The University's International Studies Office is offering a new study abroad scholarship for the 2008-09 academic year in conjunction with Universitas 21, a network of 21 universities in 13 countries around the world that seek to encourage collaboration of various sorts among participating institutions.
ISO Study Abroad Advisor Stacey Hansen explained that one of the main aims of U21 is student mobility and international opportunities.
Although U21 encompasses faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students, Hansen added that the new scholarship will send undergraduate students to one of the 21 participating universities through an exchange program in an attempt to increase University undergraduate interest in U21.
The scholarship is available to students studying abroad for a semester or a year, Hansen said, noting that students are awarded $2,000 for one semester and $5,000 for one year.
The funding is provided through the office of University President John T. Casteen, III, who is U21's current chair. Students will be able to apply for a spring 2009 semester scholarship in the early fall. Although funds are currently only being provided for the 2008-09 academic year, Hansen said she is hopeful that additional funding will be provided for future years.
"It's a tremendous cultural learning opportunity and personal development avenue," she said. "We would love to support this."
The five students selected to receive the scholarship for the fall 2008 semester are second-year Engineering student Eric Pratsch, third-year Architecture student Victoria Church, third-year Nursing student Anna Garland, second-year Architecture student Carla Jones and second-year College student Kyle Steinhouse, according to Hansen. They will be studying in Singapore, Ireland, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Australia, respectively, she said.
Hansen said scholarship recipients are selected primarily based on proposals about how they would promote U21 and the University here in Charlottesville as well as at their institution of choice abroad. As examples, she cited proposals to create a scrapbook of the semester abroad to be left at the University, as well as photo exhibitions of iconic University and Charlottesville images to display at the universities where students are studying abroad.
Steinhouse, a chemistry major who will be studying at the University of New South Wales in Australia, proposed visiting local high schools in New South Wales to talk to students about the University, U21 and the study abroad experience.
"I'm really excited," Steinhouse said. "Australia is a great opportunity and there aren't many people who get to go."
While the scholarship helps to promote the U21 program and the University, Hansen also emphasized the personal benefits of a study abroad experience.
"We want to encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity," she said. "These are highly renowned institutions"
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