2008 Woodie Awards
SBU partners with Tomsk University
Inga Locke
Issue date: 2/23/07 Section: In the Spotlight
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Two members of the Southwest Baptist University faculty, Dr. Robert Klostermeyer, assistant professor of Political Science, and Dr. Vickie Ellis, assistant professor of Education, alongside Dr. Ray Leininger, former pastor of First Baptist Church in Bolivar, traveled to Tomsk University in Tomsk Russia in January.
Tomsk, founded in 1878, was the first university in the Siberian region of Russia. The university has an enrollment of 23,000 students with 22 departments.
"We did not go over there with a design; we just went to present, and they approached us and said they wanted a relationship," said Klostermeyer.
Klostermeyer, Ellis and Leininger traveled with Partnership Missions International, an organization that works to teach the gospel through two avenues. First, it supports small English schools in Russian churches, not only to teach English but to create relationships through which to share the gospel. Secondly, they give the opportunity to those who desire to present at a Russian university. These presentations are scholarly presentations to create the opportunity to meet others.
While in Russia, Klostermeyer presented on the legal environment for businesses in the United States and the perceptions and realities of the justice systems. Ellis presented on applying to United States graduate schools, the inductive teaching method, the use of humor with student retention levels and online learning.
Ellis shared that, through this relationship, she would like to see more faculty interaction in education as well as in the social and political science areas. Also, the schools hope to share students and research. Ellis hopes that Tomsk will eventually send faculty members to Bolivar.
"Most of all, I hope God uses this connection to bring more credibility to the Baptist name in Russia," said Ellis.
Tomsk, founded in 1878, was the first university in the Siberian region of Russia. The university has an enrollment of 23,000 students with 22 departments.
"We did not go over there with a design; we just went to present, and they approached us and said they wanted a relationship," said Klostermeyer.
Klostermeyer, Ellis and Leininger traveled with Partnership Missions International, an organization that works to teach the gospel through two avenues. First, it supports small English schools in Russian churches, not only to teach English but to create relationships through which to share the gospel. Secondly, they give the opportunity to those who desire to present at a Russian university. These presentations are scholarly presentations to create the opportunity to meet others.
While in Russia, Klostermeyer presented on the legal environment for businesses in the United States and the perceptions and realities of the justice systems. Ellis presented on applying to United States graduate schools, the inductive teaching method, the use of humor with student retention levels and online learning.
Ellis shared that, through this relationship, she would like to see more faculty interaction in education as well as in the social and political science areas. Also, the schools hope to share students and research. Ellis hopes that Tomsk will eventually send faculty members to Bolivar.
"Most of all, I hope God uses this connection to bring more credibility to the Baptist name in Russia," said Ellis.
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