African Studies Center

at Michigan State University

Outreach to Communities, Government, Business, and the Public

The primary foci of our Outreach Program are K-12 educators and students, higher education faculty and students, the media (through our Africa Media Program), and study abroad in Africa (through MSU programs and the National Consortium for Study in Africa).

In addition our Program also provides advice and service to other constituencies.

  1. Business Community: The Center has consulted with the State of Michigan International Business development Office in establishing Michigan trade offices in Lagos, Harare, and most recently, Johannesburg. In addition, the Outreach Program cooperates with the MSU Center for International Business, Education, and Research (CIBER) in their service to Michigan businesses. MSU/CIBER website, provides invaluable resource information on business opportunities in Africa. http://globaledge.msu.edu/ibrd/ibrd.asp

    Building on this tradition, in 2004 the Center, as a project of national outreach, is cooperating with the MSU CIBER and a consortium of other CIBERs headquartered at the University of Memphis to provide curricular information about and experience in Africa for business faculty at number of HBCUs. The Center is playing a central role in developing and African area studies seminars (in the U.S.) and business study tours to Africa for business faculty from participating HBCUs. Study tours to Bostwana and South Africa are scheduled for summer 2005 and 2006.

  2. Government: The Outreach Program seeks to provide assistance and respond to African initiatives at the local, state and federal levels in the United States. Most recently, the outreach program has worked collaboratively with the other MSU National Resource Centers in initiating an annual seminar Michigan and the Global Economy, for state of Michigan legislators, state departments, and their aides. The inaugural seminar which focused on issues of food safety was held at the Michigan capitol building on May 11, 2004. The second annual seminar for state legislators and departments will take place in May, 2005. This seminar will focus on the issue of immigration.

    The Center has also worked with several Michigan cities in establishing sister-city relations in Africa, including Lansing’s sister city partner in Akuapem, Ghana.

  3. Religious and Community Groups: The Outreach Program works with many religious and civic groups in developing programs on and in Africa. For example, the Program has worked with Church World Service/CROP to develop educational materials on hunger issues in Africa. Most recently, in spring 2004 the Center has worked with local religious organizations and the Mid-Michigan Aids Awarness Council to establish an advocacy group which will lobby in support of progressive HIV-Aids policy towards and programming in Africa.
  4. Miscellanea: The Outreach Program responds to a legion of general information inquiries related to Africa. These include questions related to African languages, information for the media, and inquiries by potential Peace Corps volunteers.

Conferences and Workshops

Each year the African Studies Center sponsors a number of specific workshops and seminars for non-university constituents. For example, in fall 2000 (September 29 - October 1) the Center offered a national workshop on West Africa for the National Association of Foreign Students Advisors and the International Education Association. This workshop brought to MSU 50 international student advisors and study abroad professionals to learn more about contemporary, West Africa. The Center sponsored a similar workshop in 1998.