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Under its new director, Virginia Tech's center in Switzerland has continued to provide a home for well-established undergraduate study abroad programs for students of business, architecture, and arts and sciences. The center is housed in the nearly 300-year-old Casa Maderni. The beauty and convenience of its location on the shores of Lake Lugano and the grace of the house itself contribute greatly to a truly enriching — and in the words of many participating students — "wonderfully life-changing" experience. Beyond the groups present in Casa Maderni during the regular semesters, a number of summer programs made good use of the facility, some involving the cooperation and participation of other European universities, ranging in theme from environmental studies to near environments to alpine botany.
The center was also involved in cultural and educational exchanges of a broader kind. In return for the hospitality afforded a Virginia Tech team of education faculty members, teachers from the local Swiss elementary school visited schools in Virginia as the guests of President Steger and Dean Johnson of the College of Human Resources and Education. Upon their return, the Swiss teachers presented the key of the City of Blacksburg to the Mayor of Riva San Vitale in a wonderful celebration that took place at Casa Maderni. This is but one example of the efforts at the grassroots level of the local community that enable the center to thrive.
The center was also active in developing good relations with potential European partners, including the University of Italian Switzerland in Lugano and Mendrisio, with the goal of new programs involving graduate studies and collaborative research. Additionally, a number of valuable contacts were established in architecture, business, biotechnology, Mediterranean studies, computing, and distance learning. These contacts will support not only the programs at the center, but also those at the main campus in Blacksburg.
Efforts are underway to review needed repairs and renovations to ensure the long term viability of the program at Casa Maderni. The expected renovations and the continued support of this vital European link for the university are made possible by the generous gifts of alumni and friends of the university.