Expert on Cuba and Brazil to speak in Madison

Cuba is reforming and establishing close ties with Brazil and China. At the same time, Cuba is facing economic and political changes. “Fifty years after the United States enacted an embargo on all trade and commercial transactions, relations between the two countries remain frozen, even as Raul Castro has been moving in the direction of …

Bousquet appointed interim UW-Eau Claire chancellor

University of Wisconsin System President Kevin P. Reilly announced Wednesday that Gilles Bousquet has agreed to serve as the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Interim Chancellor following the departure of Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich next month. Levin-Stankevich announced on March 27 that he will leave Wisconsin to become President of Westminster College in Utah. May 1 will …

Soffa Lecture to feature South Africa’s ‘state conscience’

South Africa’s Public Protector is among several state institutions supporting the democracy established under the country’s celebrated Constitution, which gives equal value to all human rights, including social and economic rights and ethical governance. Thulisile Madonsela, the Public Protector of South Africa, is scheduled to deliver this year’s J. Jobe Soffa and Marguerite Jacqmin Soffa …

UW office in Shanghai seen as innovative, connecting

Interim Chancellor David Ward described the launch of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Innovation Office in Shanghai as the start of a “China-Plus Initiative”—a unique presence for promoting and facilitating UW engagement across East Asia. “This is envisioned as part of the Educational Innovation initiative,” Ward said, referring to the current campus-wide effort to promote reforms …

Board formed to provide student voice on globalization at UW

For students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison looking to go abroad, finding international experiences that fit with their academic pursuits—in terms of both content and schedule—can be daunting. For international students studying at UW–Madison, making American friends is important, yet often difficult. These are among the top issues that have emerged from initial discussions of …

UN World Food Programme speaker coming to Madison

Efforts to combat hunger around the world will be highlighted March 8-9, as Bettina Luescher, chief North American spokesperson for the United Nations World Food Programme, comes to the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus for a series of presentations. As the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger, the World Food Programme (WFP) must overcome a myriad …

Global Studies seeking applicants for Scott Kloeck-Jenson International Grants

Applications are now being accepted for two graduate fellowships offered by UW–Madison Global Studies for Summer 2012: Scott Kloeck-Jenson International Internship Grants to graduate students (working towards a doctorate) interested in undertaking practitioner internships on social justice issues. Scott Kloeck-Jenson International Pre-Dissertation Travel Grants to support summer travel for doctoral students exploring potential field research …

Global Education Summit aimed at spurring coordinated actions

A day-long Global Education Summit, being held February 24 at Monona Terrace in Madison, aims to bring together advocates from Wisconsin’s business and education communities, as well as other stakeholders, to seek concrete ways to collectively advance international education across the state. State Superintendent Tony Evers and Gilles Bousquet, UW–Madison’s dean of International Studies and …

‘Seed funding’ available to support international collaborations

A competition for seed funding grants to support new areas of international collaboration between University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers and researchers affiliated with the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) has been announced by the Division of International Studies, with support from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) and the Graduate School. Projects are to begin on or …

UW-Madison reaches 3,000 in total Peace Corps volunteers produced

The University of Wisconsin–Madison this year ranks third among large universities nationwide in the number of alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers, up from eighth last year. The 9,095 Peace Corps volunteers now working with local communities in 75 countries include 107 UW–Madison alumni—16 more than last year and just five below the top …