Issue #2 Interview of the week  -   This Month @ UNic  -   Global Semesters Agenda  -   Scholarships

Interview of the Week

DuBose Kapeluck: A professor abroad! Moving to a new country to study abroad is an experience. But moving to teach abroad with your family for a semester is a challenge! DuBose Kapeluck, Professor of Political Science from The Citadel Military School has spent a semester at the University of Nicosia teaching European politics to his Citadel students and shares his Cyprus experience. You have spent a semester in Cyprus as part of the collaboration betweenThe Citadel and the University of Nicosia. Can you tell us more about your work here? I’m here with about 30 cadets who came here to study abroad at the University of Nicosia. They are all following different majors at the Citadel so they are taking different courses. My duty is to support this large number of students that we have and get them to do things in Cyprus and teach them European affairs. For me, Cyprus is a fitting spot for my course. What is your impression of the facilities available at the University and what do you think about the premises? The University of Nicosia is just as good as any university I have seen back in the United States. The facilities are great, there is a state of the art video production facility and all classrooms are equipped with computers. There are various classrooms able to to cater from small to large groups with Amphitheater-style seating. Also, the university has very nice places to eat and it is very centrally located, right close to a boulevard with bars, cafes and a nice shopping center where students can do their daily shopping. Also, it is about 20-minute walk to downtown Nicosia so that helps. From your experience as an academic, what are your overall impressions of the staff (both academic and non-academic)? I have less experience with the academic staff, but I have peered around in classrooms and recognized a lot of conversations professors are having with students. I have had  great feedback from students in terms of class quality, and I see professors interested in the subject and I have no doubt that there is a good professorial staff. I have been lucky enough to go to a conference on the US presidential election and there were many professors, who seemed very engaged and knew their subjects.  As for the non-academic staff, they are great and very helpful. Overall, I think the University of Nicosia is a first-rate world class university.   As a member of a US university, what can you tell us about the University of Nicosia's educational standards? I believe that the educational standards here at the University of Nicosia are right on par of what you will find in the United States. The professors are well-trained and have terminal degrees in their fields. In fact, I have had a look at the websites of the different departments and the studies are the same with our departments back in the United States, while many of the professors have degrees from US universities.  So I think it is very similar-if not identical in some cases- with what you see in the United States.   Let’s change the subject and talk about life in Cyprus. How easy was life in Cyprus for a US family? Living in Cyprus was relatively easy. We have lived for a year in another country, in Slovenia, and I find Cyprus more like the United States. People seem to be more laid back here, which seems closer to Americans. The other issue is safety: we feel more safe to let kids run around, Nicosia is a safe place, so everything is nice.  Finally, what would you like to say to the students about studying abroad at the University of Nicosia? The University of Nicosia would be a great choice. They have a broad range of courses…Just some helpful tips I would tell them: Make flashcards with the Greek alphabet on them ... If you cannot pronounce the letters of the Greek alphabet, then you might get lost. Also, take advantage of the weekends for excursions: There is lots to see in Cyprus! Go to the coast-it is inexpensive by bus or to the mountains. I would urge them to get out and discover the area. Another thing they can do is to look for weekend trips abroad! In fact, many of our students have gone to exotic places or to Europe for weekend breaks. So, take advantage of how easy it is to travel from Cyprus.

This Month @ UNic

Donald Fowler at the University of Nicosia

One of the most recognized personalities of the US political scene will be visiting the University of Nicosia on the 8th of December for a discussion about the recent US elections.  Donald Fowler is the former National Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) of the United States, and has been a member of the DNC since 1972. He was the Chief Executive Officer of the 1988 Democratic National Convention, a Political Coordinator for the Clinton Campaign at the 1992 Democratic National Convention, and a member of the Presidential Nominating Commission of the DNC from 2005 - 2006. He is currently a Professor of International Affairs and American Government at The Citadel Military College of South Carolina, and has been a Citadel Fellow in Public Affairs at The Citadel since 2010. The event is organized by the Center for European and International Affairs of the University of Nicosia in cooperation with the Department of European Studies and International Relations of the University of Nicosia and The Citadel Military College of South Carolina.

Thanksgiving lunch for Global Semesters students in Cyprus This year, Thanksgiving Day was very special for the University of Nicosia Global Semesters students. The Cyprus team organized a lunch for all of its GS students and celebrated the day in all its glory.   The table had it all: Stuffed turkey, salads, delicious desserts! But above all it was the fun amongst the students that made them feel like home!

University of Nicosia Global Semesters Agenda

University of Nicosia Global Semesters visit to Troodos Mountain December 3rd, 2016 Global Semesters students attending the Cyprus program will spend a day mountaineering in Cyprus. The activities include hiking, visits to museums and traditional villages and much more! The highlight of the trip will be a visit to a winery where students will learn how Commandaria (Cyprus' oldest wine) is made!  "Energy developments and lessons for Cyprus" Seminar December 5th, 2016 UNESCO Amphitheater, University of Nicosia The Department of Law of the University of Nicosia is organizing a very interesting seminar about the geopolitical developments in Cyprus following the recent oil & gas resources found in the country's EEZ.

GS Students to  Oxford, Cotswolds and Stratford-upon-Avon December 3rd, 2016  Global Semesters students on our London programs will discover the historic cities of Oxford, Cotswolds and Stratford-upon-Avon. From the historic buildings of Oxford to the house of William Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon, students will take a journey back in time and enjoy these beautiful cities.      Turkey and the West after the attempted coup December 8th, 2016, 09:45-13:00 UNESCO Amphitheatre, University of Nicosia A roundtable discussion about the latest developments in Turkey, organized by the Diplomatic Academy of the University of Nicosia with some great guest speakers.

Worth a Click... Scholarships!