The University of Botswana and West Virginia University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that allows for a bilateral exchange of students and faculty between the two universities.

This follows more than a year of work by Donald E. Hall, chair of the Department of English, as well as WVU’s Office of International Programs and UB’s International Programming office.

“I am very enthusiastic about WVU’s new exchange agreement with the University of Botswana,” Hall said.

Collaborative faculty work began in 2010 with a visit to WVU’s English department by Professor Joyce Mathangwane, former chair of the Department of English at the University of Botswana, and a sabbatical visit by Professor Modupe Alimi, a linguist in the Department of English at the University of Botswana, who is in residence at WVU during the spring of 2011.

“The University of Botswana is an excellent research institution located in Gaborone, a modern city of approximately 200,000 people. Botswana is a very safe, stable and cosmopolitan country where I know our students and faculty will find excellent opportunities for learning and research,” Hall said.

The bilateral student exchange has commenced in spring of 2011 with a semester-long study abroad trip by English major Abra Sitler, who is blogging about her experiences.

Her travel expenses to Botswana were supported by student enrichment funds offered by the Department of English.

“As a former Peace Corps professor who taught in Africa for two years, my life was changed by the experience of living and working in such a dynamic environment. We look forward to welcoming Botswanan students and faculty to Morgantown and know that our students and faculty will be warmly welcomed in Gaborone,” Hall said.

Visit Sitler’s blog at: http://abrasitlerinbotswana.blogspot.com/.

-WVU-

jh/03/3/11

CONTACT: Rebecca Herod, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
304-293-7405, ext. 5251, Rebecca.Herod@mail.wvu.edu