Pledge now to support Dan O’Brien as he races Labor Day laps at Sebring International Raceway for the Foundation For Asia Pacific Education
By Stacey Hartmann
GlobaLinks NewsWire Editor
Racing a car to raise money for study abroad …
Universities abroad are nerve centers for cutting-edge academic offerings and research initiatives.
Over the trajectory of life, some of the greatest lessons come through adventures and experiences in foreign lands.
International education is shaped by the hard-working minds and hands of educators, academic advisors and program providers.
The greening of education abroad is both mission and responsibility toward shared environmental solutions.
Globetrotting students need global awareness, and that means staying on top of news from home and abroad.

Rylee Genseal, an AustraLearn participant from Marshall University, enjoys spending time with the Sote Village School children.
AustraLearn participants studying abroad at the University of the South Pacific recently joined residents of a remote village in Fiji to start a large garden for the local school, and in the process, sow seeds of cultural understanding.
North American university students studying abroad in Fiji at the University of the South Pacific (USP) recently spent three days laboring beside residents of the remote Sote Village to plant a large garden to supply lunch food throughout the year to the children of Sote Village School.
The group of 10 students and two AustraLearn staff arrived July 17 in Sote Village with seeds, gardening tools and strong backs to establish a garden growing produce not normally found in the area, including watermelon, pumpkin, cucumber, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, eggplant, okra, bell peppers, carrots, spring onions, radishes and cherry tomatoes.
“Our AustraLearn semester-abroad student volunteers worked side by side with the people of Sote Village and Sote Village School to learn about the lives of the Fijian people and promote the bond between student and host country,” said Shelia Houston, director of AustraLearn’s South Pacific Educational Support Centre in Queensland, Australia. “The weekend was an outstanding success and the students were welcomed into the village completely.”

AustraLearn students and staff gather with residents of Sote Village in Fiji during a three-day community service project.
The initial Sote Village garden planting is the beginning of a twice-yearly community service effort by AustraLearn students to tend and maintain the garden. In addition, donations were raised by AustraLearn staff to provide teaching tools to the school.
Goals of the project include:
“This was a truly hands-on project that everyone found personally fulfilling,” Houston said. “Our students lived on site with the Sote community during our stay. They enjoyed sharing meals and playing games, soccer and other sports. The farewell was very emotional for the children, the AustraLearn students and staff, and the villagers – everyone had tears.”
The community service project is one of the unique volunteer abroad programs offered by the AustraLearn / AsiaLearn / EuroLearn international education programs of Westiminster, Colo.-based GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, which annually sends more than 3,000 students abroad.

A young student of Sote Village School gives flowers to AustraLearn participant Laura Packard, an Ohio Wesleyan University student, during a welcoming ceremony.
AustraLearn in 2007 opened its semester-abroad program at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Suva, Fiji. It now sends 15-20 students a semester to the island nation, with participants experiencing a six-day Culture and Adventure Program to introduce them to local customs and culture. Students also are provided access to many travel and cultural opportunities along with their schooling, and 24-7 access to an AustraLearn resident director to assist them with any needs or emergencies.
“A community is an important place to belong,” Houston said, “and our students love the country, communities and cultures of Fiji with passion and dedication.”
Waikato University: Sustainable Features Garner Student Centre Green Award
University of Waikato’s Student Centre, a $30 million project due for completion in mid 2011, has been awarded a prestigious 5 Green Star rating from the New …
The AustraLearn/AsiaLearn/EuroLearn programs have announced their September 2010 scholarship recipients, with funding provided by sponsoring universities, STA Travel/Qantas and GlobaLinks Learning Abroad.
The recipients include:
Erin Alberts, a University of South Dakota student, is receiving a $1,000 …
‘I guess that does it,’ says the 27-year-old AustraLearn alumnus
Andrew Ratzlaff cruised across the Golden Gate Bridge last week and marked the end of the road for his roughly 4,400-mile cross-country bike trip that raised …
AsiaLearn Student Volunteers In Elementary School
By Kelli Modica
AsiaLearn Assistant Manager
Taylor Read, a St. Edwards University student, is currently studying abroad at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan through AsiaLearn with people from all over …
The German “Oracle Octypus” named Paul is at it again, having predicted Sunday’s World Cup final match will be won by …
Spain!
Take heed, as Paul’s World Cup picks have yet to be wrong.
Journalists from the …
Young Musicians From Across The Globe Performing At World Expo Underway In Shanghai
Young musicians from all over the world are taking part in the Shanghai World Expo 2010 this month as part of the “Young …
Labor Party Elects Julia Gillard After Declaring Kevin Rudd’s Position Vacant
Julia Gillard became Australia’s first female Prime Minister this week after the government’s ruling Labor Party removed former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Rudd exited, according to …
EuroLearn Student Blogger Bids Farewell As Time Abroad Winds Down
Leslie Pitman, a student from Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina who is studying abroad at Kingston University in London through EuroLearn, recently bid farewell …
U.S. Students Studying Abroad at Central Queensland University Learn From Judith Fergin About Foreign Policy and Diplomatic Services Careers
Several AustraLearn participants attended a lecture last week by Judith Fergin, the United States Consul General, Sydney.
The …
Profiles of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad – 20th Anniversary Series
Editor’s Note: This is the first of an occasional series profiling individuals who, through their unique circumstances with the AustraLearn, AsiaLearn, EuroLearn programs of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, …