The Observer, September 7, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 2
Case hosts students from Turkey as part of cultural exchange
Besides academics, Case is known for its diversity, multiculturalism, and cultural sharing. Last week, this cultural sharing crossed oceans as five European college students visited Case.
The students are from Ankara, Turkey, and they attend Bilkent University, a prominent university in Turkey. The visit was made as part of the World-Wide Learning Environment distance learning program, based in the Western Reserve Historical Society here in Cleveland.
During the first year of the World-Wide Learning Environment, Case students involved in the program participated in videoconferences with the Turkish students at Bilkent, and during spring break they visited Ankara.
The program is run by John Grabowski, a professor of history at Case and Director of Research at the Historical Society, and offers global distance learning programs which support cultural sharing. It was created last year as an attempt to make the study abroad program more accessible and inexpensive.
Funding for the program came from a McGregor Fund Grant of $205,000, which helped pay for technology and the trips abroad. It works differently from the study abroad program because it is technology-based, using videoconferences and webcasts. The program still offers short trips overseas, but not semester-long ones like those of study abroad.
Last year, Molly Berger, an assistant dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, was one of several staff members that helped with the McGregor proposal.
"International exposure at the undergraduate level most often involves a semester or junior year abroad, or perhaps a summer course," said Berger last year. "These experiences are important and meaningful, but they are also costly – both for the student and the institution. Through this grant, we hope to enable more students to participate in international experiences through creative ideas that take advantage of our strengths in communications technology."
Last year, Grabowski interviewed former Turkish Presidents Suleyman Demirel and Kenan Everen, as well as Rahmi Koc, who is the honorary chair of the Turkish conglomerate. Koc was even listed in Forbes as one of the richest men in the world. Grabowski has strong ties in Turkey; therefore it was the first country to be integrated in the World-Wide Learning Environment.
"Any program that brings people together from 'uncultured' lines is an excellent learning opportunity, which the World-Wide Learning Environment provides," said Grabowski.
Many Case students believe that the program is a great way to share cultures. "It is an excellent opportunity to share Northeast Ohio and Cleveland throughout the world," said Rod Rebman, a first-year computer science major.
During the Turkish students' stay in Cleveland, they visited many of Cleveland's museums, such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Dittrick Medical History Museum, and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, among others. As part of their trip, the Turkish students attended a seminar at the Case Department of History last Thursday. During the seminar, the Turkish students presented their views of the museums in Ankara.
Seda Gunce, an undergraduate american history and literature major, was interviewed about the trip:
Dale Martin: What are your views of Cleveland so far?
Seda Gunce: Cleveland is really nice; it is a very nice place to study. University Circle is also pretty.
DM: What were your first impressions of Case Western Reserve University?
SG: Green! The area is so green and very nice. There are a lot of people from different cultures and backgrounds.
DM: Based on your tour of Cleveland, do you believe that Cleveland has a lot to offer?
SG: Yes, I do; as far as I heard the transportation is better here than in Turkey and there is a lot to do.
DM: Does Case share any similarities with Bilkent University, and what are the differences?
SG: A lot, actually, Bilkent's a big university like Case and it's also green. Case student life is close-knit like Bilkent. Case and Bilkent both focus mainly on science. Case, however, has many more museums around it.
DM: Cleveland is one of the poorest cities in America. Based on your tour of Cleveland do you believe this?
SG: Based on what I saw (University Circle), no. I would have to see more of Cleveland to make a sure decision.
DM: Do you believe that programs such as the one you are involved in help share cultures and promote distance learning throughout the world?
S.G.: Yes, our program aimed toward sharing cultures and distance learning.
DM: Theoretically speaking, if you weren't at Bilkent, would you go to Case?
SG: Yes.
DM: Case's first-year common reading was David K. Shipler's The Working Poor. What are your views of those who are poor, but trying to work their way to a comfortable living?
SG: If people's resources are limited it would be hard for them to get out of poverty. No one wants to be poor, however, so work is important.
DM: Name some of the major differences and similarities that you've noticed between Cleveland and Ankara?
SG: Ankara is a much more crowded city than Cleveland, therefore Cleveland is more spacious. Ankara is not green like Cleveland. There are more universities in Ankara than Cleveland. And of course the climates [are different]. Cleveland is segregated by income and ethnicity, unlike Ankara; you could see a mansion and then a poorhouse next door.
DM: Would you live in Cleveland if given the choice?
SG: Yes, for a while, but not permanently.
