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Global Partners Regional Alliances
East Asia - France - East/Southern Africa

As part of its second phase of activity the Global Partners Project is developing regional alliances in three regions of the world. Each alliance is coordinated through one of the consortial offices. The Regional Alliances and associated coordinating offices are:

• East Asia (Associated Colleges of the Midwest)
• France (Associated Colleges of the South)
• East and Southern Africa (Great Lakes Colleges Association, Inc.)

Membership and Mission: Regional Alliances will consist of faculty members and study abroad administrators with strong interests and experience in the specific region. Each Regional Alliance will in large measure tailor its activities to the specific needs of its region, but will be asked to consider and develop plans for the following:

• Assess current opportunities and programs in the region and what our colleges are doing there.
• Evaluate the current models for off-campus study and consider ways to collaborate
• Strengthen the connection between off-campus study and on-campus issues, especially in terms of curriculum and faculty development.
• Develop collaborative contacts, so that colleges will not have to set up separate overseas linkages.
• Develop a consortial strategy for supporting study in and of this region.
• Develop awareness of existing campus resources supporting study of the region including courses, library holdings, art collections, etc.

Each Alliance will be asked to develop an initial task list and time line with associated criteria for success.

East Asia. This region--especially China and Japan--is of growing interest to the project's participating colleges, many of which recently received grants from the Freeman and Luce Foundations to strengthen study of and in Asia. Supported by these grants, colleges from across the Global Partners network are hiring Asianists, strengthening curricular offerings, sending faculty to the region, organizing faculty exchanges, and starting student programs. Much of this activity seems to focus on faculty development; these colleges hope to create student demand for programs in Asia by developing faculty interest in the region.

These developments could benefit from collaboration among the Global Partners schools. Since East Asian studies is often a new field, many colleges are feeling their way through unknown territories and challenges; they could learn from each other if they collaborate on their experiences. It is also a large and complex field, involving many cultures and academic disciplines, but few of our colleges are able to have more than one or two experts on their faculties. Sharing these experts' knowledge and experience will help all of the colleges strengthen their curricula and programming. Finally, off-campus study and faculty development in the region is challenging and expensive; colleges could save expenses by sharing information and programs.

To find out more about the East Asian Alliance contact ACM

France. France is, of course, a "tried and true" traditional study abroad destination. A number of GPP schools have existing programs in France. These are often well-established, long standing programs. Many of these are general liberal arts programs, which potentially allows for greater cooperation among the 42 colleges. This region also has particular potential for cost sharing arrangements involving logistics and facilities. Campuses may also wish to share marketing and evaluation plans for study abroad programs. There is also the possibility of building on programs that are offered by study abroad providers such as CIEE (Council for International Educational Exchange), SIT (School for International Training) and IES (International Education of Students).

In addition to the student programs, faculty development opportunities may have been underdeveloped or overlooked in this region and might benefit from an infusion of new ideas. On-campus curriculum that goes beyond a French language focus may also need to be explored.

To find out more about the French Alliance contact ACS.

East/Southern Africa. Africa is an area of increasing importance to the study of the African Diaspora and the Muslim world and of longstanding interest to environmentalists, anthropologists, economists, and political scientists. Many faculty have taken advantage of the Global Partners International Learning Center at the University of Nairobi to initiate research and curriculum development projects over the last three years. The Regional Alliance for East/Southern Africa will examine the role of the study of Africa across the curriculum, looking both at opportunities for intensive study of Africa and at how awareness and understanding of African issues can be increased for non-specialists.

Study abroad in Africa attracts relatively few students. Further, setting up and managing programs in East/Southern Africa presents special challenges to faculty and administrators. The Regional Alliance will also examine ways to make study-abroad programs in the region as attractive and efficient as possible through cooperation and sharing resources and through professional development for faculty and program leaders.

To find out more about the East/Southern African Alliance contact GLCA.