Pitt Johnstown Mag Summer 2010 ver4 - Pitt-Johnstown Home Page ...

Ulrich Meffert:
A Student of the New World
An
electrical
engineering
technology
major who is
now entering
his junior
year at Pitt-
Johnstown,
Ulrich
Meffert has
travelled so
much during
his life that
when asked, he commented, “It would
be easier to list the countries I haven’t
visited otherwise this interview will
never end.”
He was born in the Philippines to
a Taiwanese mother and a German
father. He spent his younger years
travelling in Taiwan, Germany, and
Australia before settling down in
Hong Kong, where he completed his
primary school education. His
English is flawless, due to his six
Where in the world are Pitt-Johnstown’s students?
While most Pitt-Johnstown
students were digging out from under
three feet of snow, 11 students were
experiencing summer and fulfilling
requirements for graduation. As a
result of a new partnership with JCL
Education, Ltd., Pitt-Johnstown
students now have the opportunity to
complete one half of their student
teaching experience in Auckland, New
Zealand. The New Zealand education
program is known throughout the
world for its innovative, inquirybased
approach to teaching and
learning. This new opportunity
provides students with a real world
teaching experience while immersing
them in a new culture.
Katie Bell, who returned from
New Zealand in April, said, “This has
years of high school education in
Australia, where he also taught
German to fellow students. He
mentioned, “I used to speak a bit of
French, but that has slipped over the
years.”
Ulrich turned 21 years old this
August. His hobbies include a
copious amount of reading and
writing, tinkering with electronics,
and studying medicine and human
anatomy.
Ulrich applied to and was
accepted at several universities with
top engineering programs. He chose
Pitt-Johnstown because he liked the
smaller campus and the more
personal instruction.
“I am passionate about learning,”
Ulrich states. “What I especially like
about Pitt-Johnstown is the close
relationship between professors and
students. It’s their availability.”
If you meet Polina, Ulrich, or any
of the Pitt Johnstown students with
international stories, be sure to give
them a warm Mountain Cat
“Welcome.” You will find them
www.upj.pitt.edu/InternationalServices
been the most amazing trip ever. I
have truly enjoyed every moment of
it. The schools have been great! I love
the kids in my class and the school
system over all. It has been interesting
to see a lot of small group instruction
instead of whole class, but it has
been a nice change. The time has
flown by, it is hard to think that we
are almost ready to come home! I am
so glad that I did this, I wouldn’t
trade this experience for anything!
Thanks so much for giving us the
opportunity to do this!”
Julie Ankrum, assistant professor
of education who is directing the
student teaching program, explained,
“The Auckland schools provide an
ideal setting for our Pitt-Johnstown
pre-service teachers to apply tech-
involved both at the school and in the
community. On campus, they have
served as ambassadors for new
international students, volunteered
for recruitment activities, and
participated in international
programming activities. Off campus,
many of them have participated in
community outreach programs with
local elementary schools.
The International Services Office
was started in 2007 as a result of Pitt-
Johnstown’s strong and clear strategic
commitment to international
students and global education.
Among the international offerings at
Pitt-Johnstown is an International
Studies curriculum, which addresses
the important international aspects of
life today. The curriculum also serves
as excellent career preparation in
areas such as international business,
government service, journalism and
international communication, law,
and other fields. The International
Services offices also directs the
growing Study Abroad Program.
niques learned in their English
Language Learners methods courses.
The schools selected for our student
teaching program in the Auckland
area celebrate diversity and integrate
differentiated instruction into the
curricula.” According to Dr. Ankrum,
of the approximately 253,000 students
enrolled in Auckland area schools in
March 2010, nearly 6,000 were
international.
New Zealand isn’t the only
destination for Pitt-Johnstown
students. Record numbers of students
are choosing to study abroad. Last
year, a total of 39 of students studied
in destinations including Australia,
Cuba, France, Ireland, Italy Nepal,
Russia, and Spain.
2009-2010 ANNUAL REPORT ISSUE
7