VSU Study-abroad Students Connect Via Web with Home Campus

VALDOSTA. - Students participating in the new study-abroad program with Valdosta State University’s Langdale College of Business Administration (LCOBA) sent greetings to an Intro to Business class via the World Wide Web Tuesday, July 2.

These students, currently attending Zeppelin University in southern Germany, utilized the Skype Web Conferencing System to directly connect with the home campus. Although intended to be a live connection, a six-hour time difference disrupted the original plan. VSU professors interacted with the Germany-based students and faculty, recording their feedback on the program, classes and opportunities that they have enjoyed. The recording will allow members of the intro class and prospective study-abroad students to get an impression from their peers regarding the study-abroad experience.

“With slight lags and jerky motions reminiscent of transmissions from astronauts in outer space, student and faculty participants spoke candidly and enthusiastically about their experiences,” Fred Ware, business professor, said.

Beatriz Potter and Eric Jackson of VSU’s Distance Learning Center at the Odum Library assisted Jeff Shipley at the LCOBA’s Decision Center with the technical aspects of the link-up and recording, while Ware and Georgia Whalen of the Department of Management moderated the event. This Web connection will become an annual part of the program, allowing a one-of-a-kind, intercontinental interaction, possibly even live.

Zeppelin University is located in Friedrichshafen, Germany near the borders of Switzerland, France and Austria on Lake Constance. Langdale College faculty have been involved for 10 years in European and Asian programs sponsored by the University System of Georgia, but 2007 marks the inaugural program for LCOBA’s own overseas initiative.

Scholarships have been made available recently by the Steele Foundation and the First State Bank. Dr. Andrew Ostapski and Dr. Clifford Lipscomb are teaching the four-week business courses in Germany. David Starling, assistant director of VSU’s Center for International Programs, is the site director.

Contact the Harley Langdale College of Business Administration at (229) 333-5991 for more information.