The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

University Administrator Strengthens Ties with Russia

SIUC has been collaborating with universities in other countries for decades and continues to build ties throughout the world, according to university officials.

John Koropchak, vice chancellor for research and graduate dean, traveled to Russia in September to participate in a three-day workshop sponsored by iNEER International Network for Engineering Education and Research. He said it was meant to promote a better understanding of engineering education throughout the world.

"In one sense it was intended to acquaint the different universities with each other," Koropchak said. "It gave an opportunity for us to learn about them and for them to learn about us."

Koropchak was the only representative from a U.S. university to travel the 30 hours to the city of Saratov. He said 20 people from outside of Russia had originally agreed to attend, but backed out due to terrorism concerns.

"I've traveled in Europe enough that I wasn't uncomfortable visiting a different culture like this," Koropchak said. "As far as the terrorist issues, I think that's an issue of probability."

Koropchak said Russian language courses he has taken in college helped him with basic communication.

At the conference he gave a presentation describing SIUC and the research emphasis and focus areas of Southern at 150. He said this stimulated later discussion about mutual interest, which he said will benefit both faculty and students.

"That will ideally allow us to continue communicating and develop collaborations between faculty in these areas that are overlapping," Koropchak said.

Larry Dietz, vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, said exploring opportunities outside the United States broadens the University's perspective and brings a chance for joint ventures.

"It adds to the prestige of the institution when you have a diverse group of programs and a diverse of faculty," Dietz said.

Koropchak said the next step is to complete plans of bringing Yury Chebotarevsky, a top official at Saratov State Technical University, to the campus. Koropchak said he hopes this will lead SIUC faculty and students to visit Russia.

He said in the past, communication between Russia and the West was strained, but after the end of the Cold War the West chose to pursue a relationship of trust with Russia.

"There's still a lack of connection, to some extent, between this big country and what goes on in that country and what goes on in ours and the rest of the west," Koropchack said.

Koropchak said it is important for students to communicate and work with students and faculty from other countries, in order to prepare them to compete out in the world.

Keith Snavely, professor and director of Master of Public Administration program, has also represented SIUC in Russia.

He worked with Uday Desai, professor and chair of political science, in two projects with Russia in the past six years and brought several Russian teachers to campus.

Snavely and Desai worked with the Russian Academy of Government Service to develop a curriculum to train government officials about nonprofit sectors.

Even though Snavely does not speak Russian, he and Desai published a book printed in Russian language that will be used in their classrooms.

Snavely said before 1990, political science was not taught in Russia. He also said it is important for faculty and students to travel abroad and that the United States has a lot to offer.

"It's not a matter of us telling them what they ought to do," Snavely said. "We work with them in developing a curriculum by giving them resources they can use to the best of their ability."

Snavely said traveling to Russia and learning about their culture and history has helped him in his profession as well.

"That first hand experience is really invaluable," Snavely said.

 

 

[Macro error: Can't include because the file is larger than 32767 characters.]

Today's News | Sports | Voices - Editorial | Letters
Newsbriefs | pulse - Arts & Entertainment | Calendar | Photo Staff
Apts & Rentals | Photo Personals | Live DE NewsCam | Classified Ads