An ocean away

JMU and the University of Malta introduce dual degree program

By Kelly Conniff, senior writer
Posted on October 11, 2007

JMU is furthering its international partnerships by adding a new dual-degree ISAT master’s program through an affiliation with the University of Malta.

ISAT faculty members Bob Kolvoord and Jonathan Miles originally conceived the program as a semester-long study abroad program for undergraduate students majoring in ISAT.

“We were trying to build on the long history of summer programs that we previously had with the University of Malta,” Kolvoord said. “We wanted to build on the summer programs to make a really great entrée: a semester-long program.”

Both Kolvoord and Miles hoped to develop a program that would provide international experience to ISAT students, whose rigidly structured class schedules don’t often leave room for a semester abroad.

After traveling to Malta and meeting the new rector (similar to a university president) of the University of Malta, Kolvoord and Miles realized the potential in building a master’s degree program with an emphasis on sustainable energy and resource management.

“We thought about how we could serve Malta and this 400-year-old university,” Kolvoord said. “A master’s program would help us build on the desire to help the needs of people in the Mediterranean.”

Program coordinator Miles said he hopes that by focusing the degree in sustainable energy and resource management, students will be able to directly apply what they are learning to the government and people of Malta.

“A hallmark of previous Malta programs has been the partnership between our university and the Maltese government, private sector and the people,” Kolvoord said.

Miles agreed, citing the similarities of the problems that exist in Malta and in places all around the world.

“We all have the same issues – getting clean water and air,” Miles said. “It’s universal and part of the multicultural experience.”

The program will differ from a traditional master’s program at JMU because students will enroll in two eight-week block courses.

“If you picture two tracks with different time lengths, it will be similar to our program,” said Miles. “We’re look for opportunities to intersect the courses and integrate technology and the classroom.”

Several JMU ISAT faculty members will also receive a new opportunity as participants in the program as they travel to teach in Malta for one block of the semester and return to JMU to fulfill their teaching obligations in the second block.

“We’ve had no trouble recruiting a team of at least seven ISAT faculty,” Miles said. “They’ve helped us develop curriculum and will be partnered with University of Malta professors so that they can teach in teams.”

The first class of students will graduate in May of 2008 and receive a dual degree from the University of Malta and JMU. The duo hopes to eventually streamline the process so that students enrolled in the program receive a joint degree that would furnish only one diploma and one transcript to the student.

Kolvoord and Miles hope to enroll around 20 students for the inaugural class. The University of Malta already has plans to recruit international students from the Mediterranean, Africa, the Middle East and beyond. JMU will take the lead in North America by providing outreach to other universities with programs that are similar to ISAT.

“We can do projects that matter to Malta and ISAT,” Kolvoord said.