International Institute receives $6.1 million

The International Institute will receive more than $6.1 million in federal grants over the next three years for five existing programs and two new centers.

The federal Title VI money is granted under the National Resource Centers program administered by the U.S. Department of Education.

“This is a remarkable achievement,” says David M. Trubek, dean of International Studies. “This confirms UW–Madison’s top national ranking in area studies.”

Trubek says the NRC program provides competitively awarded grants to institutions of higher education to establish, strengthen, and operate comprehensive undergraduate language and area and international studies centers.

The centers serve as national resources for the teaching of modern foreign languages; for instruction to provide full understanding of areas, regions and countries in which the language is commonly used; for research and training in area and international studies; and for outreach and consultative services on a national, regional and local basis. They also maintain links with overseas institutions of higher education.

“The centers are of immense value to the state, helping business and government leaders as well as students to prepare for the global economy,” says Don Nichols, director of the Center for World Affairs and the Global Economy.

Although WAGE is not a federally-funded national resource center within the International Institute, as an institute program it works collaboratively with the area studies centers to make their expertise accessible to students in business, law and other professional schools.

The existing centers are the African Studies Program; the Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies Program; the Center for Russia, East Europe and Central Asia (CREECA); the Center for South Asia; and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies. The two new centers are the East Asian Studies Program and the European Studies Program.

The International Institute is a joint venture of the Office of International Studies and Programs and College of Letters and Sciences. Created in 1996, the institute supports and encourages interdisciplinary teaching and research in the area of international studies. The Institute has developed innovative teaching, research and outreach projects that link area and global topics. Hundreds of faculty and students participate in workshops, conferences and symposia on different regions as well as global studies, comparative cultures, international relations and the global economy.

The awards, which include graduate student Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships are as follows: African Studies, $407,380; East Asian Studies, $276,000; European Studies, $263,950; Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies, $185,898; Center for Russia, East Europe and Central Asia, $322,000; Center for South Asia, $227,000; and Center for Southeast Asian Studies, $376,000. The total is $6,146,958 for three years or $2,048,986 per year. The figures for the Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies Program are Madison totals only. The grant is shared with UW-Milwaukee.

For a PDF document showing specific allocations, visit the U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/OHEP/iegps/list84015.pdf.