For the third year in a row, Boston College is participating in International Education Week (IEW), a government initiative instituted to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange.
A joint venture of the U.S. Department of State and Department of Education, schools, universities, associations, and businesses across the country are in the midst of celebrating IEW, part of a series of programs that the State Department hopes will "prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States," according to its Web site.
At BC, the Office of International Students and Scholars has prepared a weeklong series of events in conjunction with the Office of International Programs and Center for International Higher Education. Each department is responsible for sponsoring at least one event, and the overall goal of the week is to celebrate and recognize the importance of global exchange in education.
A reception to kick off the week took place on Tuesday afternoon, followed by a student panel on the differences in university life and education in various countries last night. Today, there will be an International Programs info table in the McElroy lobby, an open house focusing on non-traditional study abroad options in the Hovey House, a documentary on a student's study abroad experience in Australia in Fulton 511 and a Thanksgiving dinner for international freshman and exchange students in the Cabaret Room. Tomorrow, OISS will hold a brown bag lunch discussion regarding international research activities at BC in the McGuinn third floor lounge. Likewise, all week a student photo exhibit will run in the three cosponsoring offices all week.
Adrienne Nussbaum, director of the OISS, hopes that this week will raise awareness on the BC campus regarding the impact and effects of international education. "International students bring a number of different perspectives and ideas to the table," she said. "However, international students make up a very small percentage of the undergraduate student body."
For the 2006-07 school year, only 301 international students were enrolled at a BC, totaling 9,020 students - numbers that translate into only 3.3 percent.
"Personally, I'd like to see our numbers increase at the undergraduate level to between 8 and 10 percent," Nussbaum said.
Part of the problem for international students lays in the cost of attending a private university in another country. BC does not offer financial aid for international students, which means that the 3.3 percent who made up last year's class were at the top of the socio-economic ladder in their respective countries.
Gerardo Diaz-Bazan, A&S '11 and a native of El Salvador, echoed some of Nussbaum's praise regarding international students. "Everywhere I go, people always ask me about living in El Salvador," he said. "Most of the American students I've met so far are really interested in my beliefs and opinions on all different subjects."
This interest, he noted, creates an irreplaceable dynamic in the classroom as well. "My professors really encourage international students to share their opinions in the classroom. Even in office hours, I find my professors asking me about my background, sometimes forgetting I came looking for help," he said, laughing.
Because this is only the third year BC has participated in IEW, the sponsoring offices are still figuring out ways to make it the best it can be. Nussbaum has high hopes for the coming years and wants BC to try and do something new and different each year.
"I really hope that over the years this will continue to grow and flourish and that we can build on it," she said.
One of the ways in which BC has tried to increase awareness about international issues is through the Global Proficiency Program. Specifically for undergraduates, this program encourages students to have an international focus in everything they do. Highly successful at BC, the GPP has won awards and has been used as a model at about 30 other schools nationwide.
Diaz-Bazan, who spends time with both international and American students, realizes and appreciates the environment on the BC campus. "Everywhere I go, man, I can't tell you how open and receptive people are. It makes me feel great and is a big boost to my self-confidence that I can go anywhere and people are so interested in my international background," he said.
Be the first to comment on this article!