The University of Toledo

In 1984, The University of Toledo College of Arts and Sciences initiated an exchange program with The University of Salford, England. Since then, more than 200 students from each institution have participated in the program, giving them a greater appreciation for the global community.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the UT-Salford Exchange Program, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Biological Sciences will host an Alumni Symposium Saturday, Jan. 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Memorial Field House Room 2100 on Main Campus.

The symposium was created to welcome back program alumni, while giving them the opportunity to reflect on their time spent abroad with prospective exchange students.

The event will include eight UT-Salford Program alumni members who will talk about research in molecular immunology and genetics and molecular neuroscience.

Dr. Patricia Komuniecki, UT vice provost for graduate affairs, dean of the College of Graduate Studies, and director of the program for the past 20 years, will give opening remarks. The symposium also will include alumni reflections on the exchange experience and closing remarks by Dr. Brian Ashburner, UT associate professor of biology and current director of the program.

“I am delighted to be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the UT-Salford Exchange Program this Saturday,” Komuniecki said. “Since my first year on faculty, I have been involved with mentoring British students in the research lab and teaching them in the classroom; but it wasn’t until I had the chance to teach UT and Salford students in the marine biology field course in Wales for the first time 20 years ago that I truly appreciated what an amazing cultural immersion the UT students experience during their exchange year.

“This highly selective exchange program provides an unparalleled opportunity for UT students to live in another country and meet students from across the globe,” she explained. “The chance to spend a year focusing exclusively on science courses prepares our students well for their future goals of attending graduate and medical schools. In addition, the program has a 100 percent placement of the alums in professional schools.”

Breakfast and refreshments will be provided.

For more information on this free, public event, visit www.utoledo.edu/as/bio/salford/25th.html.

This entry was posted  on  Friday, January 29th, 2010 at  5:35 am and is filed under  Events, UToday.
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