IU to broaden Asian relations

Students will be encouraged to study abroad in Asian countries as a result of a new strategic plan for the greater internationalization of IU.\n“We’re not saying not to study in Europe,” said Patrick O’Meara, vice president for international affairs. “But we haven’t done enough in Asia.”\nO’Meara presented the plan at the IU board of trustees meeting Thursday.\nThe plan is a result of IU President Michael McRobbie’s desire to increase global literacy at IU. Students will demand more opportunities to study abroad because the best jobs will require international experience, McRobbie said in his Oct. 18 inaugural address. McRobbie said he wants to expand IU’s relationships with universities in Asia because of the extraordinary economic growth in that region.\n“Study abroad opportunities at such universities will help prepare our students for the global future and will also serve the interests of the state of Indiana,” McRobbie said in his Oct. 18 inaugural address.\nIU administrators will put a new emphasis on student involvement in existing overseas study programs to meet the goals of this plan, according to a Dec. 6 press release. To fund these initiatives, IU must look to friends and supporters, like the IU Foundation, for their assistance in raising a major new endowment to support studying abroad scholarships, McRobbie said in his Oct. 18 inaugural address.\nIt is clear China will play an important role in both economic and political spheres in the 21st century, said Larry MacIntyre, director of media relations. Many future professionals in America will find themselves dealing with Chinese people, laws and customs. McRobbie recognizes this and wants to make sure IU students have international experience, MacIntyre said.\nActively recruiting the best international students is also part of the plan, O’Meara said. IU must find ways to be competitive in bringing these students to its campuses. This is where McRobbie’s recent trip to Zhejiang University in China comes into significance, O’Meara said. McRobbie and several IU deans were in China to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the linkage between IU and Zhejiang University and the 20th anniversary of the sister state relationship between Indiana and the Zhejiang province. These anniversaries represent a good relationship with an important part of China, O’Meara said.\n“There’s a lot of technology there,” O’Meara said. “It’s like the Silicon Valley of China.”\nMcRobbie visited other study abroad sites in China and attended some classes, O’Meara said. He also stopped in Beijing and Shanghai.\nO’Meara said IU has a great reputation in the international arena because of the work of people like former IU President Herman B Wells. Part of Wells’ legacy was that he saw IU as an international university, O’Meara said.\n“He did everything he could to internationalize the university and left a great base to build on,” O’Meara said. “Now we must look toward the future.”