Educational Initiatives
The IAUNRC seeks to increase awareness of Inner Asia and Uralic peoples through outreach activities targeted to a variety of audiences. A major component of this effort is working with K-12 teachers in Indiana and acorss the United States to integrate our region into every level of the school curriculum. Below is a short summary of some of the services and programs we offer. A printable brochure is also available for download.
Please call or email us to arrange a presentation or to obtain more information about our resources.
Resources for Educators
IAUNRC provides teachers with resource guides, audio and video recordings, slide programs, and other materials designed to help bring Inner Asian and Uralic studies into the curriculum. Besides its growing resource library, the Center offers tailored assistance to teachers who need materials or information dealing with Central Eurasia. IAUNRC has also begun a three-year curriculum development project which will result in classroom-ready units on Central Asia, the Baltics, and Tibet and Mongolia.
Academic Exchanges and Linkages
IAUNRC helps foster and support academic exchange and linkage programs with the countries of Central Eurasia. In addition, each year IU hosts many students and scholars from those areas and works to identify and provide opportunities for IU students and faculty to study and conduct research abroad.
Conferences and Workshops
IAUNRC hosts and cosponsors a variety of professional conferences and workshops throughout the year, including workshops that provide secondary and post-secondary teachers with timely information on Central Eurasia as well as ideas on how to introduce that material into their classrooms. The Center also supports language pedagogy workshops and the International Studies Institute, which provides high school teachers and students from across the country the opportunity to explore international issues during a residential workshop in the summer.
Distance Education
Through the International Studies for Indiana Schools (ISIS) program, IAUNRC develops interactive video programs on Central Eurasian topics for schools participating in Indiana's Vision Athena project. Each semester the Center develops programs based on the particular needs of the audience. IAUNRC is also exploring the development of courses and programs that would link Indiana University with other universities in the United States and the countries of Central Eurasia.
Library Resources
Indiana University houses outstanding print and electronic resources for Inner Asian and Uralic studies. The main library holds 100,000 volumes on Central Eurasia, including the largest Tibetan and Estonian collections of any American university. IU's other specialized collections contain another 35,000 items relevant to the Center's area. The Center continues to build its collections, while also making them more accessible to patrons across the country.
Speakers and Presentations
IAUNRC provides speakers free of charge to schools and other audiences through IU's popular Global Speakers Service. These presentations provide a valuable opportunity to interact with faculty, graduate students, and international students on virtually any topic relevant to Central Eurasia.