MSU: Spanning the globe

By Kristin K. Anderson

In 1949 when President Harry S. Truman issued a call for the United States to help people of underdeveloped countries help themselves, MSU was already doing just that with international development efforts in Costa Rica and other Latin American countries.

Fifty years later, the University remains committed to its international development efforts to meet the needs of citizens in Michigan, the country and the world. MSU has helped to shift the paradigm from "we have all the answers" to one of increased collaboration to enhance knowledge of the world.

The global partnerships and programs of the kind MSU has forged are essential not only for the countries in which the University is involved, but also for the University itself and its constituents.

"Society is changing globally in nature and character," Provost Lou Anna K. Simon said. "Human conditions, business and medicine require study on a global basis. Working collaboratively with other researchers brings us closer to solutions to difficult problems.

"In addition, in keeping with our land-grant mission, in order to strengthen the economic competence and quality of life, we need to be concerned about the application and development of new knowledge in global settings," she said. "There can be advances made that directly affect the health and safety, education levels and business climates of people in other countries."

Such global challenges and the benefits the University reaps in addressing them have prompted more than 450 current MSU faculty members to become involved in various international research, teaching and service projects and programs.

"The knowledge and experience gained from international associations and exchanges are of value to our students and faculty as well as to those we serve in the United States and abroad," said President Peter McPherson. "MSU is firmly committed to incorporating a strong international dimension in all of its teaching, research and outreach programs."

WHERE WE ARE

The University has a strong presence in six continents and is recognized internationally for its work in numerous arenas, such as basic human needs, education, international trade, sustainable agriculture, human and animal health and welfare, and the environment.

"We believe that at the start of the 21st century at MSU all students, faculty, staff and other clientele should have broad opportunities to become globally competent and experienced, capable of collaborating with colleagues and clients at home and abroad, and able to operate effectively in a global environment," said John Hudzik, dean of International Studies and Programs (ISP).

MSU's faculty, students and administrators have studied, taught and researched in numerous countries in Africa, Asia and Oceania, Europe, North America and South America.

"International research opportunities enable MSU faculty to stay on the cutting edge and enrich faculty scholarship," Hudzik said. "They also provide graduate and undergraduate students with the benefit of the researchers' knowledge and exposure to top faculty in their fields."

Undergraduate students benefit from the partnerships with other universities and institutions in summer or semester study abroad experiences through the Office of Study Abroad.

The Office of the Provost is pleased to be a partner with the colleges and International Studies and Programs in new international initiatives, Simon said.

"It is important to underscore that, in conjunction with study abroad opportunities, simultaneous efforts have been under way to enhance international research and outreach programs," she said.

The state of Michigan also benefits from the research conducted by MSU faculty.

"The lessons of international research, such as in the cherry or wine industries, where there is on-going international research, need to be transported to Michigan so we can be more knowledgeable," Simon said. "We need the ability to apply cutting-edge research this is the key to competitiveness."

WHAT WE DO

MSU faculty members are involved in many cutting-edge research projects throughout the world, such as health, economic growth, information technology, food industry management, literature and cultural studies, politics, agricultural extension and institution building.

"Working with faculty members in other institutions throughout the world provides MSU with a combined breadth of knowledge with which to solve problems," said Tamer Cavusgil, executive director of the Center for International Business Education and Research.

"Much of MSU's research and outreach is conducted in collaboration with colleagues abroad," Cavusgil said. "This provides a basis for recognition of faculty and results in publication in top journals."

MSU has internationally focused area study centers and thematic institutes and offices housed throughout the campus, many within the colleges.

"Many hundreds of MSU's faculty and their colleges and departments work individually and collectively to define and implement MSU's international efforts," Hudzik said. "The centers, institutes and offices of ISP provide leadership, support and coordination for our many international efforts."

MSU's partnerships include other major research universities, government agencies in other countries, corporations, non-governmental organizations and various funding agencies.

"Our international efforts enjoy a great deal of external support, such as corporations, the World Bank and USAID," Simon said. "This support enables us to not only send students and faculty abroad, but it is critical for our continuing preeminence as an internationally recognized university."

WHERE WE GO FROM HERE

As an educational institution, MSU will continue to serve the needs of citizens throughout the world. Scholars and practitioners will be urged to "cross borders" in knowledge and understanding and apply interdisciplinary approaches to deal with problems and opportunities.

"Technological advances will permit the University to do video and real time exchanges of information and data sets that will expand our knowledge," Simon said.

She also noted that with the increase in global competence in global telecommunications markets, the costs of these linkages will continue to diminish.

"Technology is shrinking the world at the same time the human population is expanding, creating important global issues involving international trade, food production and health care, among others," said Robert Huggett, vice president for research and graduate studies.

"At the same time, we don't have a monopoly on knowledge in this country, so we should and must engage in international research to benefit the state, the country and the world," Huggett said. "MSU faculty and students are doing a great job of linking knowledge around the world."

World is Skole's laboratory

David Skole's laboratory is the entire world.

Skole, other MSU researchers and fellow scientists from throughout the world study the effects of global change from multiple angles and perspectives.

"Global-scale research involves a strong international component," Skole said. "By using spatial information, satellite remote sensing and Earth observation satellites, we get an idea of what's driving land use and cover change globally, what is causing these changes and the effects of these changes."

Skole, professor and director of the Basic Science and Remote Sensing Initiative (BSRSI) in the Department of Geography, said MSU works with numerous international institutes, governments, universities and research centers.

"Our focus is the globe and how it functions in terms of global land cover change and climate change," he said. "We don't want to just observe it, we want to understand it as well. We do fundamental research on fundamental problems."

Skole works in collaboration with a number of faculty and scientists from areas throughout the world, including Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. The program has established field stations in Costa Rica and Southeast Asia where scientists and students can gain both field and international experience.

"There is a lot of sensitivity to international environmental issues," Skole said. "We also study problems caused by national policy and what they mean to the environment.

"We have to be conscious of various political and social issues," he said. "As one of the premier land-grant research universities, we are well prepared to do this type of work on an interdisciplinary and technological basis. It's what universities should be doing as public institutions."

Efforts lead to company trend

Many researchers are concerned about the generalizability of their research findings in cross-cultural settings. Many pursue research topics in a single national environment and wonder if their research results would be confirmed in different contexts.

To respond to some of those concerns, Tamer Cavusgil, executive director of the MSU Center for International Business Education and Research, and MSU graduate Catherine Axinn, Ohio University, formed an international research alliance called the Consortium for International Marketing Research (CIMaR) in 1993.

"We asked some of our contributors to the marketing field to get together to learn more about each other's work and collaborative efforts in the internationalization process of firms," he said.

"The members are getting better research results and more resources with everyone bringing information to the table," Cavusgil said. "We are having more of an impact and receiving more visibility for global marketing issues and research."

These visible collaborative efforts have given birth to a new field of international marketing study "born global" companies.

"These are new, young entrepreneurial companies that go international from day one, as opposed to companies that cultivate their product at home and venture into the international scene years later," Cavusgil said. "We did the very first survey of these companies in the United States, and we were able to gather data from numerous sources in order to study this trend.

"What makes this research more valuable is the cross-country perspectives," he said. "It is more realistic and richer with the participation of colleagues from other countries. The work promotes a very positive image of MSU."

As research on this new international business trend continues, the results and ramifications of the faculty's work are being transported into the classroom.

"We do a lot of executive training, and we need to be able to translate our findings to students on campus," Cavusgil said.

"I want our doctoral students to be involved in worthwhile research programs. This is a chance for our students to tap into the knowledge and resources of CIMaR members," he added.

There are 32 members of the consortium from universities in the United States, Turkey, Argentina, the Netherlands, Brazil, England, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Belgium, Norway, Austria and the Czech Republic.

Researchers work to save children

"Mutu umodzi susenza deng."

(Translation: "One head cannot hold up the roof.")

To Terrie Taylor, associate professor of internal medicine, this approach to teamwork also applies to her collaborative research on malaria in Malawi, a small, landlocked African country about the size of Pennsylvania.

Malawi, a new democracy as of 1994, faces an age-old problem. Between one and two million children, most between the ages of 1 and 5, die from this disease in sub-Saharan Africa each year; many of them die within 12 hours of arriving at a hospital.

"In Malawi, severe malaria is a children's disease. Anyone who survives to the age of 8 or 9 has enough immunity to live, even though they may have been infected," said Taylor. "We are rescuing kids who are severely ill, comatose or convulsing, trying to bring them back."

For the past 13 years, Taylor has spent six months of the year in Malawi, collaborating with researchers from other universities, hospitals and laboratories, treating children with malaria and studying the disease.

"You have to be there and really get to know the people and circumstances, to help develop relationships that stand the test of time," Taylor said.

She works with patients in the malaria project special research ward at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre.

"Over the years, we have looked at pathogenesis and treatment and how malaria kills you and makes you sick," Taylor said. "My colleagues and I, including Charles Mackenzie, professor of pathology at MSU, have now moved beyond doing blood tests and laboratory surveys to autopsies and looking at the tissues to see where the problems lie."

MSU has joined forces with five other clinical centers to work collaboratively on multicentered clinical trials and conduct more focused research efforts.

Researchers in these centers will evaluate "disease associations," which may illuminate pathogenic processes or reveal potential new targets. Data will be entered by each of the research sites and transmitted to a central facility for analysis. The ability to conduct multicenter trials in severe pediatric malaria has never existed before.

Currently participating in the project are facilities in Ghana, Gambia, Gabon, Kenya and Malawi; the Harvard School of Public Health; and MSU.

"Absolute poverty precludes these people from getting ahead because the malaria problem is so severe," Taylor said. "We provide the extra energy and know-how and the resources. A day in the trenches is a day well spent."

MSU ushers in new democracy

When people think of Transylvania they don't usually think of this region in terms of it facing challenges in democracy, developing civic education programs or citizen participation.

That's all changing through the research and outreach efforts of MSU faculty who are helping to foster these tenets in this newly emerging Romanian democracy.

The city of Cluj, nestled in the Transylvanian mountains a few miles from the "Count's" medieval castle, is home to Babes-Bolyai University (B-BU), where MSU faculty and staff are working with B-BU faculty and local government officials to establish political leadership workshops, teach university classes, engage in research projects and provide community technical assistance.

Under a three-year USAID grant, Roger Hamlin, professor of geography; Harry Perlstadt, professor of sociology; Rex LaMore, director of the Center for Urban Affairs; and Dan Hester, staff member in the College of Social Science; are providing alliances between the universities that can jointly promote long-term linkages involving student academics, public officials and institutions in their respective societies.

"The main thrust of the grant is to link our two universities to share information and skills to build democratic institutions and social support that makes a democratic society," Hamlin said. "Our faculty go there and run workshops for local leaders including media, elected officials and non-profit organizations."

Before 1996, the government was from the top down and citizens rarely had the opportunity to voice their opinions, Hamlin said, noting that they were only allowed to address the city council once a year.

"When we became involved in this project, the citizens had few models on which to base their conduct of government meetings," he said. "We got into this at the beginning of a new era in their history."

Programs take place in six phases, three in Romania and three in the United States over a three-year period. In addition to faculty and staff exchanges, the program supports faculty and curriculum development in civics education, collaborative research and community outreach in Transylvania.

"MSU and the campus colleges involved will gain an increase in faculty expertise in Eastern European issues and culture," Hamlin said. "They promote research, help us establish contacts for the future and also help promote study abroad opportunities for students."