Barbara H. Padnos International Center
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP DELEGATION GRANTS
JAPAN: JUNE 2016
(Application Deadline: November 1, 2015)
The 2015-16 International Partnership Delegation Grants are intended to fund participation by GVSU
faculty and staff on an interdisciplinary team visit to a partner institution. The delegation will spend time
on the partner’s campus, learning about many aspects of that university’s host city, nation, and culture.
Together, they will seek new perspectives from counterparts at the host institution that can be brought
back to GVSU to share with our own campus community.
We are looking for a diverse team comprised of full-time faculty (tenured, tenure-track, or affiliates), AP
staff, and PSS or Maintenance staff. The committee charged with selection of the team members will also
take into consideration the desires and needs of the host institution, and may give preference to
individuals at GVSU who have had limited opportunities for overseas travel. Four individuals will be
selected to participate in the 2016 delegation.
The 2016 Trip: Japan
The 2016 Partnership Delegation will be unique in that three important partners will be visited over the
course of an 11 day trip. The journey will start with International Christian University (ICU), which is
one of GVSU’s oldest exchange partners, signed in 1974. Located in Mitaka, a suburb of Tokyo, ICU was
Japan’s first liberal arts college and offers a fully bilingual education in Japanese and English. It offers an
outstanding Japanese language program along with approximately 30 undergraduate majors. This
exchange program is unique in that students are required to attend for a full academic year.
The second stop will be at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU). GVSU signed an agreement with
APU back in 2008. APU offers courses in two colleges: College of Asia Pacific Studies (APS) and the
College of International Management (APM). Students attend APU for a semester or a year. APU is
located in Beppu, Japan on the southern island of Kyushu and is known for its onsen or hot springs.
The third institution on our itinerary is the Japan Center for Michigan Universities in Hikone. This center
was developed back in 1989 and is the only academic collaboration that has participation from all of
Michigan’s 15 Public Universities. It is also a joint collaboration between Michigan and its sister-state,
Shiga Prefecture. The center offers an intensive Japanese language program along with a limited selection
of courses on various topics related to Japanese culture and society. The center also offers a variety of
specialized courses that attract students interested in environmental sciences, health, social sciences,
teaching English, and more.
2016 Partnership Delegation
Eligible faculty and staff are invited to apply to participate in the 2016 Partnership Delegation. Four
faculty and staff will be selected, with all transportation, and housing costs covered by the grant. The
program is tentatively taking place in early June 2016.
Application Deadline: November 1, 2015. Applications are available on the PIC website:
www.gvsu.edu/pic. For additional information, please contact Rebecca Hambleton, Director of Study
Abroad & International Partnerships, at hambletr@gvsu.edu.
To learn more about ICU visit: www.icu.ac.jp
To learn more about APU visit: http://www.apu.ac.jp/home/
To learn more about JCMU visit: http://jcmu.isp.msu.edu/
The tentative dates for the 2016 delegation trip to Japan will be June 4 – June 14, 2016. Included in the
itinerary will be several days visiting each of our partners in Japan, one day visiting nearby sites such as
Kyoto and Hiroshima, and several days for travel between each city. A more detailed itinerary will be
developed once the delegation has been selected.
We will be using public transportation (trains and buses) between sites. Participants can expect to be on
the go for the majority of the trip. Due to the number of sites we will visit, there will be very little
downtime available during the 11 day journey.
What is Included?
Awardees will be expected to cover the cost of their own passport and meals. Air travel, ground
transportation, and accommodations, are covered by the grant award. Estimated amount of award is
$3500 per person for the 2016 Japan Delegation.
2016 Partnership Delegation
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE
International Partnership Delegation Grant
The Padnos International Center needs the original of this application. A letter of support from your unit head can
be supplemented instead of the unit head acknowledgement found on the application below.
A faculty/staff review committee will make recommendations to Padnos International Center about funding of
individual applications.
_______________________________________________________________________
Name of Applicant:
Title of Position:
Academic Unit:
Faculty status (Tenured/tenure-track/affiliate):
Staff status (COT, AP, Maintenance):
Please respond to the following questions and attach your responses to this signed cover page.
1.
Why are you interested in participating in the 2015 Partnership Delegation? Please include your
professional and personal goals for participating in this program.
2.
Describe how this proposal connects to the internationalization or strategic goals of your unit, college or
division?
3.
Outline a plan for applying your experience to your work, your unit, and if faculty, your teaching and
research.
5.
Describe your previous opportunities for international travel, if any.
6.
Describe your international involvement while employed at GVSU. This may include: hosting visiting
scholars, supporting international student activities, advising students interested in studying abroad,
participating in committees which have an emphasis on internationalizing the curriculum or department,
or other related activities.
7.
Please list any seminars or workshops you have participated in that had an emphasis on developing
intercultural understanding and competence.
______________________________________
Applicant’s Signature
___________________________
Date
Unit Head’s Acknowledgement
I have read this grant proposal and approve of it (please add comments below, if appropriate)
______________________________________
Unit Head’s Signature
___________________________
Date
2016 Partnership Delegation