Campus receives $50,000 for international program

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Kokomo, Ind.– Indiana University Kokomo received a $50,000 gift from Dr. Se-Ung Lee and the Korea Foundation to support an educational exchange program with Korean universities.

The funding will support the program for three years, with the first trip to take place this May when eight IU Kokomo students and two faculty members travel to Korea. In turn, students and faculty from Korea will visit next year.

The School of Nursing has participated in an exchange program with Korean universities for several years. Linda Wallace, dean of the school, has made the trip seven times and worked with her counterparts on curriculum development and accreditation. The new funds will allow students in other fields of study to participate.

"Dr. Lee is very gracious. This is a wonderful opportunity for students on our campus," said Kathy Parkison, professor of economics, who will accompany students on this trip along with Donna McLean, associate professor of communication arts. "Many of our students do not have the resources for international travel. This program will provide them with that opportunity."

"The bonus will be for these students to return to the classroom and share their first-hand experiences with their classmates," Parkison said.

The two-week tour will consist of meeting with students of the same educational majors at two Korean universities—Jesus University (formerly Margaret Pritchard University) and Sungshin Women's University.

Dr. Se-Ung Lee, a South Korean businessman and philanthropist, provided the initial grant to start the nursing exchange program in 2000. Since then, dozens of nursing faculty and students from both countries have participated. The faculty members teach in their areas of expertise, while the students experience nursing courses and regional health care activities in a cross-cultural environment.

Dr. Lee received a Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) degree from Indiana University, which was presented to him during the 1999 Commencement on the Kokomo campus. In June 2009, he hosted the closing banquet for 250 guests at the IU International Alumni Conference and Reunion in Seoul, South Korea.

International programs play a significant role in the overall education of students, as well as provide faculty with invaluable learning and research opportunities. As stated in the campus Strategic Priorities, "It is our obligation to prepare students to live in a diverse and multi-cultural world." This also supports a strategic direction of Indiana University President Michael McRobbie.

The gift will be used during the next three years to support international activities related to Korea on the IU Kokomo campus. Expenditures may include, but are not limited to, faculty exchanges, student exchanges, joint research on Korea, seminars, and support for IU Kokomo efforts to assist Korean colleges and universities with curriculum establishment.

Indiana University Kokomo serves a seven county, primary service area in north central Indiana. The campus offers more than 40 academic programs including four graduate degrees.