Following ancient paths nets award
CALGARY, AB—A student trip to Turkey and Israel in May prevented Charles Nienkirchen from personally accepting a prestigious award honouring his work. But it seems a fitting excuse for the professor who was recognized for outstanding achievement for his innovative study-abroad program.
Nienkirchen, professor of Christian history and spirituality and program head of Christian Studies at Nazarene University College, is one of 10 recipients from the province's 21 public and seven private not-for-profit post-secondary institutions to receive the Internationalizing the Teaching and Learning Practice Award of Distinction.
Presented by Alberta Advanced Education, the award is designated specifically for educators delivering courses and initiatives with a strong international focus.
Students taking Nienkirchen's program, Down Ancient Paths, explore Christian origins and ancient traditions in the British Isles, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
"I feel honoured, for two reasons," says Nienkirchen of the award. "First, it was an open competition for faculty at all Alberta colleges and universities, and secondly, because my program is conspicuously Christian."
Nienkirchen says Down Ancient Paths captures the imagination of people who are not interested in Christian things, and is creating cross civilization dialogue about Christians' shared culture with Islam at a time when the world is at "a heightened state of awareness about Muslims."
He was informed of the award by special-delivery letter. "I had a student from one of our recent trips in my office at the time, who had just presented me with a book as a thank- you present," he says. "It was very serendipitous."
Nienkirchen's wife and son accepted the award on his behalf.
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