MISEN – Student Exchanges

Methodist International Student Exchange Network (MISEN)

History (2010-2025)

The Methodist International Student Exchange Network (MISEN) is a program created by the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities (IAMSCU). It was proposed by Ted Brown† (late IAMSCU President) in 2010, approved by the IAMSCU Board of Directors, and launched during the joint IAMSCU/NASCUMC International Conference in Washington, DC, United States, in 2011. The program grew quickly to include 15 institutions in Asia, North America, and Latin America. A new MISEN logo was created in 2020, indicating a new phase in the history of the program.

MISEN activities were affected by the global pandemic of COVID-19 between 2020 and 2023, but the network reemerged stronger from the pandemic, bringing together 22 institutions which also included online exchange programs, thus expanding the opportunities for international education. IAMSCU member institutions interested in promoting student exchanges are invited to join the network/program, which includes a small annual fee, and enables institutions to involve their students in exchanges at other Methodist institutions worldwide.

Purpose

MISEN brings together leaders of institutions, international officers, faculty promoting international students, and – most importantly – students engaged in various forms of international exchange.

  • Through online forums, global engagement leaders, international staff, and faculty promoting international curricula have an opportunity to take some time to reflect on current conditions, share experiences, and integrate new knowledge and practices into the planning of their classes and activities.
  • Students can participate in online activities as well as in-person exchanges.
  • Colleges and universities can exchange information on their residential programs on their campuses, promote study abroad, and provided new alternatives.

Through these activities, MISEN contributes to IAMSCU. By offering virtual, hybrid, and in-person components to global and international education, MISEN also contributes to the Wesleyan tradition by seeing “the world as our campus” open and available to all.

Activities

MISEN member institutions have promoted many important events of broad interest and meaning:

MISEN’s activities focus on 5 regions:

    • Africa
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe and Eurasia
    • Latin America and the Caribbean
    • North America

Working groups:

  • Challenges and Opportunities Group
  • MISEN Handbook Revisions Group
  • New Initiatives Group

Lectures:

MISEN invites experts from IAMSCU-related institutions to give lectures and workshops on themes such as global business, climate change, human rights, intercultural dialogue, peace, and other topics, including sharing events at member institutions.

Café Alive:

This is a virtual program promoted several times during the year, which brings students together to share experiences and exchange information about their lives, institutions, cultures, and countries.

Café Alive Academics by MISEN offers a virtual mini-exchange experience, featuring short presentations by global university faculty, followed by engaging international discussions.

This session on Economic Development assembles a panel of university faculty from five continents—South America (Argentina), North America (United States), Asia (Japan), Africa (Zimbabwe), and Europe (England). Each panelist will briefly introduce unique regional perspectives on the economic challenges and innovative solutions that characterize today’s global landscape.

Whether your academic focus is economics or simply a curiosity in global affairs, this discussion promises to offer an enriching and enlightening experience. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your academic journey and acquire a global perspective on economic development. Mark your calendars now!

MISEN marked of the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6, 2020, students from around the world were reminded that Nagasaki Wesleyan College and Hiroshima Jogakuin University are two Methodist institutions related to IAMSCU located in these cities. They were also reminded of the IAMSCU Conference held in Hiroshima in 2014 and read a poem reflecting on the impact of the A-Bomb and the hope for enduring peace.

MISEN Student Fair

Members

Africa

Africa University

Zimbabwe

Seth Mokitimi Theological Seminary

Pietrmaritzburg, South Africa

Asia Pacific

Aoyama Gakuin University

Tokyo, Japan

Kwansei Gakuin University

Kobe, Japan

Soochow University

Taipei, Taiwan

Yonsei University

Seoul, South Korea

Union Theological Seminary

Cavite, Philippines

Wesleyan College

Manila, Philippines

Europe

Southlands College/University of Roehampton

London, England

Theologische Hochschule Reutlingen

Reutlingen, Germany

Latin America

Universidad del Centro Latinoamericano (UCEL)

Rosario, Argentina

Madero University (UMAD)

Puebla, Mexico

Methodist University of Sao Paulo (UMESP)

 São Paulo, Brazil

Methodist University of Piracicaba (UNIMEP)

Piracicaba, Brazil

North America

Centenary College of Louisiana

Shreveport, LA, USA

Ferrum College

Ferrum, Virginia, USA

LaGrange College

LaGrange, Georgia, USA

Oklahoma City University

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

Wesleyan College

Macon, Georgia, USA

Virginia Wesleyan University

Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA

Videos and Photos

  1. Africa University: https://www.youtube.com/@africauchannel
  2. Seth Mokitimi Theological Seminary, Pietrmaritzburg, South Africa: https://www.smms.ac.za/
  1. Aoyama Gakuin University: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1IuOqKtPqs 
  2. Kwansei Gakuin University: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNaDFNLRHd3XSNS2xF-xC6Q/videos   
  3. Union Theological Seminary: 
  4. Wesleyan College of Manila: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPNMdSN87eM 
  1. Soochow University: https://www-en.scu.edu.tw/introduction-to-scu
  2. Yonsei University:
  1. Southlands College/University of Roehampton, London, England (https://www.roehampton.ac.uk/student-life/colleges/southlands-college/)
  2. Theologische Hochschule Reutlingen, Reutlingen, Germany (https://www.th-reutlingen.de/en/)
  1. Universidad del Centro Latinoamericano (UCEL): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxMXX2XI8oDS2uvCNCkyTng   
  2. Madero University (UMAD): https://livestream.com/umadpuebla 
  3. Methodist University of Piracicaba (UNIMEP): https://www.youtube.com/c/unimep/featured   
  4. Methodist University of Sao Paulo (UMESP): https://www.instagram.com/metodista/?hl=pt-br
    1. Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, LA, USA (https://www.centenary.edu/)
    2. Ferrum College, Ferrum, Virginia, USA (https://www.ferrum.edu/)
    3. LaGrange College, LaGrange, Georgia, USA (https://www.lagrange.edu/)
    4. Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA (https://www.okcu.edu/)
    5. Wesleyan College, Macon, Georgia (https://www.wesleyancollege.edu/)
    6. Virginia Wesleyan University, Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA (https://www.vwu.edu/)

    (UNIMEP), Piracicaba, Brazil (https://unimep.edu.br/)

Structure

The leadership of MISEN relies on two complementary structures:
a) MISEN Advisory Board,
b) MISEN Executive Board