IUB, IUSB receive grants to build international ties

Siffin

On the Bloomington campus, the IU Kelley School of Business received a $10,000 International Community Partnership Grant for "Indiana and the World," a project to develop an interdisciplinary international trade and cultural curriculum for middle and high school teachers throughout the state. The project, administered by Louise Siffin, director for global program development in the IU Kelley School of Business, is a joint effort between IU and Purdue University with the support of the Indiana Department of Education, the Indiana Economic Development Council, Inc., the International Resource Center, the Indiana Council for Economic Education and the Indiana Department of Commerce.

Bryant

Robinson

Two projects at IU South Bend were awarded International Awareness Grants: "Art as Social Change: Each One, Teach One," directed by De Bryant, associate professor of community psychology; and "ASIA IN US South Bend Programs," administered by Gabrielle Robinson, director of international programs.

"Art as Social Change," which sponsors projects that culminate in dramatic productions emphasizing constructive social change, received $3,000. "ASIA IN US," an exhibit which just closed this week at IU South Bend, received $4,500 to include a series of international cultural events, including an India Independence Day celebration; a Japanese dance; and a reading by Bei Dao, the most famous living Chinese poet. The exhibit is tentatively scheduled for Evansville, Sept. 20-Dec. 31, and in Fort Wayne Jan. 1-April 30.

"What's remarkable about these projects is the collaboration," said Ann Whitlock Swedeen, the council's director for international programs and a former IU trustee.

In 1996, Indiana exported more than $1.67 billion on goods to nine major Asian markets:
Japan China South Korea Taiwan Singapore Hong Kong Thailand Malaysia Phillipines	$747,206,000 $154,584,000 $199,309,000 $140,899,000 $188,108,000 $105,355,000 $61,729,000 $45,501,000 $33,740,000

"Local civic groups, international and cultural organizations, museums, universities, schools, business and local and state governments are coming together to build awareness and understanding of Indiana's pervasive international ties," Swedeen said. "We believe these shared, cross-cultural experiences create a more global outlook throughout the state."

The Indiana Humanities Council awarded a total of $102,000 to 18 projects in ten communities. The grants are made by the council with support from Lilly Endowment Inc.

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