Kurdish scholars return to Radford University to workshop learning philosophies
Radford University reaffirmed international bonds on Aug. 6 when visitors from the Iraqi Kurdistan Rural University Partnership Program (IKRUPP) returned to campus.
At this year's forum, the Language and Culture Institute at Radford University (LCI@RU) hosted 15 faculty members and administrators from the universities of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq.
IKRUUP members discussed strategies to encourage engagement and the challenges of integrating technology in the classroom with RU's Dean of the College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences Kate Hawkins, Professors of English Laurie Cubbison, Kathy Kelly and Robert Williams and LCI@RU Associate Director Charlene Dandrow.
Also in attendance was Jeanne Mekolichick, assistant vice provost for High Impact Practices, the division under which international education at Radford University is organized.
"We're delighted to have you here," Mekolichick said as she welcomed the delegation. "We are hopeful that the expertise of our faculty here can assist you and you can learn from one another."
IKRUPP participants joined Charlene Dandrow, Kathy Kelly, Robert Williams and other Radford University faculty members during the two-hour session.
The two-hour open conversation was part of a joint effort by the Kurdistan Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, U.S. Department of State and International Research and Exchanges Board to build sustainable relationships between universities in rural Kurdistan and the United States to advance their English language departments.
The LCI@RU coordinated the RU visit with the Virginia Tech Language and Culture Institute (VTLCI), who oversaw the team's regional visit. The VTLCI and LCR@RU provide language-related programs and services for international academic and professional development.