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."
2008 Woodie Awards
