As part of a U.S. State Department program, Case Western Reserve University is hosting 15 representatives of higher education and government from seven countries in a cross-disciplinary program to demonstrate how an American research university forms links with industry and other private-sector businesses.
Officials from Panama, Uruguay, Tunisia, Portugal, Poland, India and Singapore arrived March 1, and will participate in wide-ranging activities both on and off campus through March 13, including a tour of Sears think[ box ], where the visitors can watch students and faculty make innovation happen.
Daniel Lacks, chair of the university’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, leads the program.
“It’s a great chance for us to show off Case Western Reserve’s leadership in research with industry, innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Lacks, whose experiences with Fulbright scholar programs convinced him that international education collaborations are valuable and rewarding for Case Western Reserve faculty who use the opportunity to meet the visitors.
Workshops involve faculty and staff from throughout the university, including Case School of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Medicine, School of Law and Weatherhead School of Management, as well as Sears think[ box ], Center for International Affairs, Career Services, Research Administration, Corporate Relations and others.
“We’re excited to bring higher education leaders from throughout the world to learn how our university works with corporate partners to create real solutions to societal issues,” said David Fleshler, the university’s vice provost for international affairs. “Each of them will have the opportunity to forge strong bonds with faculty and students throughout campus, which is another way we will build relationships that internationalize our university and community.”
The group also has off-campus visits planned at BioEnterprise and Nottingham Spirk, as well as Oberlin College, Cleveland State University and Cuyahoga Community College. Plans also include a Cleveland Orchestra performance and a Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game.
The group’s visit is part of EducationUSA Leadership Institutes, administered by the Institute of International Education, a private, not-for-profit leader in the international exchange of people and ideas, and the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.