UA Student Video a Finalist in GoAbroad Awards, Online Voting to Select Winner

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Students in a University of Alabama Capstone International Center program have been named finalists in the GoAbroad Innovation Awards Best Student Video contest.

The video features the Alabama in Bangladesh study abroad program offered through the center. The student video award winner will be chosen by public vote with online voting open now to Tuesday, May 31.

Here is a link to the UA video and voting site:

http://blog.goabroad.com/2011/05/13/2011-goabroad-innovation-awards-student-video-finalist-al-bangladesh/

The winner will be announced Thursday, June 2, during the NAFSA Association of International Educators conference in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The UA course, “Alabama in Bangladesh – Grameen Bank Basic Training Program,” is designed to teach students and professionals the fundamental philosophies and skills needed to replicate the Grameen Bank model in other parts of the world.

The Grameen Bank is a microfinance and community development bank that makes small loans to the poor, without requiring collateral, for starting small businesses within the community.

Through this program, UA students study microcredit first hand in rural Bangladeshi villages to learn about microcredit’s strengths and weaknesses.

The 1976 origin of Grameen Bank is credited to Dr. Muhammad Yunus, a professor and Fulbright scholar who studied and designed a credit delivery system to provide banking services targeted to the rural poor. The project was transformed into an independent bank by government legislation. The organization and Yunus were awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.

Students in the UA program are able to meet and interact with Yunus while they are there.

The video was compiled by George Guarino, former Capstone International Center graduate assistant and recent UA MBA graduate, and Tyler Morgan, UA business student who participated in the 2010 course.

Rashmee Sharif, UA adjunct instructor, serves as director of the program and draws on her personal networks in Bangladesh throughout the class. Students have described the program as a “transformative” experience in which much is gained through both the “madness” and “beauty” of Bangladesh.

Additionally, the study abroad course has been named one of five finalists for Innovative New Program in the GoAbroad Innovation Awards.

“When I was notified that GoAbroad was soliciting applications for an Innovation Award, I immediately thought of the Alabama in Bangladesh program and encouraged Rashmee to apply,” said Holly Buckner, director of Capstone International Center academic programs.

“This program is unique and provides our students with an unparalleled opportunity to meet and learn from the winner of a Nobel Peace Prize.  I am thrilled that the program has made it to the finalist round in two categories and hope to accept an award on behalf of the University in Vancouver!”

The program is now in its second year, and UA students are enrolled in the 2011 course that runs May 7-30.

GoAbroad is an international education and experiential travel resource offering directories of  opportunities for study abroad, internships, volunteering, teaching abroad and language schools  at www.GoAbroad.com; the companion site GoAbroad.net is a social networking site for travelers.