Partnerships
Student Organizations
African Student Organization (ASO)
ASO is an African Students Organization based at the University of Pittsburgh's main campus. ASO is comprised of Staff, faculty and students of various ethnic backgrounds. ASO is committed to creating and maintaining a cohesive African community in Pittsburgh and the surrounding regions as well as organize various forums to share information about, and develop an understanding of the economic, social and political development needs of Africa in particular.
For more information go to ASO
Initiative for Sustainable African Development (ISAD) formerly The African Synergisitic Think Tank (ASTT)
When GSPIA announced support for new student groups, it was a golden
opportunity for students to create unique social forums. For ISAD, the new student initiative fund would allow
African students to institutionalize a passion for their homelands. ISAD was developed to explore alternative approaches to African
development issues. It is one of the first student groups at GSPIA to focus
exclusively on African topics.
As a group, ISAD hopes to focus on the "synergistic" aspect of
participation; students are encouraged to engage in discussions about
Africa by honing their own interests. The group consists of a number of
"PODS" focused on particular policy areas including the impact of the
financial crisis on Africa, the Millennium Development Goals, governance,
and post-conflict initiatives. "As future policy leaders, it is important to
participate in policy dialogue," stated Ngalula Kapinga Kabundi. "ISAD
provides an organized research venue to create and present policy
solutions for a key region."
Board members hope to share their cultural ties with other GSPIA
students.
The group hopes that the policy POD structure fosters unique solutions to
enduring problems in Africa. GSPIA's diverse student body and research
tools could greatly add to the creativity of policy proposals. "We can't
afford to be divisive in creating solutions," stated Rosemary Muliokela.
"More insight will lead to bigger and better solutions." Policy proposals will
be presented and published throughout the year.
For more information email ISAD
Facilitating Opportunities for Refugee Growth and Empowerment (FORGE)
The purpose of FORGE is to advocate for refugees and the poor. We have four objectives. FORGE educates the University of Pittsburgh community, the Pittsburgh community and the nation about the challenges facing these vulnerable populations. FORGE members advocate for solutions to refugee problems. FORGE provides opportunities for refugees to advocate for themselves by sharing refugee artwork and messages with our community. FORGE empowers both students and refugees as agents of social change.
For more information go to FORGE
Keep it Real (KIR)
Our Mission: Keep It Real’s mission is to provide quality, personal tutoring to support the educational development and cultural adjustment of refugee kids and their families in the Pittsburgh communities.
Who We Are: KIR is a student-run volunteer organization at the University of Pittsburgh comprised of over 85 dedicated members, the vast majority of which are undergraduates at Pitt. Our tutors stretch across a range of majors and backgrounds, but we all share an enthusiasm that has earned us a reputation as one of the most motivated, involved, and fun-loving organizations on campus.
What we do:
* Afterschool tutoring at Arsenal M.S. twice a week, in coordination with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh.
* Afterschool programming with MGR Foundation's Murals program at Arsenal M.S. once a week: cultivating cooperation, conflict resolution, and expression through art, music, drama, and movement.
* In-home tutoring for Somali Bantu families in Lawrenceville.
* Site-based tutoring for refugee kids in Greentree.
For more information go to KIR
Pan-African Graduate and Professional Student Union
PanAf GPSU Mission:
To serve all graduate and professional students at Pitt
with research or cultural interests
related to Black America, the African Continent, or the Caribbean/West Indies.
Being chartered at Pitt since 1993, PanAf GPSU orients its services and activities to bridge across all minority professional societies and cultural groups to strengthen connections with the 14 schools across the university and the diversity office initiatives. We continue to organize events and programs, which contribute to a community that celebrates Pan-African diversity and achievement at Pitt. Through our organizational relationships we have designed the Pan-African Network to preserve and protect a community of diversity for all.
To get involved or stay informed please click the following:
web site, Facebook, mailing list, Our Calendar
Student Leaders in International Medicine (SLIM)
Our purpose is to foster interest in issues and professions within the realms of international medicine and global health. We hope to give students a route to further their interest and advance their education in such topcis through networking and experiential learning. The ultimate goal of "Student Leaders in International Medicine" is to progress and amplify the development of health care professionals that are looking to spread their knowledge beyond the borders of the United States. Members of this organization interact as family, helping one another to achieve their own personal goals in global health.
Form more information go to SLIM
Past Partnerships
"Pitt-Moi University in Kenya, Partnership"
GRANT: $ 124,081 (1 April 2003 30 September 2004)
Management Capacity Development in Natural Resources and Environmental Programs at Moi University in Kenya: A Partnership with the University of Pittsburgh
John C. Weidman
Professor of Higher Education and Sociology, Project Director
Executive Summary
The project builds a linkage through the University Center for International Studies (UCIS) and the School of Education's Program in Higher Education and Institute for Higher Education Management (IHEM) for revitalization of management capacity in natural resources and environmental programs at Moi University in Kenya through integrated technical assistance, consultancy, and training strategies. The project supports USAID's Kenya Mission Strategic Objectives in Natural Resource Management and Democracy/ Governance.
During Phase 1 (April-September 2003), Pittsburgh project staff experienced in international higher education management will work closely with Moi senior managers in natural resources and environmental programs to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment upon which a client-centered project plan will be developed that includes strategies for revitalization of administrative and financial management capacity, including promoting democratic governance and financial transparency. Communication and exchange will occur by email and through an exchange of campus visits. Approximately the first two weeks in July a team of higher education management specialists from Pittsburgh will visit Moi for a needs assessment and cooperative development of the project plan. There will be a return visit to Pittsburgh by the Moi Project Director during the first week of August, 2003, to finalize the plan for the training program to be conducted at the University of Pittsburgh for four senior Moi managers during Phase 2. Partnership participants will also travel to Washington, DC, to attend the ALO "Synergy in Development Annual Meeting" August 6-8.
Phase II (October, 2003 - March, 2004) involves development and implementation of a two-week administrative fellowship training program in Pittsburgh. Four Moi Fellows will attend workshops designed to address areas identified in the needs assessment and meet with senior administrators at the University of Pittsburgh and other local higher education institutions. Using a "trainer of trainer" approach, each Fellow will work with a Pittsburgh counterpart on developing training materials and assembling resources for a high priority management area in preparation for offering an in-services workshop at Moi University.
Phase III (April - June, 2004) involves presentation of four, two-week in-service workshops at Moi University using materials to be developed during Phase II and conducted by Moi Fellows assisted by Pittsburgh project staff. Phase IV (July - September, 2004) includes evaluation of project impact, focusing on enhancing long-term relationships and development of a strategic plan for continuing joint activities, as well as establishment of a Higher Education Leadership and Management Resource Center at Moi University. Representatives from both partner institutions will also attend the ALO "Synergy in Development Annual Meeting" during the summer of 2004.
For more information on Moi University go to Moi