Camarillo, Calif., Feb. 16, 2009 — California State University Channel Islands and President Richard R. Rush will host Zeppelin University President Stephan A. Jansen during an official visit, Feb. 20-21 to commemorate the first anniversary of the international exchange agreement between the two universities. There will be an official signing ceremony at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20.
CSU Channel Islands entered into its first exchange agreement with Zeppelin University located in Germany in February 2008. The purpose of the agreement is to promote effective and mutually beneficial cooperation and to develop academic and cultural exchange in education, research and other areas.
President Richard R. Rush stated, “I am deeply pleased to enter into this partnership agreement with Zeppelin University. The opportunities afforded to our students and faculty will provide a dynamic environment for shared ideas, cooperative ventures, and mutual support.”
CSUCI and Zeppelin University will exchange students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, exchange faculty on a short-term basis, and cooperate on joint research projects and development of curricula. This exchange agreement promotes CSU Channel Islands’ mission to graduate students with international perspectives.
Professors at Zeppelin University intend to teach a new generation of managers and public administrators in the ability to integrate economic, political, and cultural forms of knowledge. Their students complete internships in three different offices of the same multi-national company located on three different continents. According to Dr. Daniel Lee, Associate Professor of Sociology at CSUCI, “We have started discussions with Zeppelin University and a few of its corporate partners with offices in our region about how students from CSUCI might participate in such a cutting-edge global internship program.”
Dr. Lee will take 15 of his students to visit Zeppelin University in June. The trip to Germany is a central component of his University 392 course, which involves a comparative analysis of educational institutions in the United States and Germany. “Our seminar has been invited to visit the University of Munich, a police academy, an elementary school, a music school, and, of course, Zeppelin University,” stated Lee. While in Friedrichshafen, CSUCI students will learn about opportunities to spend a semester studying at the new partner university.
For media inquiries about this event contact Nancy Covarrubias Gill, Director of Communication & Marketing at CSU Channel Islands at 805-437-8456 or nancy.gill@csuci.edu.
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CSU Channel Islands is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
CSUCI Mission Statement
Placing students at the center of the educational experience, California State University Channel Islands provides undergraduate and graduate education that facilitates learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches, emphasizes experiential and service learning, and graduates students with multicultural and international perspectives.
