Academic Exchange Explores Israel’s History, Politics, Culture and Economy
 
INSTITUTE, W.Va. – A West Virginia State University (WVSU) professor is among a group of national research scientists who will soon take part in Jewish National Fund (JNF) and Media Watch International’s sponsored 2017 Inaugural Winter Faculty Fellowship Program in Israel.
Dr. Sanjaya, director of the WVSU Energy and Environmental Science Institute, is one of 23 professors from universities and colleges across the U.S. who will soon experience what promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime and insightful journey.
Sanjaya and others will spend 11 rigorous days from Dec. 27, 2017, to Jan. 9, 2018, traveling throughout Israel, meeting Israeli professors from their respective disciplines and with the same, or similar, research interests, all with the goal of developing collaborations, research projects, co-authoring articles and establishing exchange programs between faculty and students. 
“This is a tremendous opportunity for West Virginia State University to help facilitate collaborations on research and education between the U.S. and Israel,” said Dr. Orlando F. McMeans, WVSU’s vice president for research and public service. “Dr. Sanjaya is a great representative to share our work in agriculture, energy, the environment and water quality, while meeting and learning from international scientists working in the same research areas.”
During the trip, the participants will meet Israelis from all walks of life and will hear from a variety of speakers. They will also be exposed to contemporary Israeli society, culture, historical sites, the people and the way of life in Israel. 
In addition to WVSU, participating schools include Johns Hopkins University, Emory University, Arizona State University, University of Florida, Liberty University, Ohio State University, University of Pennsylvania, Baylor University, University of Rhode Island, Providence College, St. Ambrose University, South Dakota State University, University of Texas-El Paso, and California State University-San Marcos.
The Winter Faculty Fellowship Program in Israel is a competitive academic fellowship that invites full-time university and college faculty members to apply to participate in a two-week Winter Fellowship in Israel. The program links scholars from diverse disciplines with their Israeli counterparts at major institutions for the purpose of initiating exchanges and collaborations.
The academics will also meet with professionals and experts involved in government, industry, education, media and other sectors to understand the many facets of Israel’s evolving national and international policies.
Learn more about JNF and the Faculty Fellowship Program on the organization’s website.          
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