TROY – Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr. will travel to South Africa May 20-31 as part of a delegation of administrators from U.S. universities sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

The mission will allow college presidents to explore opportunities for partnerships between campuses in the two nations.

“We hope that this mission will ultimately provide additional study-abroad opportunities for our students from the United States as well as offer our University the opportunity to expand our programs overseas,” Dr. Hawkins said. The TROY chancellor added that the number of U.S. students choosing to study in South Africa rose 26 percent from 2002 to 2004, indicating that there is growing interest in that nation as a study-abroad destination for students from the United States.

The itinerary for the trip includes visits to the U.S. Embassy in Johannesburg, tours of college campuses at the University of Zululand, the University of KwazuluNatal, the University of Durban, the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University. The schedule also includes a visit with South Africa’s Minister of Education, Natedi Pandor.

Dr. Hawkins, who serves as chair of the Committee on International Education of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, will also present an overview of U.S. higher education to members of the ministry of education and to leaders of South African universities. He is also scheduled to visit the Rosa Parks Library at Soweto.

This is the second consecutive year for Dr. Hawkins to participate in an AASCU mission to Africa. In January 2005 the AASCU delegation visited Morocco.

###