Ciao. That’s a word you should probably commit to memory over the next couple of weeks. With 20 Italian students and professors coming to our campus this Thursday, being able to say “hello” in their language might make them feel a little more welcome. For the second year in a row, the Social Science Research Center at Mississippi State University and the FacoltO di Scienze dalla Formazione of the University of Cantania will participate in a program that exchanges faculty and students to analyze, report and promote research. Developed by Dr. Giampaolo Catelli of the University of Cantania and Dr. Domenico Parisi of MSU, this exchange program is one that they hope will pave the way for similar programs in the future and open the doors to new and innovative research developments.
Last year, MSU welcomed 40 Italian students to our campus. This Thursday, 17 students and three professors will arrive in Starkville for two weeks of education, research and good times.
“Having 40 students last time was hard. There were just so many,” research center director Arthur Cosby said. “We lowered the number a little this time so that we can get to know them on a more personal level.”
The students, who will stay in a residence hall on campus, will attend various classes and seminars during the day and most likely hit the town at night.
“These kids aren’t shy,” Cosby said. “Last year they went out and sang karaoke and cheered loud at our games and were excited about everything. I’m sure these kids will be the same way.”
Many of them won’t know much English, however. They will have two translators that will stay with them for our benefit as well as theirs.
While they are here, the students will learn many different skills that will help them in the business world back at home, including computer assisted telephone interviewing, strategic planning, using the internet for research and informal technology skills for social sciences. The professors traveling with the students said they hope to learn about setting up research programs at the University of Cantania similar to those here at MSU.
To welcome the Italian students and professors to our campus, the SSRC will host a reception Thursday where the Italians will be introduced to many of our students and teachers.
“I’m excited about getting to meet them and introduce them to the rest of the faculty and students,” Cosby said. “These are honestly the most fun-loving people I’ve ever seen in my entire life. We enjoyed it immensely last year, and I’m really looking forward to their arrival.”
This exchange program is only one of the many research projects hosted annually by the research center. Researching on campus for the past 52 years, the research center takes on between 50 and 60 projects a year. With a $7 million budget, which includes grants from several different agencies, the SSRC has the opportunity to study a wide variety of subjects such as economic and community development, alcohol studies, forestry studies, rural health, traffic safety, children and family studies, natural resource utilization, literacy, race relations, criminal justice, death rates, unhealthy places in the United States, seatbelt promotion and smoking prevention.
While some support comes from the university, the majority of the projects are funded externally by various agencies, many of which are national, such as the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For the exchange program with the University of Cantania, the expenses of the Italian students have been paid for by the Italian government.
In the future, the center hopes to continue conducting research experiments on and off campus expand the exchange program. One upcoming project is the possibility of not only bringing students into our campus, but possibly sending a group of MSU students to study at the University of Cantania. For more information, contact the Social Science Research Center at 325-7127.