Thursday 23 May 2019 10:15pm
All Things International seminar series convenor Associate Professor Mark Lokman.
Otago’s International Office is highlighting the importance of internationalisation, through a series of monthly seminars kicking off today.
The “All Things International” seminar series, to be held in Room 103 of the International Office in Archway West, will see a range of Otago staff speak about their experiences with activities the University undertakes in the international arena.
Today’s speaker is the Chief Executive Officer of the University of Otago Language Centre and Foundation Year Roger McElwain, speaking on Delivering English Language Programmes to Institutional Partners in Thailand.
"In putting it together I tried to have a balance between research and education. I also thought it would be good to represent different geographic regions of the world."
Series convenor Associate Professor Mark Lokman says it is a way to highlight not only the research aspect of working with international researchers in-country, but also the educational collaboration.
“In putting it together I tried to have a balance between research and education. I also thought it would be good to represent different geographic regions of the world,” he says.
“I want people to feel inspired and encouraged by the stuff others do. There are so many possibilities, but they’ll also hear about the struggles people undoubtedly have as they go forward.”
Associate Professor Lokman, a former Associate Dean International for the Division of Sciences, works in Otago’s Department of Zoology, researching fish and aquaculture.
After his first trip to Myanmar about three years ago he decided he wanted to take his budding relationship with the University of Yangon further, but he did not know how to go about it.
On a flight back, he met Dr Michael Tatley from Otago’s Department of Preventative and Social Medicine.
After talking to Dr Tatley about his own international initiatives Associate Professor Lokman was inspired to persevere, a message that was reinforced by Dr Robin Griffiths, from Wellington campus’ Occupational and Aviation Medicine Unit, at an Education New Zealand Symposium on offshore teaching.
"It’s a real privilege to be able to apply what we do and learn here for the betterment of people who don’t have what we have."
He says his experiences working with the people at the University of Yangon have been “life-changing”.
His first trip was part of a promotions event, on the back of which he was able to meet the Yangon’s fisheries biology laboratory staff.
“That introduction to the University and the fisheries biology laboratory was the driver for me to want to do more there. I had seen what they didn’t have and what we take for granted,” he says.
Associate Professor Lokman says the Myanmar university had significantly fewer physical and human resources than he was used to, and he knew he could positively impact their work.
“I’ve been there three times since. It’s a real privilege to be able to apply what we do and learn here for the betterment of people who don’t have what we have.”
Associate Professor Lokman’s trips have involved leading workshops as well as developing curriculum material for the fisheries and aquaculture programmes. Last year he also organised the donation of 21 unused Otago microscopes to the University of Yangon to help address a shortage of scientific equipment.
The “All Things International” seminar series runs through to October.
Come along:
Thu 23 May, 12noon to 1pm
Roger McElwain, Chief Executive Officer, University of Otago Language Centre and Foundation Year
Delivering English Language Programmes to Institutional Partners in ThailandThu 20 Jun, 12noon to 1pm
Professor Tony Binns, School of Geography
45 years of collaborative links with Sierra Leone, West AfricaThu 18 Jul, 12noon to 1pm
Associate Professor Daryl Schwenke, Department of Physiology – HeartOtago
Cardiovascular disease in Pacifica - breaking down the disparities between ethnicities (tentative title)Thu 15 Aug, 12noon to 1pm
Professor Phil Bishop, Department of Zoology
Teaching beyond our borders - a Borneo experience for our Ecology students (tentative title)Thu 19 Sep, 12noon to 1pm
Jason Cushen, Director International
Internationalising the University of OtagoThu 17 Oct, 12noon to 1pm
Celia Corteletti, Exchange Adviser
Preparing Global CitizensAll seminars will be held in Room 103, International Office, Archway West Building