While most students feel they need to go abroad to get a global experience at Penn, the University is bringing some of that international expertise to West Philadelphia.
The Distinguished International Scholars Program, started by the Provost's Office in 2006, allows faculty to nominate experts in their field for a short-term visit to campus, typically two weeks.
So far, 20 scholars from 14 countries have been hosted by Penn, in fields ranging from cinema studies to computer science. Each sponsoring faculty member receives $20,000 from the Provost's Office to fund the visit.
The program's diversity "enhances the quality of the global conversation on campus," Provost Ron Daniels said.
There is "no better way to do that than to bring outstanding scholars from all over the world to Penn."
For faculty and potential guests, part of the value of the program also lies in its duration.
"It's very difficult to get the really top people to come for a semester or a year," said Engineering professor Sampeth Kannan, who recently hosted computer scientist Andrew Yao from China.
"The distinction of this particular program makes people consider it who wouldn't normally do it."
While at Penn, the Scholar often holds public lectures, participates in colloquia, guest-lectures in an undergraduate course or attends a meal hosted by students. Some have even held book launches or concerts.
The Scholar is also often a research collaborator with his or her host, and the visit allows the two to swap ideas or work on papers or projects.
Hosting a Scholar allows "a kind of interchange you can't have via e-mail," said Sociology professor Hans-Peter Kohler, who is currently hosting Francesco Billari, a frequent collaborator of his.
Billari, who through an additional grant from his home university in Italy will be staying for an entire year, says the program is an ideal balance between research and teaching. He appreciated the opportunity to engage in substantive research, a chance most visiting professors don't have.
And while the professors are primarily brought for their academic expertise, they also form a link for students from their home region.
Billari, for instance, will be giving a lecture in the Italian Studies Department. During Yao's visit, Kannen said, he spoke with Chinese students about the university system in their home country. When Carol Muller of the Music department hosted South African music historian David Coplan, he was able to speak with students from the region as well.
Faculty noticed that students were engaged when the visitors presented.
"I think students felt like they could talk with the top person in the world about a really hot, really complicated research area but still talk like equals with him, which is really great," Kannen said.
