UNC Spanish school trade professors

UNC is trading professor Chris Roush for University of Navarra professors Alfonso Vara and Angel Arrese as part of a swap that will expose UNC students to European business journalism.

For two weeks Vara and Arrese will teach Roush's business journalism classes while Roush will teach Vara's similar classes in Spain.

This arrangement is the first project of its kind at UNC and was developed and organized for nine months by Roush.

In 2008 the School of Journalism and Mass Communication received a grant from the Carnegie and Knight foundations" which are completely funding the swap.

""I think my students need exposure to what's happening in the journalism and business world outside the U.S. It's not my area of expertise"" Roush said. This seemed like the easiest way to do that.""

These professors have known each other for about five years"" and Roush has visited the University of Navarra for conferences to speak about business journalism.

""We both thought it could be a really interesting experience in order to share different knowledge" perceptions about business journalism Vara stated in an e-mail. Not only for the students" but also with the professors.""

Roush has been in Spain for the past week" teaching Vara's classes and touring the city of Pamplona. He said he's glad the University of Navarra is an international school so classes can be taught in English.

Roush created the itinerary for Vara and Arrese" while they developed his itinerary in Pamplona. He was greeted in Spain with a copy of the new U2 CD from Vara.

""It will be very interesting to see the perception of American students about European media and issues" especially those related to business and the economy he stated in an e-mail.

I have very good references about the excellence and quality of journalism education at UNC" and I expect to confirm them.""

In an e-mail" Roush noted some of the differences between the two universities including that Navarra's on-campus cafeteria serves beer and wine" and that he has had a glass of red wine at lunch two days this week.

""I feel as if I have lost about 10 pounds"" he said. Spanish food and I have not interacted well.""

He also mentioned that he misses his wife and kids"" and the struggle of trying to watch UNC basketball games.

""It was difficult to find a way to watch the Duke-UNC game and the ACC tournament"" he said. A UNC student who is here this semester gave me a link to watch UNC games live.

""That has been a life saver.""



 Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.