OSU STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM IN TUNISIA
Spring 2003
Program Proposal
OSU Campus Contacts
Chris Sproul, Director, Office of International Education
Joseph Krause, Chair, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
I.
General Remarks and Background Information
The Office of International Education and the Department of Foreign Languages and
Literatures are proposing to offer a new study program in Tunisia in spring 2003.
L’Université 7 novembre à Carthage1, which has a student population of approximately
12,000, will serve as the host institution. The principal interlocutor for the program at
l’Université 7 novembre à Carthage will be Professor Mohamed Miled, Director of the
Institut Supérieur des Langues de Tunis (ISLT). L’Université 7 novembre à Carthage is
recognized as a leading university in the Mediterranean Basin and has forged strong
research partnerships with many European universities.
For over twenty years OSU’s College of Agriculture and Office of International Research
and Development (OIRD) have forged ties with different Tunisian institutions and
government agencies. Over the last two decades many OSU faculty from the College of
Agriculture have participated in Tunisia-related projects. The following are notable
examples of OSU’s longstanding relationship with Tunisia in the areas horticulture,
irrigation, extension education and crop and soil science: Tunisia Smallholder Irrigation
Project (1980-85), Tunisia Dryland Farming Systems Project (1980-85), Central Tunisia
Rural Extension and Outreach Subproject (1981-89), and Tunisia Range Development
and Management Project (1982-89).
More recently, under the aegis of OIRD, Laura Rice (Department of English) and Karim
Hamdy (Courtesy Faculty in Office of International Programs) have, via Fulbright and
USIA grants, nurtured strong linkages between OSU and several Tunisian universities. In
the context of the USIA grant, six Deans and Directors from Tunisian institutions visited
OSU in December 1998. The grant project also will support for the period 1999-2001
twenty-five faculty exchanges between Oregon and Tunisia. In addition, within the
framework of the USIA project, Don Parker, Dean of the School of Business, went to
Tunisia in November 1999 at the invitation by Dr. Mohamed Limam, Director of the
School of Management in Tunis (ISG). In March 2000, Joseph Krause met with faculty
and administrators in Tunis to specifically explore the feasibility of a study abroad
program. Then, in September 2000 Jack Van de Water, Dean of International Programs,
made a formal visit to the University of Tunis system and presented the administration
1
L'Université 7 novembre à Carthage is one of several campuses within the University of Tunis system.
with a memorandum of understanding to reinforce existing interuniversity ties and to
further advance the prospect of an Oregon study abroad program in Tunisia. Thanks to
this groundwork, OSU and l’Université 7 novembre à Carthage are now in the process of
finalizing a memorandum of understanding.
Program Objectives
Given Tunisia’s geographical location and the complexity of the cultural strata that form
its history, the proposed program will focus both on language apprenticeship and on
Tunisian civilization within wider North African and Mediterranean perspectives. The
study program would be tailored for undergraduate students and would include a Resident
Director from OSU. Although a foreign language component stands at the center of the
curriculum, the program is designed to be of particular interest to students in archeology,
cultural anthropology, history, environmental science, gender studies, human geography,
among others. Courses will be taught by faculty at l’Université 7 novembre à Carthage
and by the Resident Director. Given the professional respect that they have earned in
Tunisia, it is recommended that Laura Rice serve as the first Resident Director and that
Karim Hamdy provide on-site administrative and instructional support. The OSU program
would be open to students from all OUS campuses and, once established in Tunisia, it
could be transformed into a NCSA site, thereby attracting a larger compass of students and
faculty directors from northwest universities. If approved, the OSU program would be the
second US study program in Tunisia: in January 2000 Duke University launched a smallscale semester program, which also has a Mediterranean perspective. At present OSU has
no foreign study site in the Maghreb or Middle-East. Because of the considerable leadtime for publicizing the spring 2003 program and for student recruitment, the expectation
is that the program will enroll fifteen participants in its first year.
In parallel with the development and implementation of the proposed study program in
Tunisia, the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures will include the teaching of
1st and 2nd year Arabic in its strategic plan for 2002-2004. Initially, a pilot 1st year Arabic
course could be offered during summer 2002 and would be taught by a visiting faculty
member from l’Université 7 novembre à Carthage. A calendar has been defined to solicit
outside grant funding. By June 1st, 2001 Laura Rice will submit a proposal for a Fulbright
Alumni Initiatives Award. The awards provide institutional grants up to $20,000 to foster
sustainable linkages between the Fulbright scholar’s home university and a host
institution. Further, the US State Department's Bureau of Educational Exchange has
earmarked funding for Tunisian-related projects for the 2002-03 grant period under the
College and University Affiliation Program (CUAP). The intention is to submit, in late
2001, a proposal for CUAP funding to enhance the components of the proposed Tunisia
study program and to provide support for teaching Arabic at OSU.
Program Highlights
The program will be located in Tunis, a capital city of approximately one million
inhabitants and one of the cultural and economic centers of the Mediterranean Basin.
Tunisia has historically been a crossroads for many civilizations
(Phoenician,
Carthaginian, Roman, Moorish, Ottoman, French, among others). Tunisian cultural
-2-
identity today is thus predicated on a complex heritage and on the juxtaposition of
different pasts. Close to Malta and just over two hours by ferry from Sicily, Tunis provides
easy access to the European continent. Tunis and its surrounding area boast some of the
finest archeological sites and ancient monuments in the Mediterranean world.
Outstanding beaches and resorts, along with access to the Sahara in the south also make
Tunisia a highly appealing destination for tourists, drawing over four million visitors a
year. U.S. nationals do not require a visa for stays up to four months in Tunisia. In its
most recent travel report the US State Department indicates that Tunisia is a safe
destination for U.S. citizens.
Through our partnership with the University of Tunis system the program will offer
undergraduate courses in four specific areas: 1) language studies (French and Arabic); 2)
Tunisian and Mediterranean civilization; 3) gender studies and; 4) environmental
studies. The blend and disciplinary sweep of the courses makes this program unique.
Students will receive OSU academic credit for all site courses. The intention is to offer
several Baccalaureate Core courses.
Classes will be held on l’Université 7 novembre à Carthage campus.
Field trips and excursions will be incorporated into the program. Excursions could
include guided visits to Carthage, Utique, Sidi Bou Sad, the Musée du Bardo, Tunis’
Medina, the island of Djerba (of Homerian fame), Berber troglodyte habitations, a Sahara
oasis, among other locations.
Similar to the NCSA program model, an OSU faculty member will serve as resident
director, giving ready assistance to participants and offering one of the on-site classes.
Internships will be available to program participants, along with undergraduate research
opportunities (students would be eligible to apply for OSU’s Undergraduate Research
Innovation Creativity Scholarship-URISC).
Program costs will include tuition, housing, meals, course materials, program excursions,
local transportation pass (bus or metro), and orientation. Participants will be responsible
for round-trip transportation to Tunis and for medical insurance.
Predeparture and on-site orientations will be provided.
Academic Program
All program applicants will be interviewed by a selection committee consisting of
members of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures and the Office of
International Education. Members of the OSU community with experience or a particular
interest in the Maghreb may also be invited to join the committee.
Participants must have completed at least two terms of college French or Arabic prior to
departure. However, a full year of language preparation is recommended.
-3-
Students enroll for a minimum of 14 trimester credits of coursework. All classes are
designed exclusively for program participants (requests to enroll directly in University of
Tunis courses will be handled on a case by case basis). Students must take a primary
language class in either French or Arabic but may elect to enroll in a second language as
well. Participants receive 8 credits for each French or Arabic course completed. The
expectation is that most students will enroll in French at the second or third year level and
that some will also take Modern Standard Arabic at the elementary level. All language
courses will meet eight hours per week and will contain multiple components which allow
students to develop oral and written competency, improve reading skills, and which
expose students to a panorama of Tunisian culture.
In addition, participants choose from a set of electives. Elective classes are taught in
English and will include an undergraduate research component. Students receive 3
credits for each elective class completed.
The course list indicated below is presently being defined for the 2003 program in concert
with several OSU departments and faculty in the University of Tunis system. This list
represents a typical set of electives for subsequent Tunisia programs.
Environmental Studies
Course Title:
Instructor:
OSU Equivalency:
Comments:
Environmental Case Studies. Tunisia: Development in Conditions
of Environmental Scarcity.
Karim Hamdy
ENSC 479
Designed for non-majors and provides for internships.
Gender Studies
Course Title:
Instructor:
OSU Equivalency:
Comments:
Women’s International Voices
Laura Rice
ENG 497/ENG 597 (request to be made to cross-list with WS
480)
Bac Core Global Issues course.
Tunisian and Mediterranean Civilization
Course Title:
Instructor:
OSU Equivalency:
Comments:
2
Tunisia and the Mediterranean: from Phoenicia to the Present.
Université 7 novembre à Carthage faculty and guest lecturers.2
Field trip included.
TCS 301
Bac Core Global Issues course.
Sample vita of Tunisian faculty attached.
-4-
A 3 credit internship option (FLL 410) is available but must be arranged prior to
departure.
II.
Program Evaluation Criteria
The proposed program is designed to attract a broad spectrum of students with basic
language preparation seeking, through an international study experience, to complete
general education (Baccalaureate Core) requirements and advance their knowledge of
French and Arabic. Given Tunisia’s multicultural and multilingual profile and its
geographical location, there can be no doubt that program participants will be exposed to
an array of learning situations centered on questions of cultural diversity. Because the
proposed program will be the first of its kind in the North African region for Oregon
students the geographical scope of OSU’s study abroad programs will be extended.
L’Université 7 novembre à Carthage offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the
humanities and social sciences and is one of several campuses in the University of Tunis
system, which has an international reputation for its teaching and research. The fact that
the Fulbright agency has had longstanding contacts with the University of Tunis system is
a testimony of that reputation.
Program review will be conducted on an ongoing basis and will include on-site student
evaluations of teaching and program administration, and OSU peer faculty evaluation of
credentials and performance of Tunisian colleagues teaching in the program. A postprogram meeting will be held for returning students which will also contain an assessment
component. The Office of International Education and the Department of Foreign
Languages and Literatures will create and administer the evaluation instruments for the
program.
Dialogue across the OSU campus on the development of a Tunisia foreign study program
has been ongoing for a number of years. A selection of statements by John Katz (History),
Janet Lee (Women Studies), Erlinda Gonzales-Berry (Ethnic Studies), Joan Gross
(Anthropology), David McMurray (Anthropology) expressing faculty interest is attached
to this proposal. Wider expressions of support at OSU and at other OUS institutions will
be solicited during the first part of 2001.
Also, during the first part of 2001 a student interest assessment will be conducted at OSU
principally, but colleagues at PSU and UO will be asked to cooperate as well. In addition,
input about student interest and program needs will be solicited from the Oregon Middle
East Consortium which has representation by faculty from Oregon s public and private
institutions of higher education.
A full-day pre-departure student orientation will be held at OSU. The orientation will be
organized by the Office of International Education and the Department of Foreign
Languages and Literatures and will include the participation of the Resident Director.
-5-
III.
Student Housing Options
Several housing options are available for students. First, a program villa could be rented
to house all students. A native Tunisian student enrolled at the University of Tunis could
be invited to also reside in the villa in order to assist the students with problems of
enculturation. Second, students could be placed in one of the university dormitories.
Third, students could live with a homestay family.
IV.
Projected Costs
(See attached budget)
V.
Course Approval
Permanent overseas course designators will need to be required for the Tunisia site.
Designators for language courses should be OTUN 188, OTUN 288, OTUN 388, and
OTUN 388. The final content and structure of language courses will require input from
colleagues in the University of Tunis system.
VI.
January 01:
January-April 01:
February 01:
April 01:
April 01:
January-June 01:
June 01:
Timeline
Meet with International Program Advisory Committee.
OSU’s Foreign Language and Literatures Department and the
ISLT in Tunis define language course content.
Proposal submitted to University Curriculum Council. Electives
finalized for 2003 program.
Proposal submitted to the Faculty Senate.
M. Miled visits Oregon with other colleagues from Tunisia.
Draft of OSU/UT system agreement. Liaison between OSU and
other OUS and NCSA language departments. Student interest
assessment conducted.
Proposal submitted for Fulbright Alumni Initiatives Award.
-6-
Winter 02:
Fall 02:
Winter 03:
Spring 03:
VII.
Grant proposal submitted to US State Department’s Bureau of
Educational Exchange.
Program publicity disseminated.
Student application deadline.
Predeparture orientation.
Program begins.
Approval Signatures
__________________________________
Dean, College of Liberal Arts
_______________
Date
__________________________________
Dean, International Programs
_______________
Date
-7-