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Students from Moldova attend SCSU through University Linkage program

The Moldovan students attending SCSU this year are here through a University Linkage program sponsored through a grant from the Department of State Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs.

Gary Schnellert, chair of the Educational Leadership and Community Psychology Department in the College of Education at St. Cloud State University has written grants for similar programs in Russia, Poland and the Ukraine.

The three-year grant seeks to help the partner institution change teaching strategies from straight lecture to one that includes more participation and interaction from students. So far the focus has been in educational leadership, but students from Moldova wanting to participate are also interested in child and family studies and special education.

The University Linkage for Educational Reform 3-year grant for Moldova is $275,000.

As a result of the grant, six professors and three students from Moldova have come to St. Cloud State University in the past two years.

Last year Moldovan Michael Rotari earned his masters degree in Educational Leadership at SCSU. He now teaches part-time at Balti State University Alecu Russo in Moldova. Svetlana Halina and Iuri Corolcov are currently attending SCSU.

More students from Moldova are interested in attending SCSU, but Schnellert said it is no easy task.

“They must have a strong desire to study at SCSU and be able to demonstrate their language skills by taking a TOEFL exam.” He said. “The cost for taking the TOEFL exam is $100. An average salary in Moldova is $3 per week.”

“Students who find a way to pay for this exam are goal oriented and serious,” Schnellert said. “Once they’ve met the requirements, we do everything we can to help them while they are here.”

Moldovan students Svetlana Halina and Iuri Corolcov, spoke to Ed View Editor Jessica Hasslen about leaving their families, first impressions of the United States, activities they have done and would like to do while they are here and their educational goals.

Svetlana Halina, 22, a student at Balti State University Alecu Russo in Moldova, is attending SCSU this fall to complete her master's degree in educational administration and leadership.

Family:

• I have a younger sister and brother. In Moldova, women are supposed to be married by the time they are my age, so it is a big deal for me to be here on my own. I was very homesick at first. I really missed my family, especially my mother, but I am here to get an education and that is the most important thing right now.

First impressions:

• I didn't expect people to be so kind and polite. But, they are not very sociable if they don't know you. They wait for you to approach them.
• Everyone has a car. In Moldova, cars are a luxury. Everyone walks. And here people travel great distances from Waite Park, Sauk Rapids and Sartell every day to go to school.
• In the supermarket there is a whole aisle of just juice, in Moldova there are only about six or eight kinds.
• My graduate classes have a lot of students in them that are in their 30s. They have worked in the field and have much more knowledge than I do, but they still listen to and respect my perspective. They are interested in how things are done in my culture.

Activities:

• I am interested in visiting museums, theaters, exhibitions and going to concerts of classical music.
• We went to the Somali Community Center open house. I really enjoyed that. I would like to go to more of the cultural nights on campus, but now I have a job on weekends.
• I work at the Mexican Village as a dishwasher. I'm very proud of my job, because I am the first woman dishwasher they have ever had.

Educational goals:

• I will finish my masters degree this year; then I would like to get a specialist degree and a doctorate in the U.S. also.

Iuri Corolcov, 21, a student at Balti State University Alecu Russo in Moldova, is attending SCSU this fall to complete his master's degree in educational leadership.

Family:

• I have a twin sister. I miss her and sometimes say things to Svetlana as if she was my sister, because I'm so used to being with my sister. I was a little homesick, but now I'm fine.

First impressions:

• It was pretty much what I had expected, I've wanted to come here since I was a child, so I've done a lot of research.
• I was told the food here was bad, but I love fast food, especially chicken sandwiches and fries.
• In Moldova, most classes are straight lecture. It is not very effective. Here you are able to apply and share your knowledge. You also know what is expected of you.

Activities:

• I like to go to parties and concerts. At home people drink to forget and there is a lot of violence in the dance clubs. We don't have many entertainments.

Educational goals:

• I would like to complete my master's and specialist degrees and then do a doctorate, but I don't know what I want to do for a career yet
• I wanted to study here because there is more opportunity and I can gain a broader outlook. I can also learn technical skills here that would not be available to me in Moldova.

Change:

• Things are changing in Moldova, but very slowly. Progress is slowed down by corruption.
• Other countries are starting to collaborate with Moldova, but the process moves too slowly.
• I think I could help my country more if I were a U.S. citizen. When you live in Moldova and you are poor, you are dependent on the country. I can do more good for my county being independent.

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