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INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES  
International Focus and Programs
The School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services at the University of Northern Iowa has made a strong commitment to promoting a broader awareness of the world in which we live. Faculty, professional and scientific staff and students are strongly encouraged to seek knowledge about the world and other cultures.

Faculty of the School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services have been leaders in the promulgation of new and innovative curriculum strategy's promoting faculty and student involvement in international learning opportunities. Philosophically, faculty have encouraged the development of new conceptual models that serve as ways of incorporating inter-cultural and international activities in a comprehensive fashion within the university (Yehieli & Herndon, 2000).

Exchange Programs
Active programs of international exchange operate in Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bermuda, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Macau, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, The People's Republic of China, Romania, Russia, Spain, St. Lucia, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Venezuela.


Formal International Exchange Agreements.

The School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services has five (5) official exchange agreements with other institutions. They are:

Guangzhou Institute of Physical Education, The People's Republic of China: Initiated in 1996.
Specific to the School of HPELS and Leisure Services and Camp Adventure? Youth Services. Supported by HPELS funds, UNI Graduate School funds, and Camp Adventure? Youth Services. Provides for student exchange. Between 1996 and 2000, 90 faculty and student exchanges have occurred. Six (6) articles and 20 scholarly presentations have been made as a part of the agreement. This agreement concluded in 2000 and is currently being renegotiated. See attached article detailing the exchange activity.
Macau Polytechnic Institute, The People's Republic of China: Initiated in 1998.
Specific to the School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services and Camp AdventureYouth Services. Supported by HPELS funds, UNI Graduate School funds, and Camp Adventure? Youth Services. Provides for student exchange, joint faculty research projects and faculty presentations. The Camp Adventure? Youth Services is now the largest program for children and youth operated in all of Macau.
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal:
Initiated in 1999. Specific the School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services. Supported by HPELS funds, UNI Graduate School funds, and Office of International Student Funds. Provides for a jointly offered master's degree, faculty exchanges, student exchanges, joint research projects and visiting professors teaching coursework in HPELS.
University of Cape Coast, Ghana West Africa: Initiated in 1998.
Specific to the School of HPELS and 0the Global Health Corps. Supported by HPELS funds and UNI-College of Education Experiential Learning Fund. Provides for a mutual exchange of information, faculty and students. Semester long internships are now featured as a part of this exchange agreement-incorporating students in the Global Health Corps.
Zhejiang University, The People's Republic of China:
Initiated in 2002. Specific to the School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services. Supported by HPELS funds, UNI Graduate School funds, and the Office of International Programs. Provides for student exchange, joint faculty research projects and faculty presentations.
Institute of Public Health & Iuliu Hatieganu, University of Medicine & Pharmacy, Romania
This collaborative partnership started in 2000 and is specific to the School of Health , Physical Education and Leisure Services. The exchange agreement provides for student and faculty exchange and joint research projects. Annually, course work is taught by faculty from the University of Northern Iowa at Elion Institute of Public Health/University of Medicine and Pharmacy. The program has been supported through a variety of sources including funds from College of Education , College of Natural Sciences , Recycling & Reuse Technology Transfer Center and the Fulbright Program of the U.S. Department of States' Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Service Learning Programs

The School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services operates two of the most innovative and service-learning programs available to students within the United States. They are Camp Adventure Youth Services and the Global Health Corps.

 

  • Camp Adventure Youth Services

    Founded in 1985 at the University of Oregon, by Dr. Christopher R. Edginton, Camp Adventure Youth Services was brought to the University of Northern Iowa in 1991 when he accepted the position of Director of the School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services.

  • The Global Health Corps

    Established in 1996 by Dr. Michele K. Yehieli and Dr. Susan J. Koch, the Global Health Corps is a student-operated, locally headquartered, non-profit organization, under the supervision of faculty trained in international health.

 

The Coimbra Network of Sport Sciences and Physical Education

The University of Northern Iowa was included as the only American University included as a founding member in the Coimbra Network of Sport Sciences and Physical Education. The purpose of the network includes the development and application of the scientific body of knowledge and the integration of related areas and/or disciplines to sport and physical education. The Universities included in the Coimbra Network of Sport Sciences and Physical Education include Universite de Montpellier (France), Duetsch Sportochschule Koln (Germany), Janus Pannonius University (Hungary), University of Oradea (Romania), Universidade de Extremadura (Spain), Universidade de las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Grand Canary Islands), Universite de Lausanne (Switzerland), Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal), University of Exeter (United Kingdom), University of Leicester (United Kingdom), St. Mary's College (United Kingdom), Universidade Federal de Juiz de For a (Brazil), Instituto Politecnico de Macau (Macau), Universidade de Maputo (Mozambique), Xi'an Institute of Physical Education (The People's Republic of China) and University of Northern Iowa.