KU coordinates Fulbright orientation program



LAWRENCE — Twenty-five Fulbright international students are attending this year’s English Refinement for Graduate Studies Program for Fulbright Grantees at the University of Kansas to help them acclimate to academic life and American culture before they begin their graduate studies. The students arrived June 30.

With the help of KU faculty and staff, the Applied English Center is offering the six-week program that focuses on English language and refinement of academic skills, technology and research training, Fulbright program goals, orientation to U.S. university life, survival skills for graduate students and cross-cultural orientation. KU is one of eight institutions offering this type of Fulbright pre-academic program to 25 of the more than 240 new grantees in the program. 

“The Applied English Center is very excited to be hosting its 12th Fulbright pre-academic program,” said Margaret Coffey, AEC associate director and program director. “The center offers language and culture learning experiences for graduate Fulbright grantees from traditionally under-represented countries at the university. For example, this year the grantees come from 15 countries, including Niger, Nepal, Mauritania, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste and Azerbaijan. On the flip side, university faculty, staff and administrators who are a part of this program have opportunities for educational and professional enrichment, not to mention exciting group cross-cultural experiences that foster an expanded world view.”

While in Lawrence, the students will visit Topeka and Kansas City, Missouri, hear from students at Haskell Indian Nations University, go to the Douglas County Fair and have dinner with a local family. Their trip will last through mid-August.

This program is funded by the U.S. State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by IIE: Institute for International Education in New York.

Tue, 07/15/2014

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Alison Watkins

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Alison Watkins

International Programs

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