SCSU co-hosts international conference with South African university

St. Cloud State University co-hosted the International Society for Educational Planning (ISEP) conference at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in Gqeberha, South Africa earlier this month, strengthening a partnership that has lasted decades.

Niagara University was also a co-host of the ISEP conference, which focused on building global and local partnerships through collaboration, community engagement and the call to act through the power of education.

Five individuals representing SCSU presented at the conference:

• Shahzad Amad, Associate Vice President of Global Engagement & Multicultural Student Services
• Robert Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Ethnic, Gender and Women's Studies
• Icephine Johnson, retired Nurse Practitioner, SCSU Health Services
• Felicia Leammukda, Professor of Science Education, College of Science and Engineering (COSE)
• Alana Nair, senior studying Earth and Space Science Teaching and Atmospheric and Earth Sciences

Leammukda presented Building Community in the Science Classroom, while Nair presented Flushing Forward: Enhancing Community Engagement through Virtual Field Trips. Johnson, Ahmad, and Leammukda presented the Contributions of International Students to the Host Institution and Community: A Case Study.

This presentation highlighted the invaluable contributions of international students at SCSU who have been involved in Pre-College Programs since its inception. Founded by Johnson, Pre-College Programs at SCSU have been providing STEM outreach to elementary and secondary students throughout the community for nearly four decades since 1987. These programs include summer camps such as Math Science Computer Camp and campus visits throughout the school year.

Husky students and faculty have been coming to NMU and vice versa since 1998, forming a strong bond of collaboration. Muki Moeng, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching at NMU, is a distinguished alumna of SCSU. She received her master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from SCSU in 1999, also serving as president of the African Student Association and organizing the first African cultural night on campus.

Huskies who attended were proud to represent SCSU in South Africa. Visit our website to learn more about education abroad opportunities at SCSU.