November is International Education Month at West Liberty University and the campus has been enjoying presentations from international students and faculty all month long.
From left, Nida Karim, Pakistan; Fatema Alsabea, Kingdom of Bahrain; Mihaela Szabo, Romania; Jasimin Ilovar, U.S.; Sara Ashraf, Pakistan; gather in the WLU International Office.
“The International Education Month activities here on campus are organized by the Campus Internationalization Committee, the International Student Club and the International Student Office,” said Vishakha Maskey, chair of the committee. “We offer many educational programs to help our students learn more about global cultures and international topics.”
Maskey also is an assistant professor of marketing and management in the Gary E. West College of Business at WLU.
“Nationally, International Education Week takes place for one week Nov. 12-16, but we have extended it for the entire month,” she explained. This national observance is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education that promotes programs to prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.
WLU currently enrolls 42 international students with a total of 25 countries represented by the international students. This is the largest number of countries ever represented in the student population at WLU, according to Mihaela Szabo, ccordinator of international student recruiting and student advisor.
“Our international students are an important catalyst for change at WLU, and are continuously transforming our campus, while our community is changing them. Because of them, each one of us are more knowledgeable about the Middle East and other parts of the world, and they help us clarify some of the common global controversies and misperceptions,” she added.
WLU student Wajid Rahman presented on Islam.
The number of international students attending West Virginia colleges and universities has been in the news lately due to a report released Nov. 12 by the nonprofit Institute of International Education, which reported that the number of international students attending West Virginia colleges and universities has grown 8.4 percent in the span of a year.
This report also ranked West Virginia at 43rd in the nation for international enrollment during 2011-2012.
Upcoming international programs at WLU for November include:
- 4 p.m., Nov. 14: Azerbaijan, presented by Orkhan Sariyev.
- 2 p.m., Nov. 15: Youth Across Cultures: Case of ‘Millennials’ in Cuba, presented by Associate Professor of Marketing Joseph Scarpaci.
- 3 p.m., Nov. 27: Socotra Island: a Piece of Paradise, presented by Moneer Al-Maswari.
- Noon, Nov. 28: Jordan Takes You Beyond, presented by Rawan Alabbas
- 2 p.m., Nov. 29: Travel Experiences, presented by Accounting Instructor Michael Blackwell
- 3 – 6 p.m. Nov. 29: International Tea Time & Diversity Potluck, ballroom.
- 5 p.m.: International Talent Show, also in the ballroom.
All events take place in the WLU alumni room, located in the Student Union building, except for those marked ballroom. For more information, please contact Szabo at 304-336-8270.