International Extension

Activities

Statewide Committee

The statewide committee on International Extension serves as a sounding board and advisory group for University of Illinois Extension as it addresses issues related to international and cross-cultural education. This includes bringing disciplinary backgrounds to bear in international and local settings.

Ukraine

University of Illinois Extension has kept for several years relationships with the Poltava State Agrarian Academy in Poltava, Ukraine. This relationship resulted in individual visits as well as two group tours to the Ukraine. The occasion for both trips was the first and second bi-national Agricultural Conference at the Poltava State Agrarian Academy. In addition to agricultural issues, also youth, community development and food and nutrition were topics of interest in this cooperation. Since 2007 Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana is involved as well. To date, eleven University of Illinois staff have visited the Ukraine so far. 

For more information, visit the Ukraine Study Tour website

China

Meeting Global Educational Challenges – A First Step to China

In April, 2008, 14 Extension educators, specialists and administration staff went to visit three cities in China. Meeting with colleagues of Sanda University in Shanghai and Wenzhou University in Wenzhou, as well as with peers from the Hydrology Department of Zhejiang Province in Hangzhou was a first step towards future collaboration. This was a unique opportunity for Extension staff to gain first-hand information and experience in their efforts to explore new audiences; establish international partnerships; and expand unique quality American programs such as 4-H to China.

For more information, visit the China Study Tour website.

Tri-State 4-H China Initiative

The Tri-State 4-H China Initiative is a work group consisting of members from University of Illinois Extension, Michigan State University Extension and Iowa State University Extension aimed at expanding 4-H to China and develop programs between youth in the United States and China. The Initiative started in summer 2008 and members have since met several times via phone and twice face-to-face. The latest meeting happened in December 2008 in Pontiac, IL where a plan of work for the coming three years was developed.

Vision statement of the group: To develop a sustainable 4-H program in which youth and adults in China and the United States learn, grow, and work together as catalysts for positive change.

For more detailed information see the meeting minutes.

Kenya

The Kenya Study Tour 2007: Integrating Domestic and International Extension

In June 2007 University of Illinois counties Will and Kankakee organized a study tour of eight Extension Educators and ten Extension volunteers to Kenya aiming at creating a more internationally aware citizenry and building networks to improve social, economic and cultural awareness. The tour took the group from the capital Nairobi to the Eastern Highlands, the Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru, the Masai Mara and the Indian Ocean Coastal Plain.

For more information, visit the Kenya Study Tour blog or report.

Master Gardener Trips

The Illinois Master Gardener program offers international activities on a regular basis. Extension Specialist and Master Gardener Coordinator Monica David organizes and offers international gardening experiences every year.

4-H International Exchange Program

International 4-H Exchange Programs provide 4-H youth an opportunity to connect with the global world around them by hosting international visitors or by allowing them to travel to another country. Illinois 4-H has an exchange program with Japan since 1975 which continues to be the cornerstone of our international youth efforts. 2003 the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program was added which involves high school students from the Eurasia region, formerly part of the Soviet Union. Within this program, students are placed with one host family for an entire school year and the focus is on living in a democratic society and involvement in community service and volunteer efforts. Illinois has so far hosted 10 students through this program.
For more information see: http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/opps/internprog.html

Presentations and Trainings

On March 27, 2008 Dr. Gary Weaver, Director of the Institute of Intercultural Management, American University gave a public lecture on Culture, Conflict and Communication in the Global Workforce sponsored by University of Illinois Extension. 

Overcoming Barriers to Cross-Cultural Communication was the title of a four hour workshop led by Dr. Gary Weaver, Director of the Institute of Intercultural Management, American University on March 28, 2008. The workshop was attended by U of I Extension staff as well as ACES faculty.

On October 30, 2008 University of Illinois Extension and Purdue University Extension held their first joint workshop “Extension and the World” at the Beef House Restaurant in Covington, IN. Twenty Extension professionals from Illinois and twenty from Purdue participated. Keynote speaker was Nick Place, Associate Director and Associate Dean of Maryland Cooperative Extension. Please see his presentation on how to integrate international activities into the local Extension work.

ACES Academy for Global Engagement

The ACES Academy for Global Engagement is a year-long program designed to heighten global awareness among faculty in the College of ACES. A class of seven "scholars" will spend a year learning more about the international resources available on campus, in the state, and the nation that will enhance their teaching, research and Extension missions. Since 2007, a representative of University of Illinois Extension has participated in the Academy program.

Research at the University of Illinois Extension

International Activities in Recent Years

2001

  • 10 Educators to Panama for 14 days to train Peace Corps staff
  • 7 Educators, Specialists and Administration to Cuba to present papers at International Scientific Seminar on University Extension
  • Educator to China for 10 days to work on agricultural trade

2002

  • Educator to Europe for 14 days to train agronomists    
  • Educator to England for professional development

2003

  • Educator to Ukraine for one month to develop markets (CNFA volunteer)
  • Educator to France for professional development

2004        

  • Educator to Argentina for one month to work on agricultural markets
  • Specialist to Brazil to train farmers and consultants
  • 4 Educators to Puerto Rico for professional development
  • Educator to Canada for professional development
  • Extension Global Connect Strategic Plan Completed

2005

  • Specialist to Vietnam to review nutrition study
  • Educator to Ukraine for one month to train and build markets
  • Specialist to Europe to network on Western Corn Rootworm
  • Educator to Costa Rica for 10 days to observe agricultural practices
  • Specialist to Russia for one month on tourism development project
  • Educator to Saskatoon, for professional development

2006

  • Specialist to Antigua on agritourism projects
  • Educator to Africa for 30 days to train farmers
  • Educator to Mexico
  • 5 Educators/Specialists to Ukraine to train and network
  • ACES Global Academy begins (includes some campus Extension Specialists)
  • Rhonda Ferree research and paper: “Is University of Illinois Extension Globally Preeminent?”
  • Kevin Brooks research and paper on “Internationalizing Extension.”

2007

  • Martina Mohrbacher hired by Extension Administration to coordinate International Extension efforts (part time)
  • 10 (Illinois and Purdue Educators and Specialists) to Ukraine to train at University
  • Master Gardeners and field staff to Kenya to observe agriculture and horticulture practices
  • 2 Educators/Specialists to China to participate in an international conference on entrepreneurship
  • ACES Global Connect Academy includes an Extension Educator from the field
  • 4-H peer training program with Ukrainian and American students via skype video conferencing

2008

  • 3 Educators/Specialists to AIAEE conference in Costa Rica to present Illinois activities
  • 14 Educators/Specialists/Administrators travel to China and visit two universities and three cities
  • ACES Global Connect Academy includes another field educator

4-H Activities       

2005

  • Outbound – three to Finland; two to Australia; two to Japan
  • Inbound – One IFYE from Luxembourg; 42 from Japan; two from Finland
  • FLEX – (Future Leaders Exchange) two students

2006

  • Outbound – one to Finland; two to Australia; one to Mexico; two to Japan
  • Inbound – 47 from Japan
  • FLEX - two students

2007

  • Outbound – one to Finland; two to Mexico; three to Japan
  • Inbound – one from Finland; 50 from Japan
  • FLEX – two students

2008

  • Outbound – one to Australia; four to Costa Rica; two to Finland, three to Japan
  • Inbound – 52 from Japan; one yearlong high school student from Japan for the 08-09 school year