Exchange Programs
Concordia University–Portland and University of Vechta, Germany
Concordia University students have new opportunities to make global connections through Concordia's exchange program with the Univeristy of Vechta. UV is a German college near Hanover that resembles Concordia in its size and offerings. The town of Vechta is located in Northwestern Germany in the region known as Saxony. It is a mixed area of small towns and farmland, similar in attitude to the Midwestern U.S. Its gently rolling plains are dotted with family farms and village centers full of history and culture. The University of Vechta has prepared teachers for the German education system since 1830 and offers us insights into novel approaches for education by our European counterparts.
Each fall Vechta students and a faculty guide visit Concordia University for a month, attending classes and touring the Northwest. The group is hosted by Concordia faculty members and their families during their stay. Although the German and American education systems are structured very differently, both Concordia and Vechta have much to teach each other through the exchange program.
In May Concordia Portland students and their faculty guide travel to Vechta for the second half of the exchange. They spend three weeks visiting the university and exploring Northern Germany. The students have the opportunity to tour several German schools of various levels and study the philosophy that forms the basis of the German educational system. As an added bonus, they also have the chance to visit Berlin, the great Cathedral at Cologne, country festivals, the University of Wittenberg where Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses, and take a trip through neighboring countries.
Concordia University–Portland and International Budo University, Japan
International Budo University, located in Katsuura Japan, and Concordia University have a direct exchange program. Students from IBU can come to Concordia to study for a semester or a year, and students from Concordia can attend the university in Japan for any length of time. Concordia students pay their regular Concordia tuition and can use any financial aid or scholarships for this program.
International Budo University is a premier sports university and is an excellent study abroad opportunity for students who are interested in sports. In addition to baseball, soccer, and basketball, Budo has world-class facilities and programs in Judo, Kendo, and Karate.
For more information about these exchange programs, contact Linda Rountree at lrountree@cu-portland.edu or (503) 493-6248.