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On Tuesday, January 19, Sagita Mirjam Sunara (2009-10, Art Conservation) took part in the Pre-Columbian ceramics survey at the University of Delaware Gallery. The survey included examination of individual objects, assessment of their authenticity and proposals for their conservation.
Follow the link for more information: http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2010/jan/museums012710.html
- Activity Category: Other
- Activity Period: January 19 2010
- Collaboration: U.S. faculty or administrators
Ms. Sairagul Matikeeva, JFDP Alumni 2002-2008 recently was awarded a Visiting Research Fellowship at the Central European University in Budapest for the academic year 2009-2010.
CEU Visiting Research Fellowships program is administrating by Special and Extension Projects (SEP) office and designed to promote original research, which can be of practical benefit to a particular country or region.
She will have a Fellowship during 4 months, from September 7, 2009-till January 7, 2010. She was started taking up fellowship at Department of Political Sciences of CEU under the supervising Dr. Matteo Fumagalli.
Ms. Sairagul Matikeeva’s research topic is “Cooperation of the NGO and political parties at the European countries: partnership or rival?” aims are: to revise modern civic society theories, comparative analyze of a type, a character and regulations between political party and NGO institutions as at East as for West Europe countries.
Other main goal of this research is to analyze NGO’s essence from the position possibility of participation at the policy making process and political party’s essence from the position of their concern to civic society. “Theoretically, political party is one of the institutions of civic society. As a rule, a civic society can’t be involved in political activity. Same time as practice of all countries shows, political parties have to form (and have been forming) governments and make main political decisions. Here is one of the main puzzle’s in understanding of modern civic society’s essence and institutions“ - Sairagul discus’s.
At the frame of this fellowship Ms. Sairagul Matikeeva will give a public lecture for CEU community on theme: “Central Asian model” of Democracy and civic society at the post Soviet Central Asia: lessons from Kyrgyzstan”, which will take place at the beginning of November.
A final product of research fellowship will be scientific publication in English on mentioned theme, which has to be published in one of the international scientific journals.
- Activity Category: Project Involvement
- Activity Period: September 7, 2009- January 7, 2010
- Collaboration: other international colleagues
Dr. Gubad Bayramov (JFDP 2008-09, Economics), recently visited the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. This trip was realized with invitation of the UNC. Dr. Bayramov, former JFDP visiting scholar (Spring 2009), current Associate Professor, Azerbaijan State Economic University (ASEU) and Chairman of Economic Research Center (ERC) delivered a lecture on "The Effects of Dutch Disease -- Evidence from Azerbaijan" for Professors and Instructors of Economic Department of UNC on December 10, 2009. Students of Duke University also attended the lecture.
Dr. Bayramov reported the results of a recent survey of state and private sector firms in Azerbaijan. The purpose of this survey was to determine whether risk factors have, in fact, led to observable symptoms of Dutch Disease among these individual firms. The survey provides a useful separation of the effects of Dutch Disease from the effects of the global financial crisis. Dr,. Bayramov argues that coincidence of the two events has created a "perfect storm" for private manufacturing firms in Azerbaijan.
He also discussed the role played by SOFAZ, the Azerbaijani sovereign-wealth fund, in reducing the severity of the symptoms of the Dutch Disease. He was related the increase in oil revenues to macroeconomic stability, exchange rate policy, inflation, deficit of payment balance and foreign debt.
This lecture was sponsored by the Center for Slavic, Eurasian, and East European Studies and the Department of Economics of UNC.
The ongoing collaboration between Dr. Gubad Bayramov of the Department of Economic Analysis at ASEU and his academic advisor Dr. Patrick Conway of the Department of Economics at UNC began in April 01, 2009 in the framework of a joint project written and submitted to a Title VIII national research competition entitled, “Institutional Transition in the Emerging Market Economies of the Balkans and the Caucasus,” which was organized by the University of Delaware and funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Intelligence and Research.
The scholars won project funding through this competition and the results of the project are still being compiled for a report. While the project involves many universities and organizations, the ERC is the base for this project.
- Activity Category: Lecture
- Activity Period: December 2009
- Collaboration: U.S. faculty or administrators
Atanasko Atanasovski (JFDP 2009-10, Macedonia, Business Administration) is currently hosted at Fairfield University in Connecticut. He recently attended an event entitled, "Service Learning Roundtable: Classroom Models for Engaging Service to Advance Learning and the Common Good." The roundtable was jointly organized by Fairfield’s Center of Academic Excellence and Office of Service Learning. It served as an introduction to a series of events to be organized during the spring 2010 semester dedicated to the topic of service learning and it benefits for faculty, students and the community.
The goal of the roundtable was to inform professors interested in developing service learning courses with the insight into benefits and setbacks with using such an educational approach. Business and core science professors from the university shared their experiences of designing and teaching service learning courses, followed by an interesting debate on the pros and cons of this educational component. Mr. Atanasovski was impressed by the roundtable’s worthwhile topic and its ability to provoke critical thinking about the goals of higher education overall.
Atanasovski commented that after he returns home to Macedonia it could be possible for him to develop such a course or educational component at his university. However, for Macedonia’s circumstances and business culture, he would have to find a way to break down the great barrier of confidentiality and reliability which accountants in practice are expected to have. Atanasovski teaches at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, and focuses his studies at Fairfield on accounting and auditing. He thinks that for accounting courses the potential benefits for students and professors from service learning courses are considerable. He recognized from the roundtable’s presentations and shared experiences by those who have implemented such service learning courses, that it takes a lot of effort on the part of the instructor, the students, and the public practice where the service component is held, but the outcomes are uniquely beneficial to all involved.
- Activity Category: Conference/Workshop Attendance
- Activity Period: 02/17/2010 12:00 - 14:00
- Collaboration: U.S. faculty or administrators
On February 20, 2010, Gulshat Maatkerimova (2009-2010, JFDP Fellow, American Studies, California State University-Long Beach) participated in a monthly beach cleanup, held on the 3rd Saturday of each month during the early morning hours. Crews worked on the Belmont Shore to help rid the beach of trash and debris. Justin Rudd, founder of the Grassroots Organization, led the 30 minute event.
Being a volunteer on the clean-up, Gulshat greatly enjoyed the experience and had the opportunity to learn a common American expression. “We will meet RAIN OR SHINE” was an interesting phrase for Gulshat to ponder. "It really shows patriotism and helps people love the environment where they live".
More than 200 people attended the Beach cleanup representing all ages including children. In Gulshat’s opinion, “it's a great idea to bring children up with the patriotic feeling and love to work in nature, knowing that the environment where they live also needs care and love. It shows the way Americans bring up their children for the future, because what you see at your home you will do in your life.”
The event was well organized, with enthusiastic people showing up early to collect trash and debris. Referencing the Kyrgyz people, Gulshat states, "if everybody will put in their own contribution, we can create good things." Gulshat's volunteer activities have really exemplified this statement for her.
Many people came for just 30 minutes to devote their time to the beach where they relax and their children play. "It is a very responsible and amazing activity but also fun and a good way to know your local community". Gulshat greatly enjoyed her experience and looks forward to doing the same in Kyrgyzstan.
- Activity Category: Volunteerism
- Activity Period: February 20, 2010
- Collaboration: None -- I worked alone