During the summer and into the fall, the global mission of the University is being furthered on many fronts including exciting international study opportunities and challenging seminars.

China

A group of MBA in management for executives students, led by Peter Caliguari, director, executive MBA program (Flor/Metro), traveled to China this summer for a two-week International Business Seminar designed to meet the graduate students’ interest in learning more about emerging markets, specifically in Asia.

“Through further investigation, it became clear that offering the 2004 International Business Seminar in China would be a great educational experience for our students,” said Caliguari. Seventeen students participated.

The students traveled to Beijing, Shenyang, Tianjin and Shanghai. In Beijing, they visited the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. In Shenyang they attended lectures at Northeastern University and had an opportunity to interact with local faculty and students. The International Cooperation Department, Shenyang Science and Technology Bureau hosted the visit to Shenyang. In addition, the group was able to travel to a local software developer and one of China’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers.

In Tianjin, the students visited the Tianjin University of Finance and Economics to listen to presentations on the banking and retail industries and international trade issues. The group also visited Motorola, Nan Kai University and the Tianjin Federation of Industry and Commerce for discussions and lectures on trade and economic development.

Their final destination in China was Shanghai, where they met with representatives of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, the director of foreign administration and faculty and students at Jiaotong University. In addition, they attended a meeting at the Shanghai Federation of Industry and Commerce to better understand the history, status and role of private economics in Shanghai. On their last full day in China, the students visited the Shanghai Foreign Investment Promotion Center, followed by a farewell banquet.

Italy

Mathematics of the Renaissance, a study-abroad class based in Florence, Italy, was taught by Peter Astor, mathematics (Metro), last summer.

“The purpose of the class,” he said, “was to show how mathematics affected progress in our disciplines during the Renaissance, and how they, in turn, affected which types of mathematics were discovered.”

Left photo: From left: students Chanelle LaCross, Holly Jones, Jocelyn Davis and Ken Bruno pose on top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Middle photo: Students leaning in front of the Leaning Tower. Right Photo: Peter Astor, right, mathematics (Metro), and his wife, Harriet, in the Vatican Museum.

While the American Language Center in Florence served as the primary classroom facility, the students were able to visit and do research at the University of Pisa as well as the University of Padua. A trip to Venice allowed them to investigate the unique canals, tides and structure of the city. This study-abroad experience culminated in Rome.

“We had access to original 17th-century manuscripts,” said Astor, “and became immersed in the art and architecture of Florence, Venice, Padua, Pisa and Rome. Mathematically, we learned how to solve cubic equations, calculate building heights and tessellate [form into a mosaic pattern] a floor with tiles.”

England

Twenty-five students are studying at the University’s Wroxton College in England this semester. The group includes 17 College at Florham students, five from the Metropolitan Campus and one each from the University of Indiana, the University of Oregon and Randolph-Macon College. Brian Swanzey, director, Wroxton study-abroad accompanied the group to Wroxton.

Melissa Chuharan, left, senior (Metro), and Adam Roth, junior (Flor), are spending this semester at Wroxton College.

Global Seminars

A series of free seminars introduced by the Office of Global Learning continues this semester.

The Metropolitan Campus’ Global Leadership Seminars will feature Mirna Ottaway, senior associate, Democracy and Rule of Law Project, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who will speak on “Women’s Rights and Democracy” on Wednesday, October 6, at noon in the Joseph Green Conference Room (Room 2245), Dickinson Hall, Metropolitan Campus.

The seminars are by invitation only and reservations are required. To be added to the invitation list, contact Diana Cvitan, manager, global learning (Metro), at 201-692-7161 or e-mail dcvitan@fdu.edu.

The Office of Global Learning has partnered with the English, communication and philosophy department at the College at Florham to offer the Interrogating Boundaries Symposia.

On Wednesday, September 22, Robert Francouer, emeritus, biology (Flor), will speak on “Globalization, Reproductive Rights and the Family,” and on Wednesday, November 10, Mian Qadrud Din, former chef de cabinet, United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), will address “Globalization and Refugees.” The seminars are scheduled for 11 a.m. in Hartman Lounge, the Mansion, College at Florham.

Attendance at these events is also by invitation only. Those interested should contact Nandita Ghosh, English (Flor), at 973-443-8718 or nghosh@fdu.edu, or Diana Cvitan, manager, global learning (Metro), at 201-692-7161 or dcvitan@fdu.edu.

September 2004

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Flor =
College at Florham, Madison, N.J.

Metro =
Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, N.J.

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