EuroScholars, a unique study abroad program in which advanced students from the United States and Canada conduct research at high caliber European institutions while taking language and culture classes, has announced students who are receiving its spring 2012 scholarships.

The scholarship recipients are:

Anne Patterson, Iowa State University, Leiden University, Biology, Institutional Award.

Catherine Lewis, Clark University, Université Genève, Psychology, Institutional Award.

Makoto Miller-Tsutsui, University of Minnesota, Leiden University, Psychology, Institutional Award.

Caroline Johnson, Clark University, Università degli Studi di Milano, Biology, EuroScholars Award.

Nathan Wright, University of Minnesota, K.U. Leuven University, Psychology, EuroScholars Award.

David Saenz, University of Florida, Université Genève, Biology, Institutional Award.

In other EuroScholars news, the EuroScholars 2012 meeting will be at 9 a.m. on May 31 during the NAFSA 2012 Conference & Expo in Houston, Texas.

Related posts:

1. EuroLearn Announces Spring 2010 EuroScholars Awards
2. EuroScholars Academic Achievements Get Notice From Campus Publications
3. Congratulations Study Abroad Scholarship Recipients

Kaitlyn Hanaway, who is currently studying abroad for a year at the University of Stirling in Scotland through GlobaLinks Learning Abroad’s EuroLearn program, is echoing the sentiments of more students these days who are relying on study abroad scholarships and financial aid to study abroad.

“The scholarship was really important for me because it was somewhat of a struggle to find a job here,” said Hanaway, who received a $1,000 award from the Foundation for Global Scholars, a 501C(3) non-profit organization founded by GlobaLinks Learning Abroad that provides thousands of dollars annually in scholarships to students who might otherwise be unable to afford an international experience.

The scholarship has helped Hanaway, the 21-year-old psychology major at Bloomsburg University, pay for program and housing fees.

“Because it has helped me with these important payments, I can worry a little less about affording the lifestyle as a student in the U.K.,” she says. “Studying abroad is an amazing experience and it is so much better when you are not weighted down with stress about your financial support.”

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, a provider of international education programs across the globe, also provides scholarships and financial aid assistance. In fact, the organization annually awards $600,000 in scholarships to lessen financial burdens for students who want to make academic, professional, personal, cultural and social discoveries through study abroad.

“Challenging economic conditions globally are keeping some students from discovering the many benefits of study abroad, including personal growth, global workplace exposure and cultural adaptation skills,” said Cynthia Banks, founder and executive director of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad. “To counter this effect, GlobaLinks Learning Abroad is helping students tap into every possible resource for studying abroad, including scholarships, travel grants, financial aid transfers from home universities, payment plans and affordable high-quality program options.”

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad annually offers a wide variety of scholarship awards to enhance the affordability of semester, year and summer-abroad programs. It also offers financial aid counseling and budgeting advice for all of its programs to students, parents, advisors and study abroad offices.

“Many students mistakenly believe scholarship programs are only awarded to a small, select group of students,” Banks said. “Our scholarship and funding resources are actually much broader, which is why we strongly encourage all participants in our programs to explore available scholarship and funding options, as well as our many affordable, high-quality programs in Australia, Asia, New Zealand, Europe and the South Pacific.”

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad scholarship categories include:

Affiliate Student Awards – Students who attend U.S. or Canadian institutions affiliated with GlobaLinks Learning Abroad receive discounts on their semester abroad program fees and are eligible for affiliate student awards.

University-Sponsored Scholarships – These awards at 28 institutions in Europe, New Zealand and Australia are offered only to GlobaLinks Learning Abroad students by its partner universities.

Travel grants – In partnership with Qantas Airways, Air New Zealand and Air Pacific, selected participants are provided with awards equivalent to the international round-trip airfare to/from programs in Australia, New Zealand or Fiji.

Special Awards – These awards are targeted to certain populations or to support specific initiatives and additional resources through national organizations, home universities and academic departments. These scholarships include:

•      Diversity Scholarship – Awards of $1,500 to eligible students of an ethnic minority.
•      University of California and California State University Awards – $20,000 in scholarships for eligible students from any UC or CSU school.
•      Gilman Scholarship Support – Students who earn a Gilman Scholarships will receive $500.

Foundation for Global Scholars Awards – Students who are from underrepresented populations in international education are a priority.

For more details about the above opportunities, as well as additional scholarship and study abroad funding resources, go to GlobaLinks Learning Abroad’s Scholarships page.

Related posts:

1. GlobaLinks Learning Abroad and Foundation for Asia Pacific Education Donate $15,000 To Diversity Abroad For Scholarships
2. Students Receive Study Abroad Scholarships For Short Courses
3. Scholarships Awarded To Degree Abroad Students

Earning a degree in the United Kingdom wasn’t even on Diana Rice’s radar when she walked last fall into a graduate school fair at her home university.

“At this point, I was not even considering graduate school, not to mention graduate school overseas,” says Rice, 22, a graduate in business administration (economics/finance) from Bryan College. “I was just going so that my friend would not have to walk around alone.”

Diana Rice, a Bryan College graduate, is earning a degree abroad in the United Kingdom.

But as Rice went from table to table at the fair, she began considering new possibilities, including getter her master’s degree and studying abroad, something she’d never done as an undergraduate.

Then, by framing these new possibilities within her own passions for business, sports and traveling in Europe, the picture of her after-graduation future became clearer, and it showed her attending graduate school in sports management in the United Kingdom.

Through a Google search, Rice found DegreesOverseas.com, a program of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, and began bringing to life her vision for her future.

She applied and got accepted to a sports management master’s degree program at the University of Stirling in Scotland.

“It will allow me to hone my business knowledge and apply it to the sporting industry not only in America, but worldwide,” says Rice, who is from Soldotna, Alaska.  “I also decided to go overseas because it was not that much more money to go for an entire year than it is to do an entire year in the United States.”

Rice began her degree program in the U.K. last month.

So did Albert R. Roberson, 28, a political science graduate from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth who is earning a law degree at Kingston University in England.

Upon graduation, Roberson, who is from Jacksonville, Fla., hopes to work for a law firm that practices in both the U.K. and the U.S.

“I feel that this is the best way to integrate myself within the international legal community,” he says.

Gavin Hansen, 23, a biology graduate from the University of Alberta in Canada, also began a degree program in the U.K. this month.

Gavin Hansen, a biology graduate from the University of Alberta in Canada, has started coursework to earn a master’s degree in cancer therapeutics at Queen Mary University of London.

In his case, he will be getting a taught (a programmed set of courses vs. a research program) master’s degree in cancer therapeutics at Queen Mary University of London.

“I liked some of the options that were available to me for a master’s degree in the U.K. that aren’t offered in North America,” says Hansen, who is from Kelowna, British Columbia.

He, like Rice and Roberson, will consider staying in the U.K. after graduation.

“I know after living there last year that I really love the country and enjoy living there,” says Hansen, who studied abroad at the University of Sheffield. “I also think that having done a master’s degree in the U.K., I will have more opportunity to use it there where it will be better recognized.”

All three of the new U.K. degree students have tips for other students considering doing the same, such as:

TIP: Start planning well in advance.

“Apply early to the school and program,” Rice says. “A lot of the schools only have a certain amount of space for programs, and if you want to get a spot, you need to apply early.

Applicants also need to give a university time to review their applications.

Also, using GlobaLinks Learning Abroad helps ensure applications are completed correctly and fully, and can also speed up the processing with the university, Rice says. “Plus, the staff is great, and they are extremely helpful.”

TIP: Start gathering paperwork – transcripts, letters of recommendation, passports, etc. – as soon as you can.

“I think the biggest part of the process was actually applying for the program at the specific university,” Rice says. “Getting all the paper work in line took time – the filling out of the application and having professors write letters of recommendations, etc.  The university made a decision really quickly, and they also helped with the process.”

TIP: Before searching for schools and programs, set the criteria that a program must meet before you will consider it.

Doing so will save you a lot of time and energy, Hansen says.

“All the answers never seem to be in the same place,” Hansen says, “and it’s a cumulative process of figuring things out. The more schools you apply to the more energy it will take, but I had a certain set of criteria, and it really reduced all the potential options to a manageable number.”

TIP: Make sure your degree will be recognized outside of the country of study.

In Roberson’s case, this meant determining if a law degree earned in the U.K. was transferable, and whether he could sit for the bar in the United States.

“When all of those questions were answered I felt more comfortable in my decision,” he says.

TIP: Prepare to adjust your study habits to different teaching styles.

“My greatest concern about earning a degree outside of the United States was that I would have to adjust my study habits and adjust to a different culture’s teaching style,” Rice says. “However, I like to be challenged, and I think that earning my degree from the United Kingdom will help me obtain a good job once I graduate.”

TIP: Consider going for a master’s degree right after you finish your undergraduate degree rather than delaying.

“Once you get out into the workforce you will get out of the study mode,” Rice says, “and you wont want to go back and study. So, do it earlier than later. “

TIP: Look closely at costs and requirements so you can get your financial house in order.

Hansen was surprised when he found out he needed to have all of the funds for tuition and living expenses in a bank account 28 days prior to his departure.

“This is a very difficult thing to do for a student since we all use loans, scholarships, support form our parents, and income from part-time jobs to make ends meet,” he says. “Without taking out a loan from the bank, I wouldn’t have been able to gather all the funds together ahead of time to be able to apply for my visa. Things like this, I didn’t anticipate, so the more organized you are at the start, the easier it will be.”

TIP: Seek help from the experts.

“Never go into a venture such as this alone because there are loads of schools in other countries that have degrees that aren’t certifiable in the United States,” Roberson says.

“With the help of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, the process was easier than I anticipated,” Hansen says. “I had already been to England on a study abroad program, so I understood the whole visa application process already.”

“There were a lot of steps involved in making my program become a reality,” Rice says. “However, the process and steps were very easily outlined, and if I had any questions, the people at GlobaLinks were there and ready to answer them via phone or email. They offered great advice and help when I needed it most.”

Related posts:

1. EuroLearn Launches Degree Abroad Options in United Kingdom for U.S. and Canadian Students
2. Student Snapshots: Bond University Awards Scholarships To AustraLearn Degree Abroad Students, CBC Radio Airs Segment On College Degree Transfer Programs
3. Scholarships Awarded To Degree Abroad Students

EuroScholars Featured In U of Tulsa’s Globe Trekking Newsletter

The University of Tulsa’s Center for Global Education regular features articles on students studying abroad, including featuring two TU students, Stacey Keller and Tara Drwenski, who participated in the EuroScholars program, which features academic research opportunities at universities in Europe.

Here’s an excerpt from Kristin Wood’s article:

Each student’s experience with EuroScholars is different. The program is small, and the universities are throughout Europe, so a student will often be the only EuroScholars participant in the city. Students can research exclusively while they are abroad, or they can combine research with an elective class. The balance between research and other activities is up to the student and his or her academic needs and interests.

Stacy Keller, a senior biochemistry major, spent spring 2010 in 

Lund, Sweden, working on a molecular genetics project about yeast metabolism. This was her second time studying abroad, so she was ready for an experience in which she would be on her own. “It was liberating to be that independent,” she said. Her research abroad gave her all the advanced science credits she needed to graduate and helped her decide on a career path. “I decided against doing research as a profession,” she said, “but I don’t think I would have known that without doing this program.”

Tara Drwenski, a junior physics and math major, spent last fall in Utrecht, the Netherlands, also with EuroScholars. Her research was in the particle physics department at Utrecht University. She worked with ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment), studying heavy ion collisions. Drwenski’s work is not only beneficial to her, but also to the university where she was researching. “They’re actually going to use some of the work I did,” she said. Unlike Keller, Drwenski’s time abroad confirmed her interest in research, and she intends to go on to get her Ph.D. degree and conduct research as a career.

EuroScholars also encourages its participants to learn about the language and culture of the country they are in; and each semester the students, who are spread throughout Europe, come together to share their experiences and learn about Europe in general.

As Keller put it, “As a science major interested in research, it’s a really awesome way to get credit, and it looks amazing for graduate schools.”

Related posts:

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Scotland

University of Strathclyde Graduates Gain Real-Life Business Experience

The Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship at the University of Strathclyde is to play a key role in a new £1.5 million placement program designed to give graduates real-life business experience and help ambitious companies achieve growth, according to a university news article.

Over the next three years, The TalentScotland Graduate Placement Programme will match 750 skilled graduates with growing Scottish businesses to carry out innovative projects the businesses otherwise would not be able to achieve.

Each graduate will receive dedicated, residential entrepreneurship training delivered by Strathclyde’s Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and Robert Gordon University to enhance graduates’ employability, innovation and leadership skills.

“The aim of the training element of the course is to better equip graduates to understand their placement business and hit the ground running in the project they are assigned with,” said Dr. Jonathan Levie of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship. “They will learn practical tools and techniques in business to help them become strong leaders and help drive business growth.”

New Zealand

Double Victory for Univ. of Waikato Students in Business Case

The winning team of Waikato Management students from left to right Jeremy Harwood, Daniel Stevenson, Michael Hall and Donna Frederikson.

A team of students from the University of Waikato Management School is celebrating a double victory.  At the recent finals of the national student case competition in Queenstown, Waikato beat five other New Zealand university teams to win the national league championship and was also judged international champion in a ten-team competition including teams from Holland, Australia, China and Singapore, according to a university news article.

The winning Waikato team of Daniel Stevenson, Donna Frederikson, Michael Hall and Jeremy Harwood impressed the judges with the depth, scope and business savvy of their analysis of the ski industry in the international competition final. “They were incredibly impressive,” said NZSki CEO James Coddington. “I only wish I could hire all of them.”

Stevenson graduates with a Bachelor of Management Studies (Honours) later this year, and has secured a place on Deutsche Bank’s prestigious graduate entry programme in Sydney. “Taking part in the case competitions has been the highlight of my time at Waikato, and the real-world business experience has given me the edge in finding a job,” he says.

University of Canterbury Composer Elated to Win National Award

Chris Cree Brown.

Internationally acclaimed composer and University of Canterbury lecturer Associate Professor Chris Cree Brown (Music) has received a prestigious national award for a musical composition for solo clarinet and electronics.

The work, Inner Bellow, won the 2010 SOUNZ Contemporary Award, which was presented to Professor Cree Brown at the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) Silver Scroll awards ceremony recently in Auckland. The annual award consists of $3,000 in prize money and a trophy designed and made by sculptor Sarah Smuts Kennedy.

It was the fourth time Professor Cree Brown had been a finalist for the award. He said he was “absolutely elated” to win this year.

“As a creative artist I find it difficult to look at my own work and assess it in any way,” he said, “so to have my peers say that this piece is fantastic is absolutely wonderful.”

Inner Bellow was one of three finalist works for the award and was selected from 44 submissions. It was specially written for Christchurch-based clarinettist Gretchen La Roche, who is also a tutor in the School of Music, and includes unusual performance techniques such as multiphonics and having the soloist play through a partly dismantled instrument to create new tones.

Australia

Univ. of Wollongong Earns Record 43 Stars in Good Universities Guide

The release of the 2011 Good Universities Guide shows that the University of Wollongong (UOW) has achieved a record 43 stars from nine critical categories listed in the independent guide.  This year UOW gained a maximum five stars in the following categories:

• Getting a Job
• Positive Graduate Outcomes
• Research Intensity
• Graduate Satisfaction
• Staff Qualifications
• Staff-Student Ratios
• Generic Skills

The release of the highly-respected 2010 Shanghai Jiao Tong rankings has seen UOW maintain its position for the fourth year in a row as one of the world’s top 2 percent of research universities.

Related posts:

1. University Highlights – Europe
2. University Highlights: AustraLearn’s Full-Degree Efforts Recognized By University of Queensland, University of South Australia Professor Wins Prestigious Award
3. University Highlights: U of Auckland Children’s Study, University of Sydney’s Medical School in Canada, University of Adelaide’s Research On Space Vehicle

Five Top-Ranked U.K. Universities Offering All Undergraduate, Post-Graduate and Professional Programs Through EuroLearn’s Application Center

It just got a lot easier to earn a degree in the United Kingdom with the launch of new degree program offerings from EuroLearn, an educational program of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad.

Kingston University

EuroLearn’s new degree program offers students in the United States and Canada the full array of undergraduate, post-graduate and professional degrees at these popular U.K. institutions:

• Kingston University, located in Kingston upon Thames, England, with total enrollment of 22,782, including 2,800 international students.
• Queen Mary, University of London, located in London, with total enrollment of 13,000, including 2,800 international students.
• Swansea University, located in Swansea, Wales, with total enrollment of 11,500, including 450 international students.
• University of Stirling, located in Stirling, Scotland, with total enrollment of 9,000, including 1,260 international students.
• University of Strathclyde, located in Glasgow, Scotland, with total enrollment of 15,000, including 1,500 international students.

“We are thrilled to open these pathways for U.S. and Canadian students to earn their degrees in these top-flight universities in the U.K. education system, one of the most respected and valued in the world,” said Mona Miller, director of EuroLearn/EuroScholars. “Our U.K. partner universities trust us to give students the information they need, when they need it, and are pleased to have this representation in North America as they know all applications will be carefully reviewed and complete.”

The EuroLearn degree abroad application center, hosted at DegreesOverseas.com, is the central point of contact for all U.S. and Canadian students interested in degree programs in the U.K. It is a free service to students that provides:

• Comprehensive information on all partner universities, locations, degrees, courses, fees, housing, financial aid and assistance with the visa process.
• Customizable MyLearn account for tracking programs of interest.
• Searchable Degree Finder for selection of institution, fields and degrees in just three clicks.
• Online application process.
• Quick responses to concerns and questions via direct personal contact.
• An experienced, passionate and motivated staff that has traveled, studied or lived overseas.

“Our application center is set up specifically to simplify, smooth and speed the sometimes complex application and enrollment process,” Miller said. “By providing this high level of service, EuroLearn is making it easier than ever for North American students to realize their dreams of earning a degree abroad in the U.K.”

EuroLearn is now accepting applications for degree programs in the U.K. for the September 2011 intake, with an application deadline of Jan. 15, 2011.

For more information, visit EuroLearn degree programs.

Related posts:

1. University of Sydney Representatives Visiting Canadian Universities to Educate Students on Degree Options
2. DegreesOverseas.com Launches To Assist Students Seeking Degrees At Universities Abroad
3. Student Snapshots: Bond University Awards Scholarships To AustraLearn Degree Abroad Students, CBC Radio Airs Segment On College Degree Transfer Programs

New Zealand

University of Otago Helps Found Network of Select Universities

The University of Otago is one of the founding members of the Matariki Network of Universities (MNU), a select international group of outstanding universities. The seven founding network partners are: Dartmouth College in the USA; Durham University in England; Queen’s University in Canada; University of Otago in New Zealand; University of Tübingen in Germany; University of Western Australia in Australia; and Uppsala University in Sweden.

The MNU has been established to enable the universities to enhance diversity, share ideas and expertise, and learn international best practice from each other, recognizing the shared commitment to an ethos of excellence in research, scholarship and rounded education.

Members of the MNU have come together for a range of activities, including enhanced student exchange, development of joint postgraduate programmes, social responsibility projects, research collaboration, visiting fellowships, staff exchange and secondments, benchmarking and sharing of best practice, and cultural and sporting activities.

Of particular note, and in line with the theme of “Partnering for a better world,” an annual research meeting will be held with representatives from each member university, focusing on a topic of global importance.

South Korea

Korea University Volunteers Assist Uganda Schools With IT Needs

Korea University student volunteers recently gave IT assistance and donated computers to schools in Uganda.

The Global Leadership Center of Korea University recently returned home from Uganda, where it provided volunteer information technology services, a effort led by Director Kim, Byeong-gi and Dean Kim, Han-gyeom, with 10 students from Korea University participating.

The group stayed in Uganda for 12 days in August, visited four schools located in Masaka and Ntungamo in Uganda, donated computers made in Korea, and provided IT training to students. The group assisted two senior secondary schools, one secondary school and one primary school and presented each school with 10 computers and peripherals, a network device and a laser printer. The participants also donated manuals developed to help students use the computer, along with related training.

Last winter, the leadership center sent a volunteer group to the Philippines. This latest volunteer service in Uganda was carried out in cooperation with the KU Social Service Organization (KUSSO) and UN-GAID.

“I participated in this volunteer service because the past experience in the Philippines was very worthwhile,” said Jung, Jae-sung, a student in the department of information management engineering. “Most of the participants had never visited Africa before. However, the process of preparing for the service went very well. The social infrastructure in Uganda was much worse than what we had expected prior to our departure. Even in Kampala, the capital city, there was no Internet system available except at some locations such as luxurious hotels. The places we visited were small regional cities, so in many cases, computers were used for education-related programs rather than for the Internet.”

For this overseas IT volunteer service, Director Kim, Byeong-gi, worked in cooperation with UN-GAID, and the minister of the Ministry of Information and Communication in Uganda. Korea University donated 40 sets of computers used on campus, with volunteers installing computers and network devices in addition to conducting IT training. The group also shared with the schools traditional Korean games such as yut (yutnori), Korean shuttlecock (jegichagi), top-spinning (paeng-i-chigi), etc.

“For students in secondary schools, the fact that there was no Internet system may be depressing,” added student Jung, Jae-sung. “Nevertheless, they looked very happy. They visited the volunteers’ lodging and shared their dreams for the future. When we had to depart, a lot of them displayed tears. I miss them a lot.”

England

Queen Mary Moves Up World Rankings

Queen Mary, University of London, has ranked 120th in the Times Higher Education World Rankings, which places it as the 16th highest university from the U.K.

In addition, the QS world rankings 2010 show Queen Mary has moved into the top 150 universities in the world with a placement of 147, up 17 places from 2009. Other highlights include Queen Mary’s being listed in the top 100 for ‘Arts & Humanities’ and ‘Life Sciences and Medicine’ and being 54th in the world for its proportion of international students.

Related posts:

1. University Highlights: Tulsa Student’s Hong Kong Impressions, International Recognition for Green Practices, Expo for Students with Disabilities
2. Korea University Group Delivers Coal Briquettes To Warm Homes And Hearts Of Low-Income And Elderly People
3. University Highlights: AustraLearn’s Full-Degree Efforts Recognized By University of Queensland, University of South Australia Professor Wins Prestigious Award

Kerri Hunter Recounts Rock Festivals, Volcanic Eruptions And Scientific Research Abroad For Home University Web Site

Kerri Hunter, a University of Manitoba graduate who recently did research at the University of Helsinki through the EuroScholars program, is a featured student on her university’s web site for her adventurous exchange experience – which included volcanic eruptions, rock festivals and biological research – in Finland.

Here’s an excerpt from the the full article, found here:

In 2008, Kerri, a Faculty of Science student, went to a Helsinki rock festival and had a blast.  She loved the festival, and she loved Helsinki. Even before she left Finland, she knew she just had to return.

Kerri Hunter has a bit of fun during her long-and-winding journey back to her host university in Finland following travel chaos this summer in Europe caused by Iceland's volcanic eruption.

When Kerri graduated (with First Class Honours) in May 2009, she hadn’t forgotten her dream of returning to Finland.  She discovered the EuroScholars program though an internet search, and she began to formulate a plan.

EuroScholars is a study-abroad program for advanced students where you can conduct research at a high-caliber European institution.  EuroScholars targets highly-talented students from the USA and Canada, and much to Kerri’s delight, one of the participating universities was the University of Helsinki.

Kerri applied to the program and after successfully completing two rounds of the selection process, was accepted.  She began her six-month stay in Helsinki in January 2010.

Finding a cure for HED

Her project in developmental biology was called: Molecular Regulation of Animal Development.  In the lab, she worked on mouse models with Hypohidrotic Excodermal Dysplasia (HED), a human genetic disorder that results in the abnormal development of the skin, hair, nails, teeth and sweat glands.  The exciting part of the work is that scientists have discovered that any variation in 3 specific molecules causes the disease, and they are very hopeful that a cure can be found.  Kerri’s part in the project included screening diseased mouse embryos for expression patterns of other candidate genes, using the Whole Mount in situ Hybridization (WMISH) technique.

The lab at the Institute of Biotechnology brought together people from around the world, and Kerri had the opportunity to work on the project with a Ph.D. student from France.

“At the Institute of Biotechnology, they are very particular about lab technique,” she explains.  She diligently worked on her project and honed her lab techniques.

The eruption of Eyjafjoell in Iceland dramaticallt changed travel plans

In 2010, the Euroscholars got together to present their work to a panel of professors and Ph.D. students in Zurich.  The presentation date coincided with the volcanic eruption of Eyjafjoell in Iceland, and the Euroscholars had fortunately converged in Zurich before the planes were grounded, but Kerri found that she was not able to fly back to Helsinki as planned.

To get back to Helsinki, Kerri braved the throngs of stranded passengers and traveled by train to Hamburg and by using a circuitous route involving six different trains, eventually arrived in Sweden. She was able to take a ferry back to Helsinki to arrive just in time to make her previously-booked student trip to Russia!

To read more about Hunter’s research, the impact of a volcanic eruption on her travel plans, and more, visit here.

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Greece

Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis Visits American College of Thessaloniki

Michael and Kitty Dukakis recently visited the American University of Thessaloniki for several dedications.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis and First Lady Kitty Dukakis recently visited Anatolia, Greece, to dedicate spaces on the Anatolia campus, home to the American College of Thessaloniki, a new EuroLearn program partner.

The Dukakakis’ visit commemorated the tenth anniversary of the Dukakis Chair in Public Policy and Service, according to a university news article. Having previously attended in a fundraising event in Los Angeles for Jewish victims of the German occupation of Greece in World War II, the Dukakis’ were invited to take part in the dedication of a classroom in the Ingle Hall Annex to the 94 Jewish Anatolia students who perished in the Holocaust.

They also participated in the dedication of a “Hope and Remembrance Garden” outside Eleftheriadis Library honoring Anatolians who were victims of human cruelty and brutality in the 20th century. These dedications were followed by a luncheon and symposium on Anatolia’s role as witness to such events.

Other highlights included a gala fund raising dinner at the Bissell Library celebrating the tenth anniversary of the launch of the Dukakis Chair at ACT, and Homecoming 2010. In addition, Governor Dukakis participated in an award ceremony for the 24 ACT students who collaborated in the Recycle Monster project as Dukakis Chair interns.

Prior to his departure, Governor Dukakis met on campus with representatives of Democrats Abroad Greece, who are in the process of creating a chapter in Thessaloniki.

The Michael S. Dukakis Chair in Public Policy, directed by David Wisner, was launched in September 1999 by Governor Dukakis and has since been host to more than 100 public events and public service initiatives (http://www.act.edu/dukakis_chair.jsp).

Australia

Monash University Researches Create New Blood Test

A new blood type test that costs less than 10 cents each, requires just one drop of blood, and is highly portable could save lives around the world, according to the Monash University developers who created it, says an EMax Health article .

Current blood type tests costs hundreds of dollars per test and involve intricate analysis using optical or microfluidic devices. Knowledge of a person’s blood type is essential for blood transfusions, because if the wrong type of blood is given to an individual, the person may die. It is also critical for pregnant women to have their blood typed, and blood type tests are also done to determine whether two people are likely to be blood relatives.

Human blood is typed by looking for certain markers, called antigens, on the surface of red blood cells. There are four main blood types—A, B, AB, and O—and the two most common blood type tests are the ABO and Rh tests.

New Zealand

Massey University Health Researcher Given Lifetime Achievement Award

Massey University Professor Neil Pearce.

Massey University Professor Neil Pearce of Wellington has received a lifetime achievement award for services to to occupational health, according to a university news article.

The noted epidemiologist who heads the University’s Centre for Public Health Research received the award at the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards in Auckland. The awards are organised annually by Thomson Reuters, publishers of Safeguard magazine.

Professor Pearce is regarded as a world leader in his field. His research has involved conducting international investigations into asthma and allergies in children. He leads one of the largest health studies in the world into asthma, involving more than a million children at more than 280 health centres in 100 countries. He has also led investigations that discovered meat workers, pulp and paper workers and farmers were at greater risk from certain forms of cancer.

Just a week prior to the award, the Health Research Council announced that Professor Pearce had won $1.19 million in funding over three years for research assessing whether occupational solvent exposure in spray painters is associated with neurological disorders.

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1. University Highlights: AustraLearn’s Full-Degree Efforts Recognized By University of Queensland, University of South Australia Professor Wins Prestigious Award
2. University Highlights: Psych Study In Italy, ANU’s Green Award, Horse Surgery First At Massey
3. Cutting-Edge: Massey Prof’s Chromosome Work Earns Countrywide Recognition, Macquarie Researcher Studies Molecules Via Nano-Diamonds

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 to the many people she’s encountered during the spring 2010 semester.

In a heartfelt excerpt from her blog “Something I Can Send You From Across The Sea,” she tells her fellow study abroad friends:

“Our time together in London/Kingston/Surbiton has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I love how different we all are and how many different places and backgrounds we come from, and yet we are so stuck together by our commonalities, by our similar struggles, by our shared hilarious moments, by one incredible experience. Each of you has, for different reasons and in different ways, left an indelible impression on my life; you have been a positive part of one of my most significant growing periods, and I can only hope that I have been a part of yours. The times that we have shared together, although coming to a close, cannot be closed, shut out, and forgotten. We must keep these memories at the forefront of our minds so that we can continue to grow and learn from them.”

Academic Excellence Of AustraLearn Study Abroad Participants Recognized By Bond University

Bond University in Australia recently announced high-achieving students, including some AustraLearn study abroad participants, who placed on the Dean’s or Vice Chancellor’s list for academic excellence.

In the January 2010 semester, the following students were recognized:

Kenneth Brand, a Tufts University student who placed on the Dean’s List for Academic Excellence.
Leigh Eskin, a Ohio State University student who placed on the Vice Chancellor’s List for Academic Excellence.
Lyndsay Harwood, a University of Missouri – Columbia student who placed on the Dean’s List for Academic Excellence.
Monica McAllister, a Washington State University student who placed on the Vice Chancellor’s List for Academic Excellence.
Krista Reinfeldt, a Lehigh University student who placed on the Vice Chancellor’s List for Academic Excellence.
Lauren Sirois, a Tufts University student who placed on the Vice Chancellor’s List for Academic Excellence.
Jackie Trombley, a University of Massachusetts – Amherst student who placed on the Vice Chancellor’s List for Academic Excellence.

Each student receives a certificate from Bond University designating the academic recognition.

Student Council members at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Attend Leadership Training Camp

Student Council members at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus cheer after completing their training.

Crossing a chest-deep river and wading through swamps were among the challenges met recently by members of the Swinburne Sarawak Student Council (SSSC) participating in a leadership and team building exercise at Camp Pueh in Sematan, according to a university news article.

Put together by the Student Operations Department of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, the 20-odd SSSC members took part in the two-day camp headed by Frederick T. A. Tan, a sports psychologist from the National Sports Institute of Malaysia who was specially brought in from Kuala Lumpur.

Throughout the two days, the students, who only recently took up their respective SSSC posts for the year, were tested on their ability to follow instructions, devise plans in tackling problems or obstacles and work in teams.

“The training camp they have to go through is especially important because of the role the SSSC plays,” said Mohamed Hisyam Jamal Mohd, assistant manager with the client services of the student operations. “They are the ones who look into the interests of students and organize events for their peers throughout the year.”

“This requires good planning and organizational skills on top of having the ability to work in a team environment as well as independently,” he said.

Despite some of the hardships they had to go through, the students shared a positive attitude.

“I believe that we are all leaders, and activities like this can further help us discover and develop our leadership potential,” said Nigerian student Abdullahi Baba Ari, vice-president of the SSSC. “I know that most of my fellow camp participants will agree that we are now more aware and sensitized when it comes to teamwork and actively listening.”

Treasurer Chloe Tsai said the training gave her the opportunity to really get to know other council members. Getting closely acquainted with other students gave her more confidence in executing her role as the council’s treasurer.

“One thing that is very important here at the leadership camp is for us to find our leadership niche so we can apply them within our community,” she added.

Students Daniel Sineros felt that two days were not enough time for such a program. Born and raised in Kuching, he looks forward to joining such camps again as he enjoys the rough and tumble of camp life, having spent most of his growing years at his parents’ kampung.

“The activities were challenging and exciting. Most were aimed at teaching participants the true meaning of teamwork and cooperation, to enhance problem-solving skills especially when working in a group,” he said, adding that the experience and lessons learned can be applied in every-day life.

The camp was not all sweat and pain, however, as the students also had a chance to throw a surprise birthday party for their friends.

Related posts:

1. Student Snapshots: EuroScholar Reflects On Netherlands Experience, AsiaLearn Video Blogger’s First Glimpses In Thailand, King’s College Circus Student Makes Local News, Canadian Degree Student Recognized By Bond Uni For Academics
2. Student Snapshots: Bond University Awards Scholarships To AustraLearn Degree Abroad Students, CBC Radio Airs Segment On College Degree Transfer Programs
3. Student Snapshots: AsiaLearn Student Explores Thai Culture, EuroScholar’s Research On Stars Presented, AustraLearn Degree and Semester Students Awarded Scholarships