Aug 25, 2021
As we “welcome back” two groups of German Fulbright students from their virtual summer programs hosted by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Michigan State University, we bid "farewell" to two more groups of German students beginning their own virtual intercultural, academic journey –- to Trinity University (TU) and Louisiana State University (LSU). As pandemic restrictions continue to prevent these German students from traveling to their host campuses, both Fulbright-partner universities have developed innovative, highly immersive online programs that will engage our Fulbrighters with interdisciplinary and interactive seminars, workshops and tours typical of US higher education.
Trinity University just welcomed a group of 20 undergraduate students with diverse migrant backgrounds from German universities and Fachhochschulen on August 23 for the Fulbright Diversity Initiative. In addition to courses in the humanities and social sciences, this program offers new perspectives on the rich variety intrinsic to American culture and society. A range of co-curricular activities also connects them with fellow TU students until September 17, when their introduction to the features of life in South Texas comes to a rodeo-style roundup.
Louisiana State University will kick off the Leaders in Entrepreneurship program on August 28, giving 22 undergraduate engineering students from German universities and Fachhochschulen an inside look into developing engineers with a business-oriented flair at a research university. From coursework and panel discussions to virtual site visits, this immersive program provides ample networking opportunities with LSU faculty, students and local industry entrepreneurs. LSU student-buddies will facilitate extra-curricular intercultural exchange, showcasing that famous Southern hospitality before the program ends on September 18.
We wish our German participants, US colleagues and students continued engagement and wonder!
*From the Robert Frost poem, “The Road Not Taken”
