American Studies Program in Ukraine
Project Description
This project seeks to "internationalize" the American Studies program at WSU and support the development of an American Studies curriculum for Ukraine (International American Studies) by linking WSU and four colleges in Ukraine through a 3-year USIA-funded exchange program. Specifically, this project seeks to:
- Assess the needs and constraints (educational and technical) of Ukrainian pedagogical institutes wishing to develop an American Studies curriculum;
- Provide a series of faculty and graduate student exchanges and electronic communication capabilities that will facilitate long-term working relationships between collaborators in the US and Ukraine to develop an American studies curriculum for use in Ukrainian institutions of higher learning;
- Use the study of American history and life to stimulate critical thinking about the development of civil society and democratic institutions;
- Evaluate the usefulness of the curriculum and revise as necessary.
Recent activities. This is primarily an "exchange" program designed to provide scholarly interaction and to build a foundation of curriculum materials at our partner institutions in Ukraine. So far, in our first year, we have consulted with Ukrainian faculty, purchased and delivered computers, a slide projector, VCR, and other teaching equipment, sent over 11 WSU faculty and graduate students to lecture in Ukraine, and delivered curriculum materials. Most WSU faculty went to Ukraine for 2-3 weeks. One person went for 2 1/2 months and two more are going in July for a special American Studies workshop designed solely for our collaborators. Two faculty from Ukraine came to WSU this year, one for a week and one for 3 months.
We have six WSU faculty and graduate students scheduled to go to Ukraine this coming fall semester (from five different departments)--with most lecturing for 2-3 weeks each in Ukraine while two will reside there for 3 months. All of them will also be delivering curriculum materials: books, maps, videos, CD-ROMs, and other teaching resources related to an introductory, interdisciplinary study of the United States (history, geography, political systems, community development, American agriculture, mass media, American culture, etc.). At least three Ukrainian faculty will be on exchange at WSU next year, for approximately 3 months each.
