Forum will present highlights of IU delegation's trip to Africa
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University Vice President for International Affairs David Zaret will speak on Wednesday, Sept. 25, about an IU delegation's recent trip to Africa.
A forum and reception will take place from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Grand Foyer of IU Auditorium.
Following Zaret's talk, there will be opportunities for questions and informal conversation with members of the IU delegation, who are especially eager to welcome those who have a continuing interest in Africa and its cultures and societies.
From Aug. 24 to Sept. 6, IU President Michael A. McRobbie, accompanied by IU's first lady, Laurie Burns McRobbie, and Zaret, visited Ghana, Kenya and South Africa to strengthen IU's connections with leading universities, meet with political leaders and renew ties with IU alumni.
Objectives for the trip included furthering IU's educational reach internationally; increased academic and research opportunities for the university's students and faculty; and strengthening one of its most effective global partnerships.
It was the first trip to Africa by a sitting IU president in more than two decades.
While in South Africa, McRobbie and Zaret met with educational and governmental leaders about collaboration in such areas as language studies and the health sciences and the possibility of IU hosting master's and doctoral students from South Africa. IU has a long tradition of scholarship and service in Africa. At the forum, Zaret will reflect on the most promising future directions for IU’s involvement in countries that are experiencing rapid social and economic change
McRobbie also signed an agreement between the IU Kelley School of Business and the Gordon Institute of Business Science, South Africa's premier business school.
Central to the trip was a series of meetings at the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare program in Eldoret, Kenya. AMPATH is a historic academic medical partnership between a consortium of North American academic health centers, led by the IU School of Medicine and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
A blog, "IU Goes to Africa: Presidential Visit 2013" provides a thorough review of the delegation's activities.
The public event, organized by the Office of the Vice President for International Affairs and the African Studies Program, will also be streamed live and archived for later viewing at www.broadcast.iu.edu. At IUPUI, people are invited to view program at the Office of International Affairs, Global Crossroads in room 2132 of the Education/Social Work Building.
Those planning to attend the forum in the IU Auditorium should email ovpia@iu.edu by Wednesday, Sept. 18.
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Mark Land
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