also opens your mind to generally absorb information better than someone who only knows one language."
He's also looking forward to something else ? the food.
"I love trying new things, especially new and exotic foods," he said.
The Office of International Relations (OIR) is a centralized division for international education, developing and managing quality international initiatives, programs, support services and international partnerships for the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith.
For more information, contact Suzuki at 479-788-7166.
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ArchivesSource: http://uafs.edu/news/news?storyid=3428
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