AHA International, a University of Oregon program, hosted staff members from 11 countries around the world in Portland Feb. 28 – March 3. The annual event brought AHA local and international staff members together with the Northwest Council on Study Abroad (NCSA), a consortium of universities dedicated to international education.

“Here we can exchange ideas and share best practices” says Hartwig Prüssmann, the on-site director for AHA’s business program in Cologne, Germany. “We can enhance the experience of studying abroad for students. That gives them the tools they need to become global citizens and it’s a real advantage as they graduate and move into the workplace.”

AHA staff members abroad, like Prüssmann, provide academic and personal support on-site, teach courses, arrange for housing, and organize the day-to-day operations for each program.

Since 1957, AHA has provided study abroad opportunities for students nationwide. AHA and NCSA have collaborated to develop innovative, high-quality academic study abroad programs for more than 30 years. In 2003, AHA merged with the University of Oregon, a member of NCSA, enhancing the university’s reputation as a leader in internationalization and providing the university with a broader capacity to offer international experiences for students.

More than 400 University of Oregon students study abroad on AHA programs each year. Programs are currently offered throughout Europe, South America, and Oceania and are in development in Asia.

Alumni who participated in AHA programs during their university experience can contact Melanie Harmon at mmharmon@uoregon.edu for information regarding future events with AHA staff, site-directors, current students and alumni.

Links:

AHA International: http://www.aha-intl.org
Northwest Council on Study Abroad: http://www.nwabroad.org/
AHA merged with the UO: http://academicaffairs.uoregon.edu/AHA.html
leader in internationalization: http://duckhenge.uoregon.edu/hparchive/display.php?q=acei18nrecognition.html