Grant funds expansion of Japanese programs
June 8, 2001
KALAMAZOO -- A recent two-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education will enable Western Michigan University faculty members to continue strengthening the University's study of Japan's language, culture and business environment.
Dr. F. William McCarty, professor of finance and commercial law in WMU's Haworth College of Business, and Dr. Hideko Abe, assistant professor of Asian and Middle Eastern languages, will administer the $125,000 grant.
"Drs. McCarty and Abe have created an excellent model of interdisciplinary cooperation for this grant," says WMU Assistant Provost Dr. Ronald Davis, director of WMU's Haenicke Institute for International and Area Studies. "This program and others like it will provide opportunities to strengthen international and area studies for all our students."
Beginning July 1, the two-year award will fund:
augmentation of eight existing courses--in disciplines as diverse as finance, education, political science, history and engineering--with Japanese business and cultural information;
two new Japanese language courses, including Business Japanese and Japanese Language and Culture;
a speaker series housed in the Haworth College of Business that will feature experts on a variety of Japan-related topics;
a number of cooperative efforts with the Japan American Society of West Michigan;
a one-day conference for businesspeople and academics to learn about doing business in Japan;
a 2002 study seminar in Japan for students and faculty; and
several collaborative research exchanges between WMU and Japanese professors.
"This grant will benefit the entire University community," says McCarty. "Japan is the world's second largest economy, and it's important for our students to learn about the country's culture and language. WMU has long-standing relationships with several Japanese universities and centers, and the work made possible by this grant will only strengthen those ties."
Media contact: Jessica English, 616 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu