Cal State Fullerton is launching an exchange program with the University of Havana that will enable students from the two countries to travel and study between the two campuses.
Irene Matz, interim dean of the College of Communications, as well as several communications faculty members, recently returned from a trip to formalize the program. Earlier this month, President Mildred García signed the final document to make the exchanges official.
The University of Havana will host Cal State Fullerton journalism students in October. The students, under the direction of Jeff Brody, professor of communications, will work in collaboration with their Cuban counterparts to produce multimedia stories focusing on life in Cuba, including its culture and health care system. Brody has previously led student groups to Vietnam, Cambodia and Guatemala.
Also being planned: Cuban journalism students attending CSUF classes during spring 2016 and working on the student newspaper, The Daily Titan. Bonnie Stewart, the newspaper’s adviser and a lecturer in communications, will work with faculty from the University of Havana to provide guidance in developing its journalism program.
The exchange was developed through the Maxwell Center for International Communications and the University of Havana. Journalists and faculty members from Havana visited the Fullerton campus in December 2014 for initial talks.
“This is a wonderful example of cross-cultural communication and cooperation that provides students from both countries with opportunities to learn more about different communications practices as well as culture and history,” said Matz. “This type of high-impact practice benefits our students and prepares them to compete and succeed upon graduation.”