by Steve Thomas
Staff Writer
The University of Houston is well on its way to becoming a true "world-class university" thanks to a program run by the Institute of International Education.
The International Visitor Program plans counterpart meetings and cultural enrichment opportunities for mid- to high-ranking professionals from around the world.
The program, administered by the United States Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and run in Houston by IIE, was founded in 1940. It operates in 100 cities across the United States and hosts 200 to 300 visitors annually.
"Basically, the main emphasis of the program is to increase mutual understanding through communication at the personal and professional level," said Heidi Heinz, a coordinator for the IVP.
"Participants are identified as potential foreign leaders in government, business, media, the arts, education, science, labor relations and other key fields," Heinz said.
"They are selected by American embassies overseas to visit the United States to meet and confer with their professional counterparts, and to experience our country firsthand."
Part of that firsthand experience is visiting universities across the nation to swap information and experiences.
In the past year, Heinz said, UH has played host to more than 75 USIA international visitors who met with students, professors and administrators to exchange ideas on a variety of subjects.
"Our office is coordinating a visit this week from Dr. Rajiva Wijesinha, a political activist and writer from Sri Lanka, who will attend a class on curriculum development at UH, learn about the Creative Writing Program and visit The Honors College," Heinz said.
While the visitors learn about the programs at UH, the faculty and students learn about the visitors' culture.
"This program is helpful and useful in that it provides information to faculty members who want to do things overseas," said Judith Walker de Felix, associate vice provost for faculty affairs.
Last year IVP hosted Lahoussine Banhalima, chief of the national radio programs division for Moroccan Radio and Television.
He met with Professor Robert Musburger, head of UH's Radio and Television Program, and toured KUHF. Banhalima described the visit as "simply outstanding."
"From our point of view, it gives us a contact overseas," Musburger said. "But I also enjoy asking them the same type of questions they ask us, (like) how do they teach their journalists? It is also enjoyable to me because it expands my education, diversity and knowledge."
While visiting the Bayou City, the visitors take part in a wide range of events - from visiting classes at UH to discussing various programs with local civic and community leaders.
"In a few weeks, we will host a grass-roots democracy group from Latin America," Heinz said. "They will visit with the local chapter of the League of Women Voters, the (American Civil Liberties Union) and Texas Southern University. Our aim in these visits is to show diversity."
Heinz called the IVP a "very successful program."
"Alumni include 263 current and former chiefs of state and more than 600 cabinet-level ministers worldwide," she said.
In addition to operating the IVP, the IIE offers opportunities to college students and recent graduates.
The institute offers two paid internships which are available for students interested in working with the IVP. The institute also conducts coordination of the Fulbright Scholarship program with the USIA, which awards 5,000 grants annually to study, teach and conduct research abroad.
Another program the institute offers through the USIA is the National Security Education Program. This program offers undergraduates the opportunity to study in countries whose languages are less commonly spoken.
For more information on the internship or the scholarship opportunities, call the Institute of International Education at (713) 621-6300, Ext. 19.