ATU Education Students to Intern in Austria

Seven students from the Arkansas Tech University College of Education will engage in a cultural exchange by interning at Austrian elementary and middle schools this summer.

The internships were formalized during a memorandum of understanding signing at ATU’s Dr. Robert Charles Brown and Jill Lestage Brown Hall on Tuesday, April 2.

“This is indeed a special day,” said ATU President Dr. Robin E. Bowen, who signed the agreement on behalf of Arkansas Tech. “I want to thank everyone in this room who makes opportunities like this one happen for our students, faculty and staff. I am also excited about the opportunities our students will have to touch the lives of Austrian students so they can understand our American culture a little better. When you spend time in another culture, you understand that we are all pretty much the same.”

The agreement between ATU and the Austrian-American Educational Cooperation Association (AAECA) calls for the Arkansas Tech education students to teach English, American culture and other subjects in schools located in the Austrian province of Styria.

The ATU students selected for the internships are:

  • Elizabeth Baker
  • Emily Beirne
  • Destiney Carroccio
  • Lexi Chaney
  • Hanna Raines
  • Shynece Scott
  • Alaina Smith

Some of the ATU students will intern in specialty schools that focus on such topics and music and the arts or physical education. Others will intern in elementary schools and middle schools with a more general curriculum.

“It has been a privilege to meet Dr. Bowen and other very important people here at Arkansas Tech,” said Dr. Franz Schimek, chairman of the AAECA. “I have had a wonderful time here the last two days. I had the opportunity to visit three (K-12) schools in the area, and ATU has been mentioned several times. I take that as an indication that what you are producing here is making an impact on the ground floor. I am very happy to be here celebrating the signing of this document.”

Dr. Shellie Hanna, interim head of the ATU Department of Curriculum and Instruction and associate professor in the ATU College of Education, will accompany the seven students on their journey to Austria. The trip is scheduled for May 17-June 15.

Learn more about study abroad opportunities at ATU.

Photographed (back row, left-to-right): Yasushi Onodera, ATU associate dean for international and multicultural student services; Dr. Carl Brucker, head of the ATU Department of English and World Languages; Dr. Linda Bean, dean of the ATU College of Education; Gabriele Haulmark, study abroad coordinator at ATU; and Dr. Tim Carter, interim associate dean of the ATU College of Education; (front row, left-to-right): Dr. Jeff Woods, dean of the ATU College of Arts and Humanities; Dr. Franz Schimek, chairman of the Austrian-American Educational Cooperation Association; Dr. Robin E. Bowen, ATU president; and Dr. Shellie Hanna, interim head of the ATU Department of Curriculum and Instruction.