Minot State explores partnerships in Scandinavia
05/16/07
David Fuller, president of Minot State University, will be traveling to Scandinavia June 1-9, in hopes of establishing partnerships with universities in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Gary Rabe, vice president for academic affairs, JoAnn Linrud, dean of the college of business, Neil Nordquist, dean of the college of education and health sciences, and Linda Cresap, dean of graduate school and research and sponsored programs will also be on the trip.
Fuller and his wife, Nancy, will travel to Norway and Denmark. Meanwhile the rest of the group will travel to Kristianstad, Sweden, in order to sign an agreement with the University of Kristianstad.
At this point in time, Fuller said that Minot State is only beginning to look at Scandinavian partnerships, with the exception of the University of Kristianstad, which has already been set up.
"Since we’re so connected with the Scandinavian culture here in Minot, it certainly makes a lot of sense for Minot State to at least investigate the possibility of having some exchanges with the Scandinavian schools," he said. "If that should happen, then we can explore the possibility of offering some Scandinavian languages if at all possible, perhaps eventually having some sort of curriculum related to the Scandinavian culture."
In addition to the Scandinavian partnerships, Fuller has also been looking into collaborating with one of the universities in Trinidad and Tobago. Currently, Minot State University has partnerships with SIAS University in China and Kadir Has University in Istanbul, Turkey. The MSU president said that one of his goals is to give students important key places to experience other cultures.
"It’s not that we’re trying to collect partnerships," he said. "We’re really trying to target some key areas in the world that students can explore." Students who are interested in foreign travel will soon have a variety of opportunities available to them.
-partially excerpted from the Red & Green