Case contingent to visit Brisbane, Australia
Goals of two-week trip include creating sports exchange program for youths, offering supplier diversity tips to business and civic leaders
August 2, 2005 | For more information: Kimyette
Finley 216-368-0521
Dennis Harris (right) and an NYSP coordinator
showcase the Cleveland, Australia sign
Aborigine children in Brisbane participated
in last year's Australian youth program
coordinated by Case
Dennis Harris (far right) and last year's
NYSP Case-Australia group
For the next two weeks, a contingent of Case Western Reserve University staff, faculty and students will hear the familiar greeting of "G'day, mate!" while on a cultural, athletic and business exchange trip to Brisbane, Australia.
Led by Dennis Harris, head men's track and field coach, the Case group of approximately 10 will meet with youths, educators, business, civic and community leaders for a broad exchange program through August 12. Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia, is the third largest city in the country.
This year's trip marks a return visit for Harris, who also serves as the project administrator of Case's chapter of the National Youth Sports Program. In 2001, Harris was asked to assist Australian officials in developing a similar youth program in Brisbane for indigenous (Aborigine) children. Since then, Harris and several members of the Case community have returned to Australia.
"I want to showcase the great sports program we have at Case, as well as our community partnerships, to an international community. I use the sports program to bring different departments on campus together," Harris explained. The unique collaborations at Case are just a few of the ideas that will be shared with Australian officials.
Throughout the years, Harris and his staff have invited other Case departments—such as the Office of Community Relations—to participate, which has broadened the mission and scope to incorporate cultural exchange and global leadership, core missions of the university.
One of the departments represented this year is Case's Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Kathryn Hall, director, said the trip is an opportunity to discuss the university's best practices in supplier diversity with Australian business leaders and administrators at Griffith University. She will share success stories from Case's Supplier Diversity program, such has established connections with female and minority-owned businesses working on university projects such as The Village at 115, Case's new multi-million residence hall.
"I plan to talk about supplier diversity and how a university can give citizens an opportunity to do business and impact economic development in the region," Hall said.
According to Hall, she also will impart to Case's Australian partners the importance of establishing and maintaining relationships with the university and its community members and business owners, and for colleges to understand the importance of working with diverse populations.
"Students need to be educated about diversity because they will be making decisions [as leaders] for a diverse population. And universities need to make sure they create respectful and inclusive work places. In order for colleges to be successful they have to outreach to diverse populations," Hall said.
Several goals of the Australian trip include:
- Experience different approaches to accomplishing work objectives
- Attempt to apply successful methods from one culture to another
- Develop a blueprint for Case to engage with other nations in mutually beneficial exchanges
- Learn methods of communication that can help improve development of children and families from diverse cultures
Other department directors and offices from Case that will be represented on the trip include Dr. Deborale Richardson-Bouie of Multicultural Affairs, Brenda Payne Riley of Access/ TRIO Programs, and the offices of Undergraduate Admissions and Student Community Services.
About Case Western Reserve University
Case is among the nation's leading research institutions. Founded in 1826
and shaped by the unique merger of the Case Institute of Technology and Western
Reserve University, Case is distinguished by its strengths in education, research,
service, and experiential learning. Located in Cleveland, Case offers nationally
recognized programs in the Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering,
Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Work. http://www.case.edu.
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