Program lets instructors trade ideas
February 3, 2005
Four educators from the former Soviet bloc have received the chance to use Iowa State as a model for faculty development in other countries.
Iowa State was one of 60 national organizations that secured four of the 86 finalists for the Junior Faculty Development Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. A reviewing committee makes the final placement decision based on how closely the proposed advisers’ academic backgrounds and coursework matches with the interests of the finalists.
Svetlana Dubrovina, an English teacher at the Uzbek State World Languages University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Ilham Huseynov, a management and marketing teacher at the Association of Young Leaders of Azerbaijan in Ganja, Azerbaijan; Alexey Konobeev, associate director of the Institute of Supplementary Education at Tambov State University in Russia; and Zorana Misic, a faculty member of veterinary medicine at Belgrade University in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro, are halfway done with their time on the ISU campus.
The participants are observing teaching methods for 11 months and can use new ideas to develop their own curriculum in their home countries, said Olga Mesropova, assistant professor of foreign languages and literatures and ISU coordinator for the program.
Dubrovina and Konobeev said they will work with advisers in the English department, and Misic and Huseynov will contribute to and work with advisers from the Colleges of Agriculture and Business, respectively.
Huseynov, Konobeev and Mesropova said the program allows the exchange of ideas between the participants and Iowa State.
“I think both sides will have something to offer each other,” Konobeev said.
The program gives educators from Eurasia and Southeast Europe — like the four on campus — an opportunity to learn more about the academic environment in the United States. In return, American teachers can learn more about higher education from their advisees, Mesropova said.
Dawn Bratsch-Prince, professor and chairwoman of foreign languages and literatures, said her department has helped with the program for two years. She said it helps bridge the gap between the foreign languages and literatures department and the Colleges of Engineering and Business.
“They are also enhancing the Russian program here,” Mesropova said. “JFDP is a very invigorating program for us.”
Iowa State’s participation in the program, along with diverse student organizations and classes, shows it is a well-respected and diverse university, Konobeev said.
She said the professors do not just sit in the classrooms and observe teaching methodologies; they also present materials, participate in the classes and give a new perspective.
The group said this learning opportunity would not run as well without their mentors: Max Wortman, distinguished professor of management; Mary Barratt, Intensive English and Orientation Program specialist in the department of English; Kathleen Hickok, professor of English; and Gene Takle, professor of agronomy and geological and atmospheric sciences.
“We are grateful to the advisers,” Mesropova said.
The program will continue for next year, Bratsch-Prince said.