In an effort to increase its presence and visibility on campus, the Institute for Global Leadership at Tufts has moved out of the cramped basement of Miller Hall and into a new location at 128 Professors row. The new space will allow the program to expand in both scope and size as well as facilitate better interaction between staff and students.
The move comes after a mandate from the administration telling the Institute to expand its impact not only for the students in its three main programs, but "for University students across the board" according to Institute Director Sherman Teichman.
The Institute encompasses three programs - Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC), the China Institute for Global Leadership, and Immersive Education. According to program literature, the goal of the institute's programs is to engage students in "complex international and national issues across cultures as global citizens."
Faculty and staff have responded positively to the opportunities the new facility is affording them. "There is definitely a lot more accessibility... we're also able to run more programs and invite more people here in a way that we couldn't before," said program assistant Danielle Lightburn.
"It's a serious opportunity for us," Teichman added.
Senior EPIIC student Matthew Isles said that the new house will allow the EPIIC program to offer more programming by providing a meeting place for the student committees to coordinate activities. Each student is required to be a member of two committees, one of which organizes many programs, such as speaker visits, multimedia presentations, or high school mentoring.
The second committee participation required of students is focused on completing administrative tasks, such as public relations or advertising. The EPIIC program also consists of intensive academic coursework on the year's chosen topic, currently Race and Ethnicity.
The aim of the Institute for Global Leadership is teach students skills that enable them to apply their knowledge of world issues to their lives. "I think the idealism is clear. We want the students involved to be change agents, to try to rectify problems in the world... while also being pragmatic. They also have to figure out what they need to do," Teichman said. "I think there's a quality educational experience here,"
The interdisciplinary focus of EPIIC forces students in the course to synthesize issues "from multiple angles," senior EPIIC student Mimi Feldman said. "Even though it's a really intense program that requires lots of work, it gives students a chance to go more in-depth into a topic than a normal academic setting does."
The Institute also provides resources for which its participants are able to pursue study abroad programs, internships, and research projects. The China Institute, formerly called the Tufts Institute for Leadership and International Perspective, provides a multicultural study abroad program which pairs 11 Tufts and Fletcher School students with participants at schools in China. Students are assigned internships, which expose them to a variety of mentors, as well as attend lectures, take a course, and attend cultural field trips.
Immersive Education is the newest program offered by the Institute, and it is designed to provide students with opportunities such as internships that will allow them to learn through real-world experience. It combines traditional coursework and directed and independent studies with hands-on research, mentorships, and public service.
The new facility contains offices for program staff, conference rooms, a library, and archives for student research. "It's just a magnificent, beautiful space that allows us to show the beauty of all our different artwork, photography and artifacts," Teichman said. The building's interior is decorated with tokens from many cultures, all donated by students and professional artists who have participated in or contributed to the program. The office is laden with "all different types of mementos, from elephant figurines to sabers, photography to costumes."
