As part of Ohio University's goal to become more globally diverse, OU President Roderick McDavis visited Asia on his first international trip as president.
McDavis traveled for 17 days at the end of Winter Quarter with his wife, Deborah, Board of Trustees Secretary Alan Geiger and his wife, Sandra, Board of Trustees member Dan DeLawder and his wife, Diane, and Associate Provost for International Programs Josep Rota. Their goal was to strengthen relationships and create new linkages with universities in Hong Kong, Malaysia, China and Japan.
The trip cost $36,126 and the seven took the university's airplane from Athens to Minneapolis, and then from Detroit to Athens on their way back from Asia.
The Presidential Task Force on the Future of Ohio University stresses diversity not only domestically, but globally, and the trip was a first step in achieving this goal.
Today
in the 21st century an environment that is not global is handicapped Rota said.
It is an institutional process to become globally aware; every department on campus is involved in the mission, Rota said.
For example, during the trip to Malaysia the group reviewed OU's 40-year relationship with the Malaysian government and universities.
This relationship has resulted in more than 2
000 Ohio University alums in Malaysia
McDavis said. Including many of the country's leaders in business
education and government.
When students graduate they will not only be competing with graduates of Ohio schools. The more OU prepares students to compete in a global market place, the better they will do, Rota said.
Students can take advantage of OU's 160 institutional agreements worldwide, like the universities visited by McDavis in Asia, Rota said.
Currently, 600 OU students study abroad every year. The number of students studying abroad quadrupled at OU in the past 10 years, compared to doubling nationally, McDavis said.
OU also offers a variety of foreign languages and international organizations on campus, and has the third-largest Southeast Asian library in the country. The university also brings international scholars who give free lectures for students. Although being an internationally focused university is not a new concept -OU's first international student was from Japan in 1895 -McDavis' administration promotes the 60-year tradition, which began with OU President John C. Baker (1945-62).
The first draft of the university's vision statement incorporates being a globally aware community with an extensive network of supportive partnerships and a diverse community of students
faculty and staff.
At the March 11 video conference with the regional campuses about the university's strategic plan, Interim Provost Kathy Krendl said the Task Force would add a guiding principle pertaining to OU's commitment to international education.
OU seeks to bring the world to Athens so students have many opportunities to interact and learn from international students
Rota said.
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