Fulbright Association Conference, Moldova panels

another paper about Moldova! presented by a professor from the Academia de Studii Economice din Moldova (ASEM)

The theme of the Fulbright Association conference was "Fulbrighters Minding the Gaps (and Bridging Them)." In addition to the plenary panel sessions, keynote luncheon speakers, and other conference events (such as a reception at the US Embassy), there were a number of breakout sessions and paper presentations.

Much to my pleasant surprise, mine was not the only paper about Moldova!  And my paper was not included on a panel about Moldova, but one titled "Creating East/West Understanding of Human Rights Issues through Classroom Linking via Technology."


My paper, "Moldovan-US Educational Bridge: Providing Collaborative Research Opportunities or US and Moldovan Students," detailed the collaborative teaching and research experiment in long-distance civic engagement among my students at USF St. Petersburg and my colleague Dr. Svetlana Suveica's students at the American Studies Center at Moldova State University on the issue of human trafficking. We developed a project plan to promote engagement not only among students of different cultures, countries and languages but also with global community partners such as NGO's, Peace Corps Volunteers, local law enforcement, student organizations, and governmental agencies both in Moldova and in the US. Throughout the 10-week period of research collaboration, students met using technology and social networking tools to engage effectively.  We discussed the logistics of designing a course to create a global classroom that fosters an understanding of a complex social issue leading to students' engagement.

I appreciated the turnout for our presentation. Lots of engaging, interesting questions

At the closing banquet with new friends from/working on a project with the Roma population in Cluj, Romania