Donation for UCI - Tibet Initiative 2021 Has Been Put on Hold due to Covid-19 Pandemic!
In September 2010, UCI Vice Chancellor Emeritus Manuel Gomez and Vice Provost Emeritus Herbert Killackey, together with a delegation of select students and administrators, traveled to India to visit the exiled Tibetan community.
The three main goals of the trip were to:
- Exchange cultural experiences and student activities with exiled Tibetan scholars and students.
- Foster friendships and partnerships with Tibetan educational institutes with the hopes of implementing a global campus village concept.
- Plant the seeds to establish an exchange program at UCI.
During this trip, the UCI delegation attended His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s teaching at Namgyal Monastery, and visited and interacted with students at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics (IBD), Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) in McLeod-Ganj, and College for Higher Tibetan Studies (CHTS) in Sarah, Dharamsala. While in McLeod-Ganj, we were granted an auspicious opportunity to meet His Holiness in his private chamber. Before returning home, the UCI delegation traveled to South India to visit Gaden Shartse Monastery in Mundgod, Karnataka. The delegation observed the monastic life, activities and teaching curriculum at a typical Tibetan Buddhist monastery.
This visit ultimately inspired the formation of the UCI-Tibet Initiative as a language, research and cultural exchange program.
The exchange program is specifically designed to meet visiting scholars' academic needs. It provides them with instructions and tools for academic research as well as opportunities to interact with UCI faculty and students. In addition, it creates a medium for the visiting scholars to discuss, analyze, and develop plans for individual research. Lastly, it includes training to enhance their reading, writing and communication skills in English.
Visiting scholars will live in graduate student housing and will participate in the program every Spring Quarter, from April to June.
Language Training
All visiting scholars are expected to complete a rigorous English language training program. The language courses include comprehensive instructions in academic and discipline-specific language. Participants’ English ability will be assessed through a language placement exam before they are placed in an appropriate course level. The participants will be able to take classes with UCI students. The required courses include analytical writing, comprehensive reading, English conversation, English grammar for writing, and a conversational language lab.
Cultural Exchange Opportunity
There are scheduled field trips to various Southern California’s historical landmarks for the visiting scholars to observe American culture.
The scholars will be invited to participate in some of the campus events to experience UCI campus lifestyle. They will be residing in campus housing and having meals at UCI dining halls with other students. They will also have the opportunity to visit other UC campuses in Southern California. In addition, the scholars are expected to visit classrooms, guide weekly meditation session, teach beginning Tibetan language, share experiences, and meet with UCI’s Vice Chancellor, Vice Provost, Deans, Department Chairs, faculty, and students.
Budget for UCI Tibet Exchange Program Spring 2021
The budget for hosting four visiting scholars from April 1 to June 30, 2021 includes:
- Ten weeks of intensive language training program: $4,500 per scholar
- Campus apartment at Verano Graduate Housing Complex: $1,600 per month
- Meal plan, seven days access to all campus dining halls: $1,900 per scholar
- Books and miscellaneous expenses: $400 per scholar
Total estimated budget for Spring 2021: $31,600
Your financial contribution and sponsorship is absolutely vital for the exchange program to fulfill its missions, and we greatly appreciate donations in any amount. Your generosity will certainly benefit the scholars and help them to achieve their academic dreams. If you would like to sponsor a visiting scholar or donate to support UCI-Tibet Initiative, please contact:
Ms. BiBi Do
Office: 949-824-4626
Cell: 714-309-7752
Email: bdo@uci.edu
