Canadian university,colleges head to India for student admissions

On top of their list are colleges in the US, the UK and Australia. Not to be left far behind, now Canada too is aggressively wooing Indian students.It is that time of the year again, when students wishing to study abroad, begin frantic preparations to choose the correct university.With the US or UK, universities brand themselves so well that students are attracted to the name, regardless of their experience with the country. In Canada, you always have a relative studying there or have family in the country,says Sonali Saigal, who studied at McGill University in Montreal.

Canada has a lot of things to offer in its favour. Work permits post completing university is easy to get and applying for Permanent Residency is simple too.The problem though is colleges there don't brand themselves aggressively.Canadian universities, such as York and Western Ontario, need to build their brands amongst Indian students as they are absolutely fantastic, but sadly Indian students are unaware of their value,adds Sonali.Now, most Canadian educational institutions have embarked on aggressive marketing campaigns to encourage students from India.Maple Leaf, an educational marketing and consulting firm in Delhi, has tied up with at least four institutions in Montreal, Vancouver and other places to promote their brand.

India is a very big market for these universities and colleges and they are looking forward to it in a big way. They are hiring representatives in India to market their brand who will execute their strategies like recruiting, partnerships, and other things on ground,said Vinay Chaudhry, the CEO of Maple Leaf Edu Connect.Kings University College in Alberta has started an online business simulation competition with Indian schools. The winners of the competition are given college scholarships.Indian students are outstanding. Their presence will add a lot more diversity and maximum knowledge transfer could take place, said Marilyn Mason, the Registrar of King's University College.

The University of New Brunswick is planning to host a summer camp themed Sustainable development as seen through different disciplinary perspectives for high school students from India in June 2012 with an objective of offering them an opportunity to explore a Canadian pre-university experience.At the successful completion of this camp, certificates will be awarded that will be helpful in seeking admission to the UNB, said Koumari Mitra, a PhD Professor at UNB.Several Canadian institutions are in joint partnerships with institutes in India, such as IIM-Bangalore and Pearl Academy of Fashion for student, faculty exchange programs and other joint researches.The Schulich School of Business in Toronto is building its campus in Hyderabad with the help of infrastructure company GMR Group. It will start recruiting students in near future.These institutions are also getting support from the High Commission of Canada in Delhi.

More students to go abroad on Fulbright scholarships

The University has tied last year’s record for Fulbright travel scholarships for the 2011-2012 academic year.The Fulbright scholarship is a state department-funded award that provides grants for participants to travel abroad to conduct research, teach, study or complete creative projects. Eleven University students were awarded grants this year, nine of which accepted. The awards are given to approximately 1,600 people each year, and about 45 University students applied for the 2011-2012 grant.Maria de Rocher, Fulbright program adviser for the University, said the number of Fulbright awards given to University students has been increasing over the past several years.

These are the highest numbers we’ve ever had, despite it getting more and more competitive, de Rocher said.Reasons for this increase could vary, she said. Students who study abroad as undergraduates may find they want to go back to do more intensive work in another country, and apply for a Fulbright to do so. Or, they may apply because they are having trouble finding money to fund their research elsewhere.Last year, the University also had nine students out of 11 accept their award, which broke the 2009-2010 record of 10 awards. De Rocher said the scholarship award lists for other universities haven’t been published yet, but last year the University had close to the same number as institutions such as Dartmouth College and the University of California, Los Angeles.Brinkley Warren, a University masters student in mass media and advertising, will be using his scholarship to travel to New Zealand for one year after he graduates this December. He will be installing an interactive art project in two cities in New Zealand, as well as another in Athens after he returns. He said he applied to the Fulbright as a way to fund the idea for the project, which he developed in the University’s Art X program.

I looked around at grants and there was really not that much funding for this kind of artwork in the United States, he said.I applied to the Fulbright simply as a way to make this specific project happen.Warren will be working with local artists to construct two wishing wells, one in the north part of the island and one in the south. A video screen and camera will be installed in each well, so that observers will be able to see people looking into the other well hundreds of miles away.I’ve always been fascinated ever since I was a kid about the idea of possibly digging a hole through the earth and ending up in a different country,he said.I thought it would be a cool way to use video software technology in a creative way that nobody’s done before.

Warren said he wants the project to allow people in different areas to be able to exchange with one another without having to physically be near one another an opportunity he hopes will allow respect and knowledge of other cultures to grow.Leasa Weimer, a Ph.D. student at the University’s Institute of Higher Education, is already putting her grant money to use. She has been in Finland since August conducting research for her dissertation, which explores the effects of the country’s recently-introduced tuition for public universities. She will be interviewing policy makers, faculty and administrators at local universities to find out why the tuition fees were introduced. She said she looks forward to the cultural experiences she’ll have in the country as much as the academic ones.

The great thing about Fulbright is you get a monthly grant to not only do your research but also experience the local culture,she said. “For me, that’s one of the reasons I wanted to do it as well. Of course the research is my priority but also living in a different country and experiencing a different country it’s an amazing opportunity.Heather Gallivan, a fourth-year Ph.D. student in anthropology, said she knew since she started her Ph.D. program at the University that she wanted to apply for the Fulbright. She’ll be leaving next semester for Indonesia to research marine conservation in the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area, one part of a larger initiative to protect marine biodiversity. She said she’s excited to spend time with the Indonesian people, as well as learning about their conservation efforts and initiatives.I think it’s going to be really great just to be in Indonesia day to day,she said.I think as an anthropologist I’m interested in every aspect from the smallest detail to the larger-scale issues, so it’ll just be a really exciting time.

mathematics,Engineering Designing And Courses

Engineering is a vast subject, a matter of science and mathematics consisting of practical art and designing. There are few main subjects of engineering and one of them is engineering designing known as ED. This specific subject is studied from grade XIth, particular students who want to take engineering as there career, take this subject.After the educational revolution in India, the education system has grown up; be it any course, as there are numerous engineering colleges in India, from where these courses can be pursued. As consisting of many sole and important subjects, the main purpose to study engineering designing was to find critical features of ED that can be incorporated within technology education learning activities and develop normality for assessing these features. Using an approach, this study ‘engineering designing’, possesses key features of the engineering design process and the critical elements that should be assesses in the designing activity in the context of technology education.

The engineering designing is a formulation of a plan or scheme to assist an engineer in creating a product, the engineering design is defined as, a component, or a process to meet desired needs. It is a decision making process (often iterative) in which the basic sciences, mathematics, and engineering sciences are applied to convert resources optimally to meet a stated objective. Among the fundamental elements of the design process are the establishment of objectives and criteria, synthesis, construction, testing and evaluation.This engineering design process is a multi-step process including the research, conceptualization, feasibility assessment, establishing design requirements, preliminary design, detailed design, production planning and tool design, and finally production.

Maharashtra engineering colleges in India, presents many such courses which gives the students vey good and vast job opportunities’. There are three most vital yardsticks to measure an engineering college, and that are- infrastructure, faculty and facility. These are the most omnipotent points which count as the best college.Talking about Maharashtra, there is one more priority college, which provides huge facilities to students and that is, engineering colleges in pune. Pune, since the past few years, has established itself as one of the premier engineering hubs of India. Engineering education in Pune is experiencing a rapid boom due to intrusion of several national and multinational companies and they are also choosing Pune as one of the main centers to conduct their business in all over India.

Courses offered by engineering colleges in pune are like Under graduate courses:- Industrial Engg, Electronics Engg, Mechanical Engg, Computer Engg, Instrumentation& Control Engg, Chemical Engg, Production Engg, E & TC Engg, Information Technology.Post graduate courses:- M.E. Mechanical (Heat Power), M.E. Mechanical (Design Engg.),M.E. Computer Science & Engg (Information Technology), M.E. Industrial Engineering, M.E. Instrumentation & Control Engg, ,Master of Computer Applications.Therefore, not only Maharashtra engineering colleges, rather there are many engineering colleges in India which will stand up to the satisfaction of a student and of a parent, though there are many courses, but best would be not to hamper a child’s mind and free him with his course.

Student exchange programs offer Metro teens a chance to live and go to school in a foreign country

Imagine being transported to a foreign country where you don't know the language or the culture, where you don't have any friends and are living in a home with total strangers.That's the adventure students embark upon when they participate in a youth exchange to another country.The most challenging thing about my experience is the language,says Bradley Nason, a 2011 Bernice MacNaughton graduate who is on a Rotary Youth Exchange.

I came to Denmark not being able to speak Danish and it is difficult to understand what is going on sometimes. Luckily they speak English in Denmark as well, so I can communicate with most of the people here.Brad is one of the few students from Metro selected each year to take part in a student exchange, mostly through the Rotary Youth Exchange. The program is open to young people ages 15-25 worldwide. There are two basic types of exchanges: short-term and long term.The short-term exchange is for students aged 15-19 and can be several days to several weeks long. These exchanges don't involve attending high school, but students can tailor their experience to match their interests and can include home stays, tours and youth camps.

Another short-term exchange is for youth aged 18-25 and is ideal for recent secondary school graduates. These exchanges last three to six weeks and can include home stays, tours, camps or internships.The long-term exchange is for students aged 15-19 and involves living with a few host families and attending a local school. This exchange is for one year.Brad is one month into his exchange and he is glad he took advantage of the opportunity.What I enjoy most about my exchange is meeting new people and experiencing new things in a different country.The best memory of my exchange so far has been the first day of school. I just remember never feeling so nervous before in my life and the great experience I had in meeting all of the students in my classes in school.Although it's still early in his exchange experience, Brad has learned some significant lessons already.

The most important thing I've learned about my exchange so far are the similarities and differences we have as people. I never really thought of how - no matter where you are from in the world we all have the same fears, problems, joys and what-have-you as human beings.There are also approximately 60 international students who are currently on exchange in Metro Moncton high schools who undoubtedly feel the same.Most recently, our visiting international students are from Colombia, China, Japan, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Norway, France, Belgium and Mexico," says Diane Ross, an English as an additional language (EAL) mentor for School District 2.For 28 years, Diane taught various grades from kindergarten to Grade 10, teaching mostly French as a second language, English language arts and English as an additional language. She has been seconded to District 2 as the EAL mentor to support and coach teachers who work with students whose first language is not English.

Diane says Rotary International has specific criteria for selecting both incoming and outgoing exchange students.For our visiting international students, each agency has specific criteria; but students are obliged to attend classes, live with a host-family and participate in school, family and community activities.They are 'ambassadors' from their home country, so they need to behave in a way that best represents their countries.The visiting international students stay with host families across Metro Moncton.Local representatives for the educational agencies screen and select host families. Many of these families have done this for years and love the experience that it brings to their own homes and children.There are also benefits to the local students who have visiting international students in their classrooms.

They gain cultural enrichment, new perspectives, language enrichment and realizing that the world is not really that large and we all have so much in common. As a teacher, I found the presence of visiting international students and new Canadians in my classroom to be so enriching for our New Brunswick population.Diane says some personalities are better suited to exchange opportunities.I would think it would be helpful to be confident, a good communicator, flexible, respectful and perhaps brave and courageous, too.Diane notes that Metro Moncton schools also have a growing population of new Canadian students - those who come from overseas to stay in Canada.These students face similar challenges as our visiting students, but the stakes are higher because they want to stay in Canada and often plan to attend post-secondary education here as well. Their families make huge sacrifices sometimes to see that their children receive this opportunity.Students can also get a lot of exposure while studying in such universities and different course.

She adds that the ambassador program at BMHS has been very helpful and successful in supporting new international students at the school. It's an enriching experience for both groups and I think some of our ambassadors may consider doing a year abroad as a result of their experiences with visiting students in Moncton.Brad has some advice for those who are thinking about applying for an exchange experience.Just go for it. You only get one chance in your life to do this sort of thing and if you have any interest in doing something like this, just do it. Being an exchange student is one of the hardest, funniest, scariest and most memorable experiences in my life, but my life would be a lot different if I weren't one.

Frequently asked questions about the Rotary Youth Exchange Program:

* What are my responsibilities?
As a Youth Exchange student, you agree to:
* Act as an ambassador for your home country
* Abide by all program rules of your host Rotary club and district
* Accept the supervision of the host family, club, and district
* Ask questions of your host family and local Rotarians
* Be an active participant in your exchange
* How do I qualify?
* Be an above-average student or young professional with demonstrated leadership in the community
* Be open to new experiences and cultural differences
* Be sponsored by a local Rotary club
* Complete a written application and in-person interview
* How much will it cost?
Youth Exchange is coordinated at the regional level by Rotary districts and at the local level by Rotary clubs. Costs vary greatly from one area to another. Typically, participants and their parents cover the following expenses:
* Round-trip airfare
* Health and accident insurance
* Travel documents
* Clothing and other necessities
* Spending money
* Emergency funds for unpredicted expenses
* Ancillary travel and tours
In most clubs and districts, participants do not pay placement fees, so those with financial constraints can share the exchange experience.
Sharing in the costs are host families (who pay for room and board), the host community (who cover school tuition and arrangements) and host Rotary club (who offer a small stipend of usually US$50-100 monthly.)
* Where will my exchange be?
Exchanges can take place in more than 150 countries and geographical areas. Please note, however, that the countries you visit depend on your home Rotary district. Contact your local club or district for more information.
* How do I host a Rotary Youth Exchange student?
By hosting a Youth Exchange student in your home, you'll make a young person's dream come true, and you and your family will share an unforgettable and fulfilling experience.
As a host family, you will:
* Provide room and board
* Supervise the student just as you would your own children
* Involve the student in family activities and chores
* Enrich the exchange experience by including the student in family, community, and cultural activities
Host families aren't compensated financially. The program is run entirely by dedicated volunteers, which helps keep costs low.

Students look for university overseas

A YORKSHIRE school is aiming to become a centre of excellence at helping students apply to international universities to avoid next year’s tuition fee hike.Harrogate Ladies’ College is looking to develop contacts with universities around the world as increasing numbers of young people look to study abroad once £9,000-a-year fees are launched.Headmistress Rhiannon Wilkinson and head of the independent girls’ school sixth form Richard Tillett said there was no doubt that more students would look outside England for their higher education under the new system.

They also warned that as fees rise some universities in England will need to “buck their ideas up” in order to persuade students to stay in the country.Mr Tillett said:The tuition fee hike is fundamentally changing the whole climate of higher education.There are already 40 universities across Europe which deliver courses in the English language. Some Dutch universities such as Maastricht teach almost entirely in English and courses in Holland will cost students 1,600 euros compared to up to £9,000 here.Mr Tillett said overseas universities were already looking to attract English students because of the soaring fees here.If you take away the United States, which is a separate system and which has always been expensive, the fees in this country are high, especially when compared to the rest of Europe.The fees will undoubtedly lead to fewer people going to university. I know the Government says it won’t but I do not understand the logic of what they are saying.

It is already changing students’ attitude – we are seeing it here at the college. Girls are less keen to take subjects like history, English and classics because they don’t see a job at the end of it.I am not saying this is right but this is what the perception is.We have spoken to parents who are also wondering whether sending their child to university is worth it because of the cost, and this is in an affluent area like Harrogate.Fees for non-boarding students at Harrogate Ladies’ College are more than £4,000 a term.The college is planning to hold sessions getting pupils to better understand different university systems and learning cultures around the world.Mrs Wilkinson has personal experience of the benefits of an international education having taught in schools in both Brunei and Hong Kong.

She added:I started thinking about this issue as a parent of a 17-year-old myself looking at the costs of going to university in England with the decline of tutorials and the larger and larger lecture groups which students are experiencing.Studying abroad gives you the chance to meet people from around the world and learn skills that our students will need if they are going to be a success.It means going to university is not just a rite of passage into a drinking culture. It introduces you to people from different backgrounds and to different cultures.When I worked in Hong Kong I used to think the biggest advantage of going to an international school was the confidence that it gives young people. Students who go to university abroad are going to be well placed to work in an increasingly global economy.Mr Tillett said:Young people who are 18 now are going to be working in a world where places like China and Hong Kong increasingly control the economy.If you look at what has happened over the last 30 years who knows what the world will look like in 30 years?The school was already being contacted every week by overseas universities wanting to promote themselves to British students, Mr Tillett added, and next month he will be taking a group of school girls to an event in London organised by the American Fulbright Commission to sell the idea of going to university in the United States to Britain.

The cap on tuition fees at English universities is set to increase from £3,375 to £9,000 next year as Government funding cuts to higher education of £2.9bn begin.

Universities will become more reliant on income from fees which will be paid up front by Government loans. Graduates will only begin paying this back once they earn more than £21,000 a year.

Middle Eastern Studies program provides chance for study abroad

It is the first semester that an international studies major regional concentration and minor on the Middle East are being offered at Elon University after being approved last spring by Elon University's curriculum committee.The Middle East is an important place to study because of its long and rich history,said Brian Digre, professor of history and coordinator of the international studies program.Religions such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam come from the Middle East. The Middle East is critically important for understanding the world today in regards to politics, economics, history and religion.

Digre and a group of colleagues worked on creating the Middle East studies program for five years. It is an interdisciplinary program designed to promote a deeper understanding of regional issues and perspectives. Students can take classes in politics, religion,Construction, history, philosophy and art history dealing with the Middle East. Arabic classes can also be taken for the minor and international studies major regional concentration.According to Digre, program development is ongoing; the program is looking to add courses in Hebrew. A course titled Media in the Middle East, which is usually offered during Winter Term, will also be added to the curriculum, said Digre.Digre said he encourages all students who are Middle East minors or international studies majors with this concentration to visit the region they are studying.

You gain new perspectives and insights by meeting people there, studying and taking courses with professors in the region, and it's a great opportunity to improve language skills,he said.Through the university, students are able to study abroad at Koç University in Turkey, American University in Cairo, University of Haifa in Israel, the Council on International Educational Exchange school in Amman, Jordan and many other places in the Middle East.I believe the Middle East is a very good destination for our students,said Woody Pelton, dean of international programs and director of the Isabella Cannon Centre.It represents a very different culture and allows students to demystify a part of the world that is often misunderstood and poorly represented in the media. I think among the things that would surprise students is how similar the people of the Middle East are to Americans in the way they think and in their values.

Pelton said there are plans to bring more study abroad options in the Middle East to Elon students.Ronda Ataalla, a junior majoring in international studies with a concentration in the Middle East, said she is really enjoying the major because even though she is Middle Eastern, she is learning so much about her own culture. She is the founder and president of the Muslim Student Association at Elon.Ataalla said the Middle Eastern Studies classes she has had so far have been tough and she is excited about taking challenging courses in Cairo next semester. Digre said a lot of students are interested in the Middle East and expects the number of students in the program to rise.Knowledge of the Middle East and Arabic language are both skills and knowledge bases that are in high demand,Pelton said.

Students Benefit From 2011 NITDA Scholarship

Nigerian students with first class and second class upper division in science, technology and information technology-related subjects may have the cause to smile as they can now further their studies abroad through the National Information Technology Development Agency Education Fund.The agency, as part of its mandate to impact on the life of the citizens, especially in building capacity of the workforce, had in 2005 introduced the scholarship scheme into assist brilliant students in pursuing their careers.

In 2011, scholarship programme, no fewer han 80 Nigerian students with first class and second class upper grades in their first degrees, especially in the field of information technology,International Technology, computer engineering, have benefitted from NITDEF.The beneficiaries, who have been selected from 36 states of the federation and the FCT, are going for their masters and PhDs in various universities in the UK to study courses related in IT, computer and outsourcing.Speaking at the send-off ceremony of the beneficiaries in Abuja, the director-general of Information Technology and Development Agency (NITDA). Prof. Cleopas Angaye, said that the students had done well in their various fields of studies.He disclosed that last year, 37 candidates were selected for masters and six for PhDs.

This year, 2011 programme, we have doubled the number for masters to 74, then 6 for PhDs,he said.He explained,We are actually executing mandates in three basic areas. One of them is human capacity infrastructure. Next one is institutional infrastructure, in the sense that we have to set up certain institutions to provide internet access, penetration and information technology in the country.What we have done so far is to set up an institution called Galaxy, and it is currently in charge of networking and connectivity in the country. The capacity building is to actually provide framework. We have set up certain infrastructure in the country, such as providing rural information technology development centre.

“The other one is human infrastructural development and that is where we are today. I’m very proud of my board members, because the initiative came from them. They believe that we should have some impact on the citizens, so we came up with this scholarship scheme. We have infrastructure to compensate people who are good in their field, people with either second class upper of first class.

On the total budget for the scholarship award, he said it varied, but pointed out that it covered almost middle to high bills.For the living expenses, we cover more than £10,000 for six months per students.While explaining that the six months payment was to make the students comfortable, he stated that all their travel documents are being taken care by the agency, “We do everything, we pay the fees. Before they leave, we pay their ticket to and fro. We pay them living expenses for six months, half the year.He noted that President Jonathan’s agenda is on transformation, adding that the transformation agenda required more skills from trained personnel.We can’t transform this country with people here alone. We need more hands in our fields. Part of what we need in our country is human beings to work for us; we don’t want to bring people from other countries to work in our oil and gas industries. Currently most people who do their software are coming from overseas, which is sad, he said.

UAF announces more scholarships to study abroad

University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) has announced 20 scholarships to study abroad for varsity’s teaching staff to enhance their capacity building that will help provide more quality education to students. This was stated by UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan while addressing a meeting of all lecturers of UAF at New Senate Hall UAF here. The objective of the meeting was to listen and resolving the problems of the young lecturers in addition to mapping out a strategy for the uplift of the quality of education at university. The vice chancellor urged the lecturers to work with more devotion by leaving no stone unturned so as to produce quality students as the lectures were the basic unit of the university.

He said that three years ago the university had only 99 lecturers but now this number has risen to 230 because 131 new lecturers were inducted during the said tenure In welcome address, Professor Dr Jalal Arif Principal Officer Public Relations and Publication UAF said that the meeting will help devise a comprehensive plan for more improvement in education at campus. Earlier, while addressing the Assistant Professor’s meeting as a chief guest held at New Senate Hall of the university. Dr Iqrar urged the young scientists to explore new avenues as a global researcher as a lot of funding opportunities were available in various funding agencies and global universities in many disciplines. He said that the Australian Nobel Laureate in Microbiology Mr. Berry Marshal has agreed to supervise PhD & post doctoral scholars from the UAF and he asked the young faculty members to enhance their capacity under the supervision of the said Nobel prize winner.

Dr Iqrar said due to highest standard of education & research, the number of research projects being run by the university’s scientists has increased fourfold during the last three years as in the said tenure, the UAF have won 214 external funded projects worth of Rs. 1085 million as compare to 70 projects worth 200 million three years back.

Students spent a busy summer working, learning, reading, training and traveling

NFA faculty and students spent a busy summer working, learning, reading, training and traveling. It was a productive summer.Students and faculty completed NFA’s first interdisciplinary study abroad course. Seniors Felicia Filiatreault, Tonay Gooday-Ervin, Daniel Tamborra, Jackson Tonnesen and Andrew Weiler; upper Jillian Boisclair; and Jon Sheffield (’11) traveled to Greece with world language teacher Nina Barclay, science teacher Sara Bennett and several parents. They visited Athens, Corinth, Nemea, Mycenae, Epidauros, Nauplion, Olympia, Rio-AntiRio, Naupaktos, Galaxidi, Delphi, Thermopylae, Chaeronea, Metsovo, Iannina, Dodona, Kalambaka, Aiani, Kozani, Katerini, Dion, Thessaloniki, Piraeus, Rhodes and Symi to study Greek culture, history, language, science, climate and water use. Barclay, who frequently visits Greece, said familiar sights through the eyes of a science teacher was a broadening experience.

In August, in the Ensemble Room of the Frank Center, the group made formal presentations about the trip to family, friends, the community and members of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association.In June, social studies teacher Marisa Haralson and world language teacher Elizabeth Tywalsky and 11 students flew to Paris for a 12-day European visit that included Florence, Venice, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Vienna. Travelers included seniors Charlotte Herz, Jessica Kearney, Alexis Koronkiewicz and Samantha Majcher; uppers Ashlyn Albert, Courtney Majcher, Erin Moebus, Kylie Pickford, Haley Riley and Erin Schaeffer; and lower Victoria Majcher. Five parents and family members accompanied the group.

They climbed to the top of the Arc de Triumph, took a night train to Florence and had a traditional Austrian dinner in Vienna. Haralson is planning a tour to China next summer for students, faculty, and parents.School psychologist Beth Serra spent 19 days this summer as a delegation leader with the People to People Student Ambassador Program. Five leaders and 43 middle-school students from Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Virginia, including NFA ninth-grader Mia Brown, explored the Gap of Dunloe and Lakes of Killarney in Ireland, roped Pehnryn Castle in Wales, boated on Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands and learned the art of medieval warfare at Warwick Castle in England. NFA senior Amber Dugan traveled with the People to People Student Ambassador high school delegation.

A sticker proclaiming Norwich Free Academy: Endless Opportunities,may be spotted on local vehicles. Together with a DVD of the program, the sticker is a gift to the families of students who participated in the debut year of NFA’s summer enrichment program for students entering 7th and 8th grade. About 40 students from 10 towns explored 20 workshops with 16 NFA teachers. Among the programs were art classes in clay, drawing, painting, graphic design, laser doodling, 3-D computer design and photography and world language experiences in Spanish, Arabic and Latin.

Students learned elements of basic physics in roller coaster design, the basics of video production and hometown history. An anti-bullying workshop, cooking experience, everyday math using M&M’s to solve problems and fitness fun completed the line-up.NFA Alumnus Jared Dillian (’92) will visit campus Thursday, a publicity tour stop for his book Street Freak: Money and Madness at Lehman Brothers.Dillian joined Lehman Brothers in 2001 and rose from a minor position checking ID’s on the trading floor after 9/11 to become the company’s head exchange traded fund trader before the company filed for bankruptcy. He will deliver his message about economics, ethics, mental health and writing to upper classmen. At 3:30 in Land Library, Dillian will hold a book reading and signing for the public.

NFA Youth Peace reminds students and parents of their right to opt out of military recruiting lists. Federal law requires schools to provide student contact information to military recruiters. Those wishing to protect their privacy must annually inform the head of school in writing by Sept. 30. Youth Peace has postcards to fill out and submit. Pick them up at the library or from any Youth Peace member. They may also be left in the box on the Library Reference Desk Thursday during Parent’s Night.Don’t forget the registration deadlines for credit-bearing courses through Eastern Connecticut State University, the University of Connecticut or Three Rivers Community College. Students should complete all necessary paperwork and submit fees before deadlines pass. For more information, contact guidance counselors or the director of research and strategic partnerships. Miller tells us,One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.

Journalism student chosen to represent Australian Embassy at USC

Upon her return from a semester at the University of Newcastle in Australia, fourth-year public relations student Kim Osborne couldn’t wait to share stories of snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, sleeping under the Southern Cross in the Outback and partying it up at the famous Mardis Gras festival in Sydney.

Now, after signing on with an Australian government program, Osborne will be sharing more than just scrapbook photos with her fellow students. Osborne is one of 42 students chosen from 90 international applicants to represent the Embassy of Australia at their respective schools, from University of Texas to University of Toronto. These representatives North American students who have studied in Australia and Australian students currently at American or Canadian universities will organize travel awareness events and social media campaigns on behalf of the Embassy. The program is part of the Australian Trade Commission’s efforts to promote Australia’s education opportunities in North America and create links between the two continents.

Osborne said she was encouraged to enter the selective interview process after several weeks of posting a weekly travel blog titled Stratting Down Under for the Embassy’s student blogging program.StudyAbroad recently ranked Australia No. 6 in most popular educational destinations, following England, France, Italy, Spain and Japan. Last year, the study abroad office sent 46 students to Australia and 10 to New Zealand, either through global exchange programs or direct enrollment, collectively making up 6 percent of students who studied overseas. According to Study Abroad adviser Rachel Hardison, students are finding several reasons to spend a semester in the South Pacific.

A lot of students are interested in Australia because it’s an English speaking country, which means they automatically have more classes to choose from,Hardison said. It’s especially attractive to students with intensive majors. We have a lot of engineering and marine science students go there.Osborne said she couldn’t turn down the opportunity to travel to the South Pacific with her USC tuition money.I had known since freshman year that I wanted to study abroad and that I wanted to go to Australia,Osborne said.Europe seems like it would a more accessible destination after graduating, but going to Australia is a long trip that I probably wouldn’t ever be able to make again.

As an ambassador, Osborne will organize at least four events in during the academic year with a $100 stipend each semester from the Australian Trade Commission. She has begun her campaign by starting a Gamecocks Down Under Facebook group for students interested in travel opportunities to Australia. Osborne hopes that working as an ambassador will eventually lead to a job in with the Embassy in Melbourne. She is most excited about helping students get started on the study abroad process, especially with the approach approaching deadline for spring semester programs on Oct. 1.I’m really looking forward to being a mentor sharing my experiences with others,Osborne said.I made some amazing memories in Australia, and I want other students to have that same chance by considering studying abroad anywhere.

Students participate in the Presidential Global Scholars Program

The students will be participating in the Presidential Global Scholars Program, which focuses on study abroad. The program is not major-specific but designed to make students global scholars, according to its website.What this does is it puts a student in a situation where they’re uncomfortable, said Terry Papillon, director of the program and University Honors.If they’re going to be significant citizens internationally, they need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

The program will take the students to Riva San Vitale in Switzerland.We’re going to take students from all different colleges and all different departments, and talk about things that are generally applicable to students who are going to be active citizens locally, nationally and globally,Papillon said.The discipline is honors.The classes will be taught almost exclusively by university distinguished professors, most recommended by University President Charles Steger.
I think the program is great because it has an all-star cast,said Harry Rosenbaum, a fifth-year architecture student.Rosenbaum went to Riva San Vitale in the past with an architecture program.

The honors students will live and study at Riva San Vitale along with a new group of 16 architecture students. With 48 Virginia Tech students in all, Papillon said he hopes to keep cultural problems to a minimum while in Switzerland and maintain the program’s reputation.Switzerland is a little bit more guarded, so it’s a little bit harder for American students to break into the culture of Riva San Vitale,Papillon said.It’s also a relatively small town so we try as best as we can to integrate the students into the community. But 48 students is a pretty big number for a town this size.

Chris Prohoda, a junior engineering and materials science major, said he is enthusiastic about being immersed in a new culture, and he applied even though he will probably be staying at Tech for an extra semester because of the trip.I’m excited to explore such a stunning country,he said.I love Europe.While Tech students have had one or two serious drinking-related incidents in Riva San Vitale in past years, Papillon said these were not unusual for a study abroad trip. Riva San Vitale poses the additional challenge of not being a very tourist-heavy area, where English is not widely spoken. It is located in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, so a local instructor will teach students Italian during the semester. Because this will be the program’s first year, there is no language requirement for students applying to go on the trip, but for future GSP trips, elementary Italian will be a prerequisite.

Paul Heilker, an English professor, is traveling with the group, and said he hopes to teach students to reach across cultural and language barriers. There’s a lot of talk of being a global citizen, but what does that mean?Heilker asked.Global awareness is one thing getting outside of your own cultural context, learning to speak across intercultural barriers.Heilker plans to accomplish this by teaching his students the communication skills necessary to reach out to all cultures, regardless of language.Instead of courses lasting the whole semester, students will take a series of two-week modules. The classes based on various disciplines, including science in a global context, writing, Italian, culture and leadership.

The modules will total 18 credit hours, and cover areas two, three and seven of the curriculum of liberal education.The modules will be directly relevant to Europe and where we are, said Kim Carlson, the assistant director of the program. We’ll be thinking about why these things matter to the rest of the world.In addition to Tech tuition, students are asked to pay around $3,000 for their own travel and other fees. It would put a financial strain on me, Rosenbaum said. But if students can make it work, I would highly recommend it.Financial aid is available via the education abroad office. Papillon has also been putting money aside personally for scholarships to ensure that any student who wants to go has the opportunity.

Idea of studying abroad

Just the idea of studying abroad can make someone's head spin. Europe,Austria,South America, Africa, Australia, Asia. Already there are five choices and you haven't even explored all the continents yet not to mention the endless possibilities for city choices inside each of them.It can be overwhelming just choosing a location. Then the fun stuff comes, like choosing a program and looking at prices. To help sort through all of the confusion, the University of Florida puts on a study abroad fair for perspective travelers.

This year it will be on Wed., Sept. 21 in the Reitz Union Colonnade from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees can meet students who have been abroad, representatives from different programs and some of the faculty who lead the programs.Coming face-to-face with a slew of options can make the fair just as overwhelming. There are pamphlets and information about so many destinations that by the time you leave, you could either want no part in it or want to go to 16 different places.But before you even consider a program, you have to decide if studying abroad is right for you. Some people already know that studying overseas isn't for them you may be one of those people. Others know that if they want one thing out of their college education, it is time abroad.

A recommendation is to ask yourself a few questions before you actually decide what you want to do.For instance, if you have to take out a loan for your study abroad program, is it worth it? If money is an issue, looking for scholarships becomes part of the application process. The UF International Center offers scholarships for the academic year, semesters and summer. Note: The deadline for spring scholarships is coming up on Sept. 28th!When choosing a location, many factors come into play.Some students may base their decision off of the desire to learn another language.

If one of the reasons you want to study abroad is to sharpen your Italian skills, your options are limited. While if cold temperatures matter, you might not want to study in Northern Europe during the chilly winter months.In today's world of tight budgets and increasing tuitions, one of the biggest questions is whether or not studying abroad will be conducive to your graduation track. Will it fit in with your schedule?Depending on your intended course work, classes can be extremely varied while abroad. If staying in your major is important to you, finding the right program can take precedence over location.Will you be behind when you return from studying abroad?

Taking the time to look into the programs offered by your college or for your major will help you find the perfect fit.For instance, the College of Journalism and Communications offers a photojournalism program that goes to Berlin during the summer, while business majors can take core classes online while learning Spanish in Madrid.Choosing the time for your trip may also be a deciding factor studying abroad in the fall means missing a football season. If this is important to you, then spring or summer seem like better options.With all these things to ponder, going to the fair and learning about the programs could be helpful before answering some of the questions. It takes a lot of time and planning before you can come to a decision. When in doubt, check with the International Center for all of your studying abroad needs.

Annual Study Abroad Fair will be held on Tuesday

The annual Study Abroad Fair will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 13from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Ferguson Student Center’s second floor main lobby. The event, sponsored by the Capstone International Program, is open to any students who wish to learn more about study abroad opportunities.Representatives from affiliate providers, the exchange program and the 2012 faculty-led programs will have booths set up to answer questions and provide information to students who are interested in studying abroad.

The Study Abroad Fair is a great way for students to get information directly by talking to affiliate providers who are experts on their programs, and to see in one place all the programs you can choose from,said Study Abroad Coordinator Brittnay McMillain.The University offers a wide variety of study abroad opportunities, and students are not required to know a foreign language to participate. Some destinations include: England, New Zealand, Egypt, China, Greece, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Sweden. Destinations vary based on major and the region students wish to travel to.

The Study Abroad Fair gives students a chance to ask questions and learn more about studying abroad. Capstone International Agent Melissa Smith said visiting a past Study Abroad Fair helped her to narrow down her choices when she was deciding where to study abroad.Tara Northington, a junior currently living in Spain while she studies Spanish for her minor, said that her experience has been wonderful so far.I’m staying for four months with a host family, and I picked a UA affiliated program called ISA, which has gone above and beyond my expectations already,Northington said.The directors and staff have helped us with anything we need and are taking us on multiple excursions around Spain while we’re here. We are even getting to go to Morocco for five days.

Holly Buckner, the director of CIAP, encourages students to study abroad on the Capstone International academic study programs website.Study-abroad is an opportunity for students to shift their perspective and view the world through an entirely different lens,Buckner said. When you travel, you learn more about yourself and your culture as you interact with citizens of another. And you undoubtedly come home with a respect and appreciation for your host country rivaled only by that for your homeland.For more information throughout the year, students can join the Study Abroad Connections club or contact Capstone International Agents, a group of interns at the Capstone International Program who have studied abroad within the past year. Academic advisors are available year round in 135 B.B. Comer Hall to meet with students and help them plan their study abroad trips.I would recommend that students study abroad, because, as Mark Twain says,Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness’,said Francine James, professor of an International Honors seminar that prepares students to maximize their study abroad experiences.

JNU it to the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings this year

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has made it to the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings this year. QS, for the first time, has released a subject-wise list in which the English department of JNU Centre for English Studies has been ranked among the top 100 English departments in the world. Apart from the English department , JNU's departments of geography and area studies, and politics and international studies too, have found a place in the top 100.

Saugata Bhaduri, chairperson, centre for English studies, school of language, literature and culture studies, JNU, says,Though JNU has been rated as one of the top 100 universities of the world in the past, it is for the first time that the agency has considered individual departments around the world. I am proud that CES has been ranked in the bracket of 51-100 .Having achieved this position of standing as one of the top departments in the world, Bhaduri is eager to sustain this position in future too.I feel that we have to face immense challenges to upgrade to higher levels in the coming lists.According to Nunzio Quacquarelli, managing director, QS, the subject-wise ranking was launched this year to help students refine their study choices since they show university excellence in a particular area of study on a global scale.

Students are increasingly looking to pursue their graduate or postgraduate degree overseas. For the student and his/her family, studying abroad represents a major investment , and it is not surprising that people want detailed information upon which to base their educational investment decision. The role of rankings, in this context, is important,says Quacquarelli.Our research of tens of thousands of applicants over the last decade shows that students form a clear picture of the subject that they wish to study first, and then decide where they wish to study," he adds. The process of research for the department listing was long; from identifying the subject disciplines, gathering, verifying and analysing data from various universities, focusing on academic and employer reputation, using a measure of citations per faculty, to adaptive compilation and final screening.The collection of independent and objective data on the performance of universities across a range of measures, such as entry standards , student satisfaction, tuition fees and graduate employment rates, is likely to be helpful for all those concerned with making the right choice on where to study,says Quacquarelli.

The entire credit of this achievement, as per Bhaduri, goes to the quality of research that their students review and the quality of publications that the faculty reviews.He adds,The CES has been at the forefront of cuttingedge research in the field of literature and culture studies in English for more than two decades now, with phenomenal output in publications, papers and research projects from both faculty members and students.

High college cut offs attracts world’s top universities to India for talent

College cut offs reached new heights this June as the 10% increase in entry requirements into Indian colleges caused great challenges to students achieving less than top marks. Even talented students achieving marks in the 80+ range are likely to face difficulty in gaining a spot at their first choice university in India. The world’s top universities recognise the talent in Indian students and will arrive in India between the 13th and 21st of September to meet and recruit the best Indian students to their institutions.

With prestigious colleges such as Shri Ram College of Commerce, Hindu College, and Lady Shri Ram College requiring 100%, 99% and 97%* respectively, over 150,000 Indian students are currently pursuing higher education degrees overseas. The recently released eighth edition of the QS World University Rankings® 2011, which ranks the top 700 universities in the world shows the range of world class universities . The top 100 consisting of universities from UK, US, China, Switzerland, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Denmark and Canada to name a few. The QS World University Tour, an undergraduate recruitment event from the team behind the QS World University Rankings®, brings some of these top-ranked institutions from around the world to meet with the best Indian students looking to study abroad.

Universities from around the world are keen to recruit in India and have long recognised the potential of the country’s students and the value they add to their universities. Marina Tirado, Head of International Development at IE University in Spain says,Over the course of the last year India has played a major role in global business. The talent of Indian students is internationally renowned which is why we’re actively recruiting these future leaders to our university.Peter MacDonald, Head of Graduate Products at QS says, ‘The best higher education institutions in India are heavily oversubscribed; the supply and demand of quality institutions in India does not go hand in hand.He continues,Candidates may be pleasantly surprised at the entry requirements of some of the best universities in the world in comparison to those in India. Countries such as Canada are offering very favourable visa environments for Indian students in hope of attracting the best students to the country.

For those worried about the high cost sometimes associated with studying abroad, many institutions travelling with the tour will provide scholarships and offer practical advice on applying to different financial aid schemes. Attendees will also have the opportunity to speak with admissions directors from universities around the world, receive admissions advice from independent experts and attend seminars on studying abroad. QS is the world’s leading information specialist in the higher education sector. QS mission is to enable motivated people to fulfill their potential by fostering educational achievement, international mobility and career development.Through our exclusive events, publications, research and interactive web tools, we link undergraduate, graduate, MBA and executive communities around the world with recruiters and education providers.

TU Japan study abroad program saw a decrease in enrollment

The natural disaster and subsequent events that unfolded in Japan last March haven’t stopped Sydney Daviston-Atkins from wanting to study abroad at Temple Unversity Japan. If anything, she said, they made her want to go more.The sophomore theater major, who recently transferred to Temple from Fordham University, where she began formally learning the Japanese language, said she’s been interested in Japan’s culture since her early teens.

I’ve wanted to go to Japan since I was a teenager,Daviston-Atkins said.The desire is still there.the disaster didn’t really deter me from wanting to go.However, this semester, the number of students studying abroad at TU Japan has dropped to 33 from 69 last spring.Kyle Cleveland, study abroad coordinator at TU Japan, said a number of factors could have affected the decrease, apart from the disaster, known as the Great East Japan Earthquake.While Cleveland noted the disaster could have played a role in the recent decrease, he listed a number of other things that may have offset some of the program’s enrollment.

Whatever trends that we’re seeing are also impacted by what was happening a couple of years ago,Cleveland said, citing the U.S. recession and economic downturn. He noted that decisions to study abroad are typically made a few years before actually going.Cleveland also said the deadline to apply for the program, close to the time of the disaster, could have affected decisions to study abroad at TU Japan this fall.I think that if people had the ability to decide today, opposed to three months ago, you’d have a different number,Cleveland said.Between the Fall 2005 and Spring 2010 semesters, the number of students studying abroad at TU Japan fluctuated between 73 and 97. Last year, the number dropped to 63 and 69 in the fall and spring semesters, respectively.

The approximate 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck the northeast coast of the region on March 11, with a deadly tsunami following. Aftershocks, a nuclear power crisis and radiation leaks were among the concerns spawned by the disaster.Recent reports estimate that close to 15,700 people have been confirmed dead and more than 4,000 people are still missing.The general sentiment in Tokyo, where TU Japan is located, is starkly different than northern areas such as Fukushima, Cleveland said. Fukushima is home to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the site of the largest nuclear accident that resulted from the disaster.Up there, you can hardly overstate how bad it was and how it affected those people, but down here in Tokyo it’s a very different situation, Cleveland said.He said signs of the disaster are hardly visible in Tokyo and that the campus’ surrounding area is safe for students to travel to.Although the Japan campus reported no damages, the Spring 2010 Japan study abroad program was cut short after a travel advisory in Japan was issued by the United States Department of State. A chartered flight on March 20 from Tokyo to Hong Kong assisted students in leaving the TU Japan campus.

The voluntary authorized departure from Japan ended April 15, when the U.S. declared that the safety and health risks outside of the 50-mile radius of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant were very low.Cleveland said he expects enrollment to rise again in the near future.Students don’t randomly come to Japan. It’s expensive, it’s a long ways away, there’s the language issue,Cleveland said. I don’t think they’re likely to be deterred.In fact, Cleveland said students traveling to Japan now will have a unique experience.If you’re a person who is interested in Japan, this is one of the most interesting times to be in Japan that you’ll ever experience,Cleveland said, noting the disaster’s affect on the culture. I think some kids.want a front seat to history.Daviston-Atkins said she hopes that Japan’s society can rebuild itself to the point it was at before the disaster. If she doesn’t get to study abroad at TU Japan this spring, she said she’ll go next year.It’s not a matter of if I’m going to go, it’s a matter of when,Daviston-Atkins said.

Natalia Rialucky Takes a Stand for Women & Girls

Even while carrying two overflowing bags of books about women’s political and economic issues, Natalia Rialucky is poised. She plans to read all of them before heading to Paris as Indonesia’s representative at the Girls 20 Summit.The Girls 20 Summit focuses on girls and women and the solutions they can bring to worldwide economic problems.This year’s summit will focus on economic innovation and will take place from Oct. 18-21, two weeks before leaders of the G-20 countries descend on Cannes.Girls and women from 21 countries and a seat for the African Union will have the opportunity to meet and participate in discussions about how girls can work to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.We received hundreds of applications from around the globe for these 21 delegate positions. Indonesia had one of the highest number of applicants,said Farah Mohamed, curator of the summit and president of The Belinda Stronach Foundation, which is putting on the event along with 70 other partners.

Natalia, 20, is entering her final year at the University of Indonesia where she studies international relations. She is used to balancing internships, model United Nations duties and her classes. She read about the summit on Facebook and decided to apply.I was interested because in Indonesia women’s issues are a big concern for the government as well as the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment, but I don’t see anything happening yet,she said.When I see female domestic workers being mistreated abroad I don’t think it’s enough to ask the minister of foreign affairs to do something.High school debate class first opened Natalia’s eyes to women’s rights and issues.I must admit that I have always been in a privileged situation, and did not have an experience of being denied education or being discriminated against,she said.I didn’t know what was happening. I thought my life was OK until I joined the debate class in high school.

Discussions of female quotas in politics and unequal pay for women and men in the same jobs made Natalia start asking why?I realized that women are still being treated as second-class citizens when people said women in relationships are always the weaker party,Natalia said. They are the one’s getting pregnant and have the burden to take care of the babies. And I was saying, ‘If the marriage is about two people, why should all the trouble fall on women?’ Since high school, Natalia has jumped at every opportunity to participate in leadership programs. When the University of Indonesia first heard about the model United Nations competition at Harvard, they sent Natalia. Natalia went on to start the first model UN club at her school with some friends.Young people can engage in diplomacy, and that’s where the hype of advocating on behalf of important issues is mushrooming in Indonesia today,” Natalia said.

With domestic workers Darsem binti Dawud Tawar and Ruyati binti Sapubi making headlines, Natalia’s interest in domestic workers has taken center stage.Indonesia, as one of the biggest sources of migrant domestic workers, still faces many challenges in protecting our work force, she said. It’s unfair when you see men and women both work abroad, but in the domestic sphere most of them are only women, and they’re being lied to when agencies say you will get this amount of money and you will be well treated. But then their passport is held by the agency.
Natalia thinks that education is key to empowering women, especially domestic workers abroad. Making sure women are literate and can understand what their employers expect of them could alleviate some problems.

They are being denied education because most of the traditional families in Indonesia tend to prioritize the son to go abroad first. They still have this traditional mind-set that guys will go outside of the village and come back with money, while women stay at the domestic level,she said.Natalia said she was looking forward to the chance to meet delegates from around the world and participate in discussions.Natalia is not the kind of person who will sit quietly in the forum enjoying the meals and scenery,said Dwi Ardhanariswari Sundrijo, Natalia’s academic adviser at the University of Indonesia.She will talk, discuss and share knowledge and experiences. She will make new friends and build a network. She will learn a lot from the conference, and later give what she gets from it back to society at large.During panels and workshops, participants will be asked to bring the experiences of their own countries into discussions.

Indonesia is not all about terrorism,Natalia said.In most of my other chances to go abroad I say Indonesia, and people say, ‘Oh the one that had the Bali bombing.Those sentiments are still there. What I want the other participants at the summit to know is that we are a moderate country as much as we are majority Muslim. We are diverse in ourselves and we are ready to be a part of the international world.Natalia admits she is a bit nervous about representing the world’s fourth-most populous country.It’s scary,she said.It’s a lot of girls I am talking about here. I am excited, but I am a bit cautious because I need to be very careful about what I am stating. I don’t represent my government, because the government sometimes has its own lines it has to follow.So I am representing women in my country and I can be free to see what the problem is and see what can be done. This is something I am very passionate about advocating.

If Natalia could have a few minutes with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, she knows what she would say.I would say send more women abroad to be more exposed to international competitions and modern ways of living. When they return not only will they be contributing to our economy in general, but they will teach those kind of moderate and competitive values to their families,she said.If they stay at home, all that they know is from their parents. An educated mother is a key to success in Indonesia if we want to have a better future later on.The first G(irls)20 Summit was held last year in Toronto. Kartika Nurhayati represented Indonesia and created a mobile library when she returned that serves young Indonesians in impoverished areas. Natalia was inspired by Kartika’s example, and is already making plans for when she returns to Jakarta, such as an all-female business competition.Natalia has been to Paris only once before, and just for a day so she didn’t get to see the beautiful Eiffel Tower.This time, she hopes to see the symbol of Paris and gain ideas and learn from the summit.Before she gathered up all of her books, Natalia smiled and said,I think every time I go abroad I should make something out of it.

APSU students studying abroad

132 APSU students took a course or pursued a study-abroad program outside the U.S. That's up from 88 students in 2009-10.That's a significant increase, said Tina Rousselot de Saint C'ran, coordinator of International Education at APSU. I'm seeing about five students a day on average, and while that keeps me busy, I would like more in my office.Now, APSU wants the growing trend to continue, making sure even more students know about the opportunities in and benefits from studying abroad with APSU's new initiatives.

Currently, APSU is charting new territory by working with academic departments and international partners to develop more study-abroad options in general education and high enrollment courses. This fall, a new faculty grant will be available to provide financial support for the development of new international course options. For example, an APSU student needing to take an introductory course in world literature or biology can elect to study Shakespeare in London or the diversity of life in the rainforest of Costa Rica.

The purpose is to create international options in courses that meet the academic needs of the vast majority of APSU students,Rousselot said.Many students, however, often disregard studying abroad because they feel they cannot speak the language in the host country and as a result would not be able to take coursework in their degree programs while abroad. With APSU now a new member institution of the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), language is no barrier.You can study physics in China and take the course in English,Rousselot said.We search by major for a list of courses at member universities where you could go but take the course in English.

We haven't offered such a wide variety of courswork taught in English before, and I think many students think they have to be extremely fluent in a foreign language to go abroad. Hopefully, ISEP can help dispel this belief, and we will see more students taking advantage of the opportunity to study abroad.The ISEP is a network of more than 300 colleges and universities across the globe that cooperates to provide affordable access to international education. Membership in this program allows APSU students to study abroad in various academic disciplines for a full semester or a year in 50 countries worldwide.And, of course, the APSU campus community benefits when an exchange student studies at The Peay.When we send a student, we receive a student, although the incoming student doesn't have to be from the same country where an APSU student goes,Rousselot said.This helps to diversify the exchange student population on our campus, and our students are exposed to new beliefs and cultural values.