2008 Woodie Awards
Bremen study, teaching exchange established
Jaime Brosch
Issue date: 2/2/06 Section: News
Central faculty and students interested in studying abroad can spend a semester or a full year at the University of Bremen in northern Germany through a new exchange program.
German professor Dorothy Robbins said she has wanted this program for years.
"This is a huge bilateral exchange," Robbins said. "I have no words to express my thanks to the international office and honors college for making this possible."
Central is sending two students to Bremen this semester. The spring semester in Bremen lasts from April until July. Students and faculty wanting to spend only one semester at Bremen must go in the spring due to the difference in semester months.
Robbins, who is from southern Germany, said the program started last fall when Bremen professor Katharina Kracht came to Central to promote the exchange. Kracht spent five weeks giving presentations to recruit students and faculty members for the program.
"She was truly wonderful," Robbins said. "We loved her and can't wait until she returns."
Kracht plans to return in the fall to teach a German course and an honors colloquium course entitled European Minorities.
Peter Viscusi, dean of the honors college, said it has been very active in this exchange.
"We will have Bremen instructors here to teach honors colloquium courses," Viscusi said. "There is also a major recruitment of honors students for the program."
Viscusi spent 10 days in Bremen in November, promoting the program.
"The faculty there is very eager," Viscusi said. "They are actually having a competition among faculty members to see who will get to come here and teach. They take it as a tremendous opportunity and want to work toward making this work."
Viscusi said it is important to realize this is a campus-wide opportunity, not just for certain departments. Students wanting to take part in this program need some background in German and in good academic standing. Viscusi said most public schools in Germany require students to begin learning English in the fifth grade, and almost everyone in Bremen can speak English.
German professor Dorothy Robbins said she has wanted this program for years.
"This is a huge bilateral exchange," Robbins said. "I have no words to express my thanks to the international office and honors college for making this possible."
Central is sending two students to Bremen this semester. The spring semester in Bremen lasts from April until July. Students and faculty wanting to spend only one semester at Bremen must go in the spring due to the difference in semester months.
Robbins, who is from southern Germany, said the program started last fall when Bremen professor Katharina Kracht came to Central to promote the exchange. Kracht spent five weeks giving presentations to recruit students and faculty members for the program.
"She was truly wonderful," Robbins said. "We loved her and can't wait until she returns."
Kracht plans to return in the fall to teach a German course and an honors colloquium course entitled European Minorities.
Peter Viscusi, dean of the honors college, said it has been very active in this exchange.
"We will have Bremen instructors here to teach honors colloquium courses," Viscusi said. "There is also a major recruitment of honors students for the program."
Viscusi spent 10 days in Bremen in November, promoting the program.
"The faculty there is very eager," Viscusi said. "They are actually having a competition among faculty members to see who will get to come here and teach. They take it as a tremendous opportunity and want to work toward making this work."
Viscusi said it is important to realize this is a campus-wide opportunity, not just for certain departments. Students wanting to take part in this program need some background in German and in good academic standing. Viscusi said most public schools in Germany require students to begin learning English in the fifth grade, and almost everyone in Bremen can speak English.