Diversity Initiative
- Participant (Muhamet and Christoph) with their host family in Alaska
Along with other students from Spain, France and the UK a group of five future teachers from Germany participated in the “Summer Institute for Outstanding European Students in Education” which took place at the University of Alaska at Anchorage. This program was fully funded by the U.S. Department of State. In Alaska the students did not only enjoy the beauty of the nature but they also learned about the American educational system, different and innovative pedagogical approaches as well as integration policies and diversity management in American schools. Community service activities such as the Special Olympics for handicapped children, excursions to schools and the time with host families were listed by the participants as highlights of the program.
- Participants of the summer school at the California State University at East Bay
Another group of 15 Abiturienten/high school graduates participated in a summer school at the California State University at East Bay. This program has been made possible with the significant financial support from the Association of Friends and Sponsors of the Fulbright Program. The summer school focused on American Politics and History, Business and Critical Thinking, English language training and featured exclusive workplace visits such as the Federal Reserve Bank, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine or The Westin St Francis Hotel. Several excursions introduced the students to San Francisco and its wider neighborhood.
- Participants of the summer school at the University of Kentucky, Lexington
The University of Kentucky at Lexington hosted a group of 14 diversity students enrolled in German Fachhochschulen and universities. The arrival of the students coincided with the beginning of the new academic year and the University’s traditional welcome weekend, “K-Week”, especially geared at new incoming students. Thus, together with all the other new arrivals on campus the diversity students experienced the excitement of the campus orientation and such activities as “UK-FUSION” (UK For Unity and Service In Our Neighborhoods) where they met and collaborated with other students and got introduced to American community volunteerism/service-learning. The summer institute which was otherwise specially designed for the German diversity students offered them an authentic insight into the American way of student life: In specialized seminars different aspects of the U.S. such as Politics, History, Society, Economy, Media and Sports were presented and discussed. Furthermore the participants had the opportunity to attend selected classes pertaining to their specific subjects/majors, and they joined the many activities which the University of Kentucky offers outside the classroom.
The Fulbright Commission would like to thank all three U.S. partner institutions for their efforts and committement in organizing and conducting this year’s summer institutes.
Find more information about the Fulbright Diversity Initiative here.