University of Delaware
Office of Public Relations
UpDate - Vol. 16, No. 18, Feb. 6, 1997
In recognition: Joachim Elterich honored for work in Slovakia

     As Eastern European nations are redefining their governments
and economies along Western lines, the University of Delaware has
taken an active part in the process through educational programs.
     For the past two and a half years, Joachim Elterich, food
and resource economics, has directed a financial management
program at the University of Nitra in Slovakia, funded by the
United States Information Agency. In recognition of his work, he
received a medal of superior merit from the University of Nitra
president and senate.
     Referring to the award, Elterich said, "To receive the
recognition was satisfying, however, it represents the work and
involvement of all of the members of the University of Delaware
who were involved in the program throughout the years."
     Elterich's field is economics/ operations research, which
involves the application of mathematical and statistical modeling
in different disciplines such as economics, engineering and the
social sciences. He headed a team of faculty who taught intensive
courses to students in Nitra in such areas as managerial
economics, international trade, accounting, finance, law, sales
promotion, rural and community development, geographic
information systems, communication and other areas.
     "Students were eager to learn and a pleasure to teach,"
Elterich said. "They were like sponges, soaking up everything you
could teach them, in spite of heavy schedules. We gave them a
double dose of learning. We not only taught the subject matter,
but we also taught in English."
     Elterich also organized a three-day conference in September,
"A Rural Development Strategy for Slovakia," which was attended
by representatives from 11 countries, officials from the World
Bank, academia, private industry and Slovak ministries. The
workshop was designed to help central European countries
formulate rural development programs, he said.
     According to Elterich, there have been ties between Nitra,
an agricultural university, and the College of Agricultural
Sciences at Delaware since the early 1980s, when Nitra faculty
came to Newark to visit the campus and interact with UD faculty.
     Although the program will officially end, Slovak graduate
students are attending UD, and visits will continue between
faculty. Elterich will head back to the country again in the
spring to wind up the program.
     Elterich said he feels the future of democracy and
privatization is in the hands of the younger generation.
     "There are still pockets of the old communist guard who are
reluctant to give up their power and change toward privatization,
so the road to a democratic social market economy is long and
rocky. But, in general, the Slovak people are becoming
Westernized and entrepreneurs," he said.
     "Our program helped build bridges between the two
institutions and countries, and it has been exciting to be part
of this effort," Elterich said.
                                 -Sue Swyers Moncure