The Daily Mining Gazette - Published: Friday, November 09, 2007 Print Article | Close Window International education to be recognized by MTU next week By DAN SCHNEIDER, DMG Writer HOUGHTON — International education is growing in importance and more students are participating in opportunities for international study at Michigan Technological University, according to Tech’s study abroad coordinator, Dr. Carl Blair. Blair said Tech offers study abroad programs in 138 locations in 34 countries. “Last year, we had 154 Michigan Tech students go abroad, this year I think we’re on track for 220,” he said. “Students can go abroad for as short a time as two weeks or as long as 12 months ... all for academic credit.” Those numbers don’t include students getting international experience through programs at Tech such as Engineers Without Borders and the Peace Corps Masters International Program. “There are programs developing all around campus right now,” Blair said. “The time is right so to speak and faculty, staff, students all want to do something. You can really feel an eagerness to do things overseas and find opportunities in varying ways.” He said international study has always been valuable to students as an educational experience, but now it is growing in importance to employers. “Corporations are looking for students that have international experience because most large corporations are involved in international business in some way, shape or form,” Blair said. Next week is International Education Week, a national initiative that got started seven years ago under President Clinton. A series of educational and cultural events is scheduled next week at Tech. The first is a brown bag lunch with a discussion led by Blair; Dr. Blair Orr, international programs coordinator for the university’s School of Forest Resources, Visiting Associate Professor of Social Sciences Keri Henquinet. The lunch is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Monday in the Red Metal Room of the Memorial Union Building. “Africa and Globalization” will be the topic of the discussion. On Wednesday, Tech faculty and students who participated in the Peace Corps program will lead a discussion on “Peace Corps and Service Learning: What Is It and Why Should You Do It?” The forum is scheduled for 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the West Lounge of McNair Hall. Tech’s International Club is sponsoring an international food festival scheduled at 6:30 p.m.,Wednesday in the Memorial Union Ballroom. A variety of international dishes, a cultural fashion show, and presentations related to global diversity in the U.S. are part of the evening’s activities. All of the International Week events are free and open to the public with the exception of the international food festival, which is open to the public but requires a ticket purchase. Tickets are $8. Dan Schneider can be reached at dschneider@mininggazette.com