Dear all,
Normally, we start these messages in an upbeat manner, but given the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas, the initial tone needs to be a somber one. International Programs is horrified by the loss of innocent life and the massive devastation caused by the conflict. We have friends and colleagues personally affected by this heartbreaking situation and have sent them all our best wishes. Leaders must find solutions to quell the violence and prevent these terrible circumstances from becoming even worse. In the interim, we will support the communities on our campus most directly impacted by this crisis and offer what resources we can to bring them some measure of reassurance. Heart-rending events such as these only underscore the necessary role education—and especially global education—plays in building understanding between peoples and cultures so that humanity may find ways to live together peacefully despite their many differences.
By fate of the calendar, I was in the Middle East just after the war began. I spent almost two weeks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The purpose of my visit to the UAE was to recruit new international students to our campus, while my time in Saudi Arabia was devoted to meeting with the Ministry of Education and visiting with Iowa alumni in both Riyadh and Jeddah. In both countries, life functioned as usual, and while most TV screens were tuned to the conflict, there was virtually no discussion of it. I was thankful to go about the university’s business without disruption, and harbored the hope that the quite palpable normality I experienced could be viewed as some indication that the war would not spread. Let’s hope this remains the case.
As we’ve discussed often in this space, the Middle East is an area in which we’ve focused considerable recruitment efforts. Countries such as Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia hold great promise and we are seeing increased numbers of applications and admissions from these countries. Our colleague Dimy Doresca (Tippie College of Business and IP) and I made separate trips to the region at roughly the same time, and we crossed paths at a recruitment fair in Dubai. In addition to fairs, I visited several high schools in the UAE we believe could send us students. What impresses me about this region is the rigorous academic training these prospective students display, as well as their maturity and motivation. Recruits from the Middle East are among our best and give every indication they will succeed at Iowa.
Proof of this success comes in the form of our alumni in the region, particularly Saudi Arabia. We held two dinners, one in Riyadh and another in Jeddah. The purpose was to allow Saudi alumni to meet one other, reminisce about their days in Iowa City, and plan future activities, either personal or professional. Our Saudi Hawkeyes spanned a range of fields, from dentistry to education to business. Beyond their loyalty to the UI, what struck me was the number of women who attended the gatherings. Each of these alums has established herself in a leadership role, and I could not help but think that their time at Iowa played a significant part in helping them reach their goals and aspirations. Complementing the dinners with alumni was a visit to the Saudi Ministry of Education where we discussed potential future partnerships in the health sciences, hydrology, and entrepreneurship.
Activity abroad was matched by many events at home. In late October, IP had the pleasure of collaborating with Global Ties Iowa to receive a delegation from the Kyrgyz Republic. We discussed many items, including youth advocacy, mental health access, study abroad, international student services, and the potential of UI students learning Russian language in the Kyrgyz Republic. The conversation was most enjoyable, and I plan to follow up with Sharapat Narmirzaeva, my counterpart at Osh Technological University, regarding further collaboration.
October was punctuated by our annual Commitment to Internationalization Lecture, delivered this year by Adrien Wing, associate dean for international and comparative law programs and Bessie Dutton Murray Professor at the University of Iowa College of Law. Dean Wing’s lecture brought together many strands of her professional and personal experience and elicited an excellent discussion afterwards. Dean Wing is a long-standing member of IP’s Faculty Advisory Council, and her work in promoting collaborations in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas is unparalleled. The University of Iowa is privileged to have a colleague of Dean Wing’s talent and accomplishment on our campus, and it was a complete delight to hear her hold forth on the state of international education on our campus and across the world.
With all best wishes,
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Russ
International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.