Print VersionA Sampling of CIBER-Funded Curriculum Development
Fall 2002 Spring 2003 Fall 2003 Spring 2004 Fall 2004 Fall 2005 Spring 2006 Spring 2007 Fall 2007 Spring 2008 Fall 2008
Building Linkages with CESCAGE University in Brazil
Scott Mickelsen, assistant dean for business, Northcentral Technical College
The demand for graduates capable of understanding and applying international business skills is growing rapidly. Employers demand that new hires be able to examine and analyze the economic growth of other countries; analyze the relationship among economic regulations, business practices and methods; investigate potential business relations between Wisconsin and overseas companies; and identify and address differences in language, culture, laws, business frameworks and communication. This project will internationalize the business curriculum at Northcentral Technical College by increasing the number of interdisciplinary courses, existing courses with international content, study abroad and other international exchange opportunities for students; creating faculty development and enrichment programs for business, foreign language and international studies faculty; and creating and sponsoring business outreach and training programs to enhance the ability of U.S. business to compete internationally.
Establishing an Undergraduate Residential Community for Students of Arabic
Dustin Cowell, chair and professor of Arabic, UW-Madison
The International Learning Community at UW-Madison is a residential community housed within a single residence hall. Dedicated to enhancing cross-cultural understanding, it helps prepare undergraduates planning to study abroad and provides students returning from study-abroad experiences to maintain the language proficiency they acquired. An Arabic section will be inaugurated in the fall of 2006 to complement the previously established sections for German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish. The Arabic section, called Baytunaa, Arabic for “Our Home,” will comprise a group of students of Arabic committed to improving their oral proficiency by active use of the language in cooperation with a language coordinator supported in part through CIBER. In Baytunaa, residents will find a collegial atmosphere with specific Arabic-oriented programming.