FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 26, 2007
Florida A&M University Earns International Higher Education Award for Best Practices
TALLAHASSEE – Florida A&M University (FAMU) is one of six institutions selected to receive the 2007 Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education from the Institute for International Education (IIE). The FAMU School of Business and Industry (SBI) will be honored for its study abroad program March 30 at the United Nations in a special ceremony at the 2nd Annual IIE Best Practices Conference. The FAMU SBI Study Abroad Program will also be featured in the spring 2007 issue of the IIENetworker magazine and will be highlighted by IIE throughout the year as a “best practice” in the field of international education.
In an announcement issued this week by the IIE, President Allan E. Goodman said, “We were very impressed with the range and strength of this year’s Heiskell Award-winning programs. The IIENetwork member colleges and universities have been tremendously creative and innovative in addressing the challenges of preparing their students to live and work in a global society, and have achieved clear results. We are especially pleased to be able to recognize programs this year that have succeeded in increasing the participation in study abroad by students of diverse backgrounds and in diverse disciplines.”
The Office of International Education and Development is responsible for the oversight of study abroad programs at FAMU. “We’re excited about this award that will put us within worldwide view,” said Dr. Dhyana Ziegler, associate vice president and interim director of the Office of International Education and Development. “Our unit fully supports and promotes the internationalization of the University by working with its various schools and colleges to broaden their global role.”
The FAMU SBI has enhanced its international education focus and undergraduate business program opportunities through support from the U.S. Department of Education, making study abroad more accessible to a broader student population. Dr. Kenneth R. Gray, eminent scholar and professor of international management in SBI, is principal investigator of the Business and International Education Grant entitled, “Global Opportunities on I-10” or “GO-I-10” which is designed to enhance the globalization of FAMU-SBI. The two-year grant has supported a short-term study abroad course in international business to draw in non-traditional students (primarily high school teachers) for educational experiences in the Dominican Republic, a semester-long study abroad experience to allow FAMU students to study in Kenya and China, and an international business summer camp for high school seniors to sharpen their global awareness and recruit them to FAMU.
“For our students to stay on the cutting edge, they must study international business,” said Gray. “We are extremely proud to have our study abroad program recognized by the IIE, a world leader in the international education community. We are also pleased that our program is providing positive eye-opening academic experiences for students.” SBI Dean Lydia McKinley-Floyd will join Gray March 30 at the U.N. to make a formal presentation about SBI’s “GO I-10” program.
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THE INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government and private sources. The IIE has over 900 college and university members and administers programs such as the U.S. Department of State Fulbright and Humphrey Fellowships and development training programs administered for USAID. For more information, visit www.iienetwork.org.
Contact: Pamela Bryant
(850) 412-7936
Pamela.Bryant@famu.edu
