WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Aug. 29, 2016 —The 2016 – 2017 academic year brought two new student exchange programs and 27 more international students to the West Liberty University campus.

Benny Assasse (Congo) and Megumi Maruta (Japan) chat at the International Student picnic held last Friday.

“We are excited to welcome so many new students who are ready to share their knowledge and culture with our student body,” said Mia Szabo, director of International Enrollment Services. “The value of international exchange programs is easy to see on the WLU campus. Both domestic and international students comment on the positive nature of the exchange.”

Some of the international students are in the U.S. seeking a four-year degree; others are here on an exchange program for just a semester or two, after which they will return home. Countries represented on campus this fall include: Albania, Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, England, France, Germany, Japan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Venezuela and Vietnam.

All seem to enjoy the camaraderie and small college environment that allows for lots of interaction with faculty and other students.

WLU’s new exchange programs include The Year of Exchange in America for Russians (YEAR) and U.S. Timor-Leste Scholarship (USTL) both administered by American Councils for International Education (ACCELS) — an international non-profit organization.

WLU’s International Student Office has scheduled a variety of events for the fall semester including a culture fair, international teatime and cultural presentations for November’s observance of international education month.

“Our events provide students and the local community an opportunity to learn more about different countries and build long-lasting friendships with students across the world,” said Szabo, who has been with WLU for seven years. Szabo herself is from Romania and has worked in the field of international studies since 2003.

WLU currently enrolls a total of 60 international students from 20 countries. According to Szabo that is a 19 percent increase in enrollment compared to last year. It’s easy to see that by providing access to educational opportunities in the United States, the WLU foreign exchange initiative creates favorable learning experiences for all students.

Anna Mukhlaeva (Russia), Elena Pacheco Ballester (Spain) and Sabrina Krouf (Tunisia) enjoy the picnic held in the Thomas Moore Center.

“It is rewarding to see growing interest in West Liberty University from people abroad,” she said. “These students put a lot of effort in searching for educational opportunities and usually our international students come here with a set of goals and knowing that they chose West Liberty University means a lot to me.”

According to Szabo, the number of international students has been steadily rising since the opening of the International Student Office on campus in 2009.

“WLU officially established its International Student Office to provide the special care and assistance our international students need while studying and to promote cultural diversity and understanding in the community,” she said. Szabo is assisted in her work by International Advisor Heather Kalb.

The International Student Office, which is located on the second floor of the College Union, works closely with the student-led International Club that provides social activities for those interested in cultural exchange. The Club meets at 4 p.m., Fridays in the Alumni Room of the College Union, and the meetings are open to the public.

Senior Megumi Maruta is club president this academic year. He is from Kagoshima, Japan and is a double major enrolled in the College of Education.

For more information on the International Student Office, its activities and outreach, please contact Szabo at 304.336.8270 or Kalb at 304.336.8382.

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