The University of Wisconsin will institute an undergraduate Russian Flagship Center after recently receiving a three-year grant of nearly $1 million from the National Security Education Program.
The grant will be used to create a program that promotes the study of the Russian language on a more advanced level, as well as to monetarily support students who wish to study abroad in Russia.
“The goal of this innovative new program is to provide opportunities for highly motivated students of all majors to achieve a professional level of competence in Russian,” Associate Director Dianna Murphy said.
In order to enhance the prominence of the Russian language and culture throughout campus, the center will accept applications to the program from all undergraduate students — not strictly those majoring in Russian, Director Karen Evans-Romaine said.
Students who enroll will encounter individualized and accelerated programs of Russian language study, significantly expanded contact hours and course offerings during the academic year and summer and other increased opportunities for on-campus Russian language use and exposure, Murphy said.
UW junior Ryan Prince said this innovative program will allow students to place a “professional twist” on studying the Russian language and unite their major with Russian study.
For example, while in the program, a student will be able to learn a portion of a political science course in Russian in order to gain the vocabulary necessary to speak the language in professional settings, he added.
“While it is a time consuming program, alumni from flagship centers throughout the United States claim the reward of language and cultural proficiency far outdoes the years of effort,” Evans-Romaine said.
Evans-Romaine added, in collaboration with four other U.S. centers, UW will offer students who have achieved advanced language proficiency the chance to take courses at St. Petersburg University.
During the spring semesters, students involved in the program may also partake in internships at Russian businesses, such as at a publishing house or other non-governmental organization in St. Petersburg.
As part of a collaborative initiative between the Department of Slavic Languages and Literature, the Language Institute and the Center for Russia, East Europe and Central Asia, the program and the center as a whole will allow for a greater number of students to leave UW with knowledge of Russian society, Director of CREECA Ted Gerber said.
Gerber added due to its energy resources, market potential and educated population, Russia is a major player on the world stage and can provide several opportunities for American people and businesses.
The professional competency students can acquire through the program can result in an expanded awareness of Russian culture and therefore better relations with Russians, which could positively impact security operations, Prince said.
The program, which will be UW’s only flagship program other than the African Languages Flagship Program, will begin to accept students in the fall 2010 semester.
