With hopes of drawing attention to some of the newest additions to the 2006 Study Abroad roster, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for International Education Overseas Programs and Partnerships set up tables in the Union on Feb. 21.

The fair drew a lot of interest, as evidenced by the large contingent of students mulling about.

The booths were staffed by various faculty members and program coordinators.

Moiz Nazerali, assistant professor of Africology, said the new Ethiopian History and Culture summer study abroad program offers a unique learning opportunity.

“Most programs that offer study abroad experience in Africa usually focus on the Western parts of the country,” Nazerali said. “We created this program to spotlight Eastern Africa because it is special…aside from having a history that dates all the way back to the time of ancient Egypt, it was never colonized and this sets it apart from other learning opportunities.”

The program focuses mainly on the social sciences but is open to all majors. Nazerali also said that upon completion of the summer excursion, he would like to see participants draw from their experience in Ethiopia and become part of an outreach program for the greater Milwaukee community.

“We’d like to see students project this type of experience out into the world to inspire others,” he said.

Timothy Ehlinger, professor of Biological Sciences and coordinator of the new Conservation in Romania summer program, said the option is a joint Biological Sciences and Anthropolgy concept that focuses on the biodiversity resources of the Danube Delta and Black Sea coast region.

Ehlinger, who taught a course in Costa Rica two years ago, said he saw a greater positive effect in students who participated in the study abroad than over a period of years in a school.

“I would recommend this to anybody,” he said.

Other new additions to the Summer 2006 Study Abroad roster are International Librarianship in South Korea, 20th Century Berlin: Portrait of a Great Metropolis and Sustainable Cities in Vancouver, Canada.

All of the Center for International Education Overseas Programs and Partnerships programs give preference to UWM students and can be paid for with financial aid, grants and scholarships.

Contact the Center for International Education in Pearse Hall, Room 166, or e-mail overseas@uwm.edu.

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