Asia-related Opportunities

Montanans Conduct Public Diplomacy Exchange Visit To China

Eight Montanans will travel to China next week for a public diplomacy mission on global environmental issues under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of State and organized by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center of The University of Montana.

The Mansfield Center has been awarded a $440,000 grant by the U.S. Department of State to implement a two-way exchange program with China on global environmental issues. The program focuses on young professionals who work in the field of the environment and want to establish international partnerships and new ways of looking at shared concerns.

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Study of the U.S. Institute on Global Environmental Issues 2011 

July 4 - August 7, 2011

Mansfield Center seeking host families for Southeast Asian undergraduate leaders, as well as undergraduates leaders from the University of Montana to interact with Southeast Asian counterparts

The Mansfield Center of The University of Montana is honored to host an exchange program of the U.S. Department of State for the second year.  The Study of the U.S. Institute on Global Environmental Issues brings 20 English-speaking undergraduate student leaders from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam to the U.S. for five weeks to learn about environmental issues.  The program is an important two-way exchange:  not only do the students learn about our community, but our community has an invaluable opportunity for exposure to visitors from other countries.  The program provides the students with a wealth of cultural enhancements and service projects to immerse them in U.S. society and culture, including a month in Montana (with visits to Glacier National Park, Helena, and the Flathead Reservation), as well as four-day visits to Louisiana and Washington, D.C. to provide a more holistic introduction to the U.S.   These students have been through a rigorous application process, including review boards both at U.S. Embassies in their home country, as well as a panel in Washington, D.C.  Eleven women and nine men between the ages of 18-22 will participate this year.  They will be accompanied on their program by Dr. Len Broberg, director of UM’s Environmental Studies Program.

The four target countries share key environmental concerns with the U.S., including climate change; balancing economic and environmental interests; food security; and water resource management.  UM and the state of Montana offer unique lessons from which to study the role that environmental policy has played in the economic and political development of the U.S.  The anticipated results are that this group receive a full understanding of environmental policy through a  comprehensive, experiential approach to community, cooperation, policy, and leadership through a  series of lectures, readings, panel discussions, field trips, and workshops.  

Host Family Information:

 The Mansfield Center is currently looking for two to three host families for SUSI 2011.  The host exchange will occur on Friday, July 8 - Sunday, July 10, and would require the host family to pick up their students (a minimum of two male or female students) around 5:00 p.m. on July 8, and return them on July 10 around 5:00 p.m. as well.  Host families have great freedom in planning activities for their students' Montana experience.  Please contact Deena Mansour for more information. 

Deena Mansour

Project Manager

The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center

The University of Montana

Office Telephone:  406-243-2713

Cell Phone:  406-274-0992

Fax:  406-243-2181

UM Study Abroad Program in Climate Change at Can Tho University

Innovative UM Abroad Program on Climate Change in Vietnam Renewed for a Second Year

The University has received State Department support to create a study abroad program (open to all U.S. students) on global climate change at Can Tho.  UM is at the forefront of research issues dealing with natural resources, climate change, sustainable agriculture, and rural development.  The University's Climate Change Studies Program offers one of the nation's first undergraduate degree programs devoted exclusively to the challenges created by global climate change.  UM is currently developing the program, with the second group of students expected to travel in Wintersession 2011-2012.  Tentative dates for this six-credit program are December 27-January 19.  Please contact Deena Mansour at deena.mansour@mso.umt.edu for additional details.

More information can be found at grizzliesabroad.com.