SiS News - September 2009

Recent News September, 2009

• Study in Spain Video Contest.

• Survey: Quality of Education in Spain

• Connecting Continents: The European Association of International Education celebrates its coming of age in Madrid.

• Engineering students from Auburn University raise the bar at the Learning Spanish Institute in Pamplona.

SiS Student Ambassadors

• Soha Salamah, from SUNY Brockport.

SiS on the road

• Study in Spain will be traveling throughout the US again this academic year.

Amigos del español

• Dr. Urbain De Winter

Institution Profile

• Pamplona Learning Spanish Institute

Study in Spain Video Contest

Do you have videos on Spain? Do you feel like a winner? How about $500?

With these words the association EDUESPAÑA, the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade and the Embassy of Spain-Trade Commission Miami launched the First Study in Spain Video Contest, aimed at enhancing the image of Spain as an educational destination for American students.

Each year, between 24,000 and 60,000 students travel from the US to study abroad in Spain. These students bring back an increased awareness of the world, and an array of experiences that will help build bridges toward the common challenges of the future.

The Study in Spain program would like to spread knowledge of these experiences, helping and encouraging others who might be willing to follow on the footsteps of the participants.

The contest is open to all students, provided they are US citizens or permanent residents, and not professionals in the audiovisual sector. The videos may contain any material related to Spain as an educational destination (including culture, language, sports, festivals, etc ...). Videos should not be shorter than 30 seconds or longer than 3 minutes.

To participate, register on www.spainedu.org, enter the Videos section and upload your works. The procedure is easy and simple, the rewards, letting the world know about your experience and earning $500 on the way!

More information at:
http://www.spainedu.org/

Survey: Quality of Education in Spain

The standards and guidelines developed by the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) highlight the central importance of institutional autonomy in the context of quality assurance. However, given the fact that publicly funded institutions are accountable to society, the quality of higher education needs to be safeguarded by external controls as well.

The Embassy of Spain-Trade Commission Miami, with the support of EDUESPAÑA, intends to increase the awareness on the factors which lag in the hosting of US students in Spain. The aim of the Survey on the Quality of Education in Spain is therefore to help build the basic standards that will assist institutions in managing their quality.

The survey is composed by 28 questions divided in four sections:

• Profile of Respondent: aimed at determining the spectrum analyzed by the survey.
• Study Abroad Experience: aimed at determining the profile and motivation of the students who choose Spain as a destination.
• Difficulties and Expenses of Study Abroad in Spain: aimed at identifying the barriers for studying in Spain.
• Characteristics and Quality of the Programs in Spain: aimed at gathering information on the types of programs offered in Spain and their quality.

Framed within the Study in Spain program, this survey will be distributed to over 5.000 institutions of higher education, helping draw conclusions for improving the quality of higher education in Spain for US students.

You can find the survey on our website: www.spainedu.org. Please, spread knowledge of it among students at your institution, we thank you for your support.

Connecting Continents: The European Association of International Education celebrates its coming of age in Madrid.

This September, the EAIE Conference celebrates its 21st anniversary in the sunniest and greenest capital of Europe. A cosmopolitan and dynamic city, Madrid has attracted immigrants from all over the world, including Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.

Conference dates: 16-19 September 2009
Site of the EAIE Conference: Palacio Municipal de Congresos de Madrid

The EAIE is a non-profit organization whose main aim is the internationalization of higher education in Europe and around the world, and to meet the professional needs of individuals active in international education.

Madrid's rich history with other nations and cultures makes this year's conference theme, Connecting Continents a fitting choice. In keeping with this theme, many of the sessions and workshops will focus on providing participants with the skills and tools they need to attract students from continents all over the world to their institutions.

Numerous seminars, sessions and workshops will take place during four intense days. From Beyond 2010: the next decade of the Bologna process to The Spanish way of life: what students should expect, registered assistants will have the opportunity to discuss the wide array of issues concerning Higher Education in Europe and worldwide.

¡De Madrid al cielo!
Madrid offers a bit of everything, or as the Madrileños say: de Madrid al cielo. After Madrid there is only one destination left - heaven.

More information at:
http://www.eaie.org/madrid/

Engineering students from Auburn University raise the bar at the Learning Spanish Institute in Pamplona

Last june, a group of engineering students from Auburn University (Alabama) completed their career education in Pamplona, Spain, at the Learning Spanish Institute.

The students took part in the pilot program of Engineering, Technology and Society. The training program combines the learning of the Spanish language with visits to companies and entities that develop top projects of renewable energy.

The board of the Southeastern Conference Academic Consortium (a group of 12 universities with approximately 350.000 students) gave a positive evaluation to this program during their stay in Pamplona, and declared that it will be extended to students from other member universities.

More information at:
http://www.pamplonaspanishinstitute.com/

SiS STUDENT AMBASSADORS

Soha Salamah, from SUNY Brockport

We would like to introduce SUNY Brockport student Soha Salamah. She was awarded as one of the ten best SiS Student Ambassadors in the 2008-09 edition of the program. “My name is Soha Salamah and I live in Albany, NY but attend the College at Brockport in Brockport, NY”.

Soha is a busy student, who combines a double major with her duties as SiS Student Ambassador “I am a double major in Spanish and French and I have a minor in Anthropology,” she declares.

Her bright future is guided by her interests and passions “Due to my love of languages and cultures, I hope to become an interpreter/translator after attending graduate school and traveling for a little.”

Soha is applying for a second term as SiS Student Ambassador (year 2009-10) and she is positive about her work “The program is a great opportunity for me to meet new students and continue practicing my Spanish. I benefited a great deal last year from being a SiS Student Ambassador and want to continue this experience while at Brockport.”

Soha organized many activities last year, which helped spread the language, culture and education of Spain throughout SUNY campus. Her plans for this edition involve taking the program a step further. “I hope to encourage many students to get involved with Spanish and learn more about the fascinating Spanish culture. As a SiS Student Ambassador and peer mentor for the Spanish students, I plan to combine activities and hold more conversational groups at our local café. I also plan on having more cultural nights like I did last year because it was a big success with over 40 students.”

Being such a gifted, passionate student, and counting with the support of her Professor Sponsor, Ms. Rachel Linville, Soha will again be a proud representative of the program in the New York area.

SiS ON THE ROAD

Study in Spain will be traveling throughout the US again this academic year

The 2009-10 academic year will once more have the Study in Spain program participating in the most important education fairs and events.

Since its opening, the Embassy of Spain-Trade Commission Miami, with the support of ICEX (Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade) and EDUESPAÑA have carried Study in Spain all across the US in an effort to promote international education in Spain.

The rewards have been undeniable, as Spain is the third preferred destination for American students worldwide.

This is a brief preview of the projected participation of Study in Spain. The dates and/or events may be subject to changes.

OCTOBER
HACU, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
OCT 31-NOV 02
ORLANDO, FL

NOVEMBER
NAFSA REGIONAL
To be confirmed

ACTFL, American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
NOV 20-22
SAN DIEGO, CA

DECEMBER
EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP (3) FOR US INSTITUTIONS
NOV 30-DEC 06
MADRID

FEBRUARY
NABE, National Association Bilingual Education
FEB 03-06
DENVER, CO

AIEA, Association of International Education Administrators
FEB 14-17
WASHINGTON DC

MARCH
CSCTFL, Central Conference of the Teaching of Foreign Languages
MAR 04-06
MINNEAPOLIS, MN

CABE, California Association of Bilingual Education
MAR 11-13
SAN JOSE, CA

EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP (1) FOR US INSTITUTIONS
MAR
MADRID

FORUM ON EDUCATION ABROAD CONFERENCE
MAR 24-26
CHARLOTTE, NC

NECTFL, Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
MAR 25-27
NEW YORK, NY

APRIL
SWCOLT, Southwest Conference on Language Teaching
ABR 08-10
ALBURQUERQUE, NM

MAY
ANNUAL SiS MEETING AND AWARD PRESENTATION
MAY

NAFSA, Association of International Educators
MAY 30-JUN4
KANSAS CITY, MO

JUNE
EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP (2) FOR US INSTITUTIONS
JUN
MADRID

JULY
AATSP, American Assn. of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese
JUL 10-13
GUADALAJARA, MX

APAC, The College Board AP
JUL 14-18
WASHINGTON DC

Amigos del español

Dr. Urbain De Winter

Dr. Urbain (Ben) DeWinter is Associate Provost for International Programs and Professor of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature at Boston University. He has been a faculty member and administrator at various institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University.

Working closely with faculty, staff and students, he has developed international programs, exchanges and partnerships worldwide and has chaired or participated in many external reviews of education abroad programs.

Study in Spain had the honor to count with his participation in the First Annual Study in Spain Meeting and Award Presentation on May the 6th, 2009, in Boston, MA.

When was the last time you have been to Spain?
The last time I was in Spain was in the summer of 2008 for three weeks, combining work and leisure. I worked in Madrid, where Boston University has a program of studies and then traveled with my family in Castilla-Leon and Galicia. We had a wonderful time. I especially enjoyed my first visit to Santiago de Compostela as well as the archeological site of Atapuerca, near Burgos, which has the oldest remains of prehistoric man in Europe, even older than Altamira.

What do you enjoy most about Spain?
I have traveled to Spain many times, and have always enjoyed the warm hospitality of its people, its varied and beautiful landscape, and its food and wines, especially from Rioja. Getting together for dinner with friends is always an enjoyable experience.

What do you think are the advantages of Spain as a destination for American students?
Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, including in the United States. One can find good language teachers in Spain and many people who will gladly help students learn the language and share their culture.

Could you describe the Study Abroad programs your University has with Spain?
Boston University recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Language, Culture and Internship program in Madrid. In addition to the faculty, students and staff who participated in this wonderful celebration, it was impressive to see that some former students traveled from the US just to be with some of their teachers and the Spanish families who had hosted them in their homes when they were studying there.

Our program is located as the Instituto Internacional, a famous historical building in Madrid, where students can take a wide variety of courses; they can also take advanced courses at the Universidad Autónoma and do internships in one of many businesses and organizations in the city. Boston University also sends students to the University of Burgos and runs a summer Mediterranean archeology program in Menorca.

How satisfied are, in general, American students going to Spain?
Students are very satisfied with their experience in Spain. They greatly enjoy meeting Spanish people, working with them in their internships and traveling in the country. Many students make plans to return to Spain as soon as they can; they miss their Spanish friends very much.

Institution Profile

Pamplona Learning Spanish Institute

Pamplona is situated in the North of Spain. It is a safe city with complete harmony between respect for the city’s age-old traditions and a constant desire for change. It is as rich and plural as its inhabitants; this variety is its greatest treasure, whatever your interests here you will find something to satisfy you: art, culture, tradition, gastronomy, nature, technology… Pamplona is famous worldwide for the running of the bulls at the San Fermín festival between 6th and 14th July; it is the most international fiesta in Spain, a cosmopolitan event made internationally famous by the Nobel prizewinner Ernest Hemingway (Fiesta- The Sun Also Rises).

Pamplona Learning Spanish Institute is located in one of the most emblematic historic buildings of Pamplona, surrounded by a park which overlooks the old walls of the city and only 5 minutes on foot from the centre of the city. There are six classrooms, a library, a cafeteria, a restaurant and an auditorium. They organize accommodation and extra activities for their students.

In 2008, as a result of one of the visits to the School in Pamplona organized by EDUESPAÑA and the Embassy of Spain- Trade Commission Miami, an agreement was signed with the School of Engineering of Auburn University in Alabama to held the specific program Engineering, Technology and Society- Spain which took place last June for the first time with students of Auburn University, University of Alabama, University of Arkansas and Vanderbilt University.

This special program combines lessons of general Spanish, Spanish for Engineering and a wide range of field- trips related to Engineering and cultural visits. Due to this successful experience we have been elected to held this program for the 12 member universities of the SEC (South Eastern Conference).

Courses offered: General Spanish (six different levels); Spanish for Engineers; Spanish for the Medical Profession; Spanish for Business; Spanish for groups; Spanish and San Fermín.

More information at http://www.pamplonaspanishinstitute.com/