Spring Break
ECU participates in globally celebrated "International Educational Week"
Lakeisha Goodman
Issue date: 11/18/08 Section: Features
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Through various activities, "International Education Week" seeks to inform students about the importance of understanding and exploring different cultures.
Currently, ECU is home to over 245 international students who represent 54 countries around the world. Additionally, over 100 international faculty members represent 30 different countries.
"Since I have been at ECU, I have noticed that the institution has increasingly acknowledged that the campus community is enhanced by the presence of international students, faculty and scholars and further broadening the education of its U.S. students by exposure to people from other countries and cultures," said William Mallett, assistant director for international student advisement at the Office of International Affairs at ECU.
The week kicked off Monday morning in the Great Rooms of Mendenhall Student Center, where students attended an informational session about studying abroad.
Each student was given a packet containing pertinent information about studying abroad. Professor Rosina Chia started the session by explaining how far the world has come in the last few decades.
"I am a Chinese professor standing here at ECU, which 30 years ago would have been unheard of," said Chia.
Chia explained that even though students across the globe often interact with students from another culture, only about 4 percent of all college students study abroad.
Anthropology professor Jami Leibowitz gave interested students information about the Global Understanding class, Anthropology 1050, which allows students to teleconference with other students from across the world, including countries in Africa, Europe and Asia.
Upon successful completion of the course, along with six hours of foreign language courses, two courses from the international studies minor and at least one summer session abroad, students can have the opportunity to receive a Certificate in Global Understanding. Leibowitz encouraged students to take this course because it can be a great resume builder for post-graduate job opportunities.
Ending the session was Brandi Dudley, assistant director for study abroad, who gave information about studying abroad. "Studying abroad is not as expensive as many think, and ECU offers a student exchange program that allows students to pay the same amount of tuition as normal for ECU, but attend an institution in a different country," Dudley said.
To study abroad, ECU students must have at least a 2.75 grade point average, be in good academic standing and at least 30 completed semester hours, including four semester hours of a foreign language.
Along with the kickoff event on Monday, students attended the "Taste of the World Luncheon," where they had the chance to meet with faculty members and students who have participated in the study abroad programs.
Festivities and events for the International Education Week will be featured all throughout the week, giving students the chance to learn more about different cultures and perspectives.
• Today at 10 a.m., there will be an informative session about studying abroad in the great rooms of Mendenhall.
• In Joyner Library, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, there will be a showcase of books and resources pertaining to international travel that are available to all ECU students and faculty.
• On Wednesday at 4 p.m., a panel of students will speak of their experiences while studying abroad. This event will be in the Rivers Building (West) in room 105.
• Also on Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m. in Bate, there will be two international film screenings-in room 2003, the German comedy Kebab Connection will be playing, and in Room 2011 a Russian Film, Repentance, will be shown.
• "International Education Week" will come to a close on Friday with, "A Taste of Asia," a social at the International House. It will feature different Asian cuisines.
For information about "International Education Week," stop by the International House located between the Student Recreation Center and McDonalds on Tenth Street.
This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.
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