Just How International is IHEC Blog's Facebook Page Anyway?

I thought I would share some IHEC Blog Facebook page metrics here in this post:  Countries where people who like my Facebook page hail are from [ranked by highest population] follow:

403  United States of America

24    India

20    Pakistan

20    United Kingdom

20    Egypt

17    Canada

15    Indonesia

14    Bangladesh

8      Ireland

8      Australia

7      New Zealand

6      South Korea

6      Italy

6      Israel

6      France

5      Taiwan

5      Turkey

5      Jordan

5      Malaysia 

There are a total of 735 people who like IHEC Blog's Facebook page and 332 (45%) are from outside of the U.S.  I think this is great as this diversity adds to the community.  This post continues the discussion of my August 23, 2010 IHEC Blog post:

"Just How International is IHEC Blog Anyway?"

Pondering a new look here on IHEC Blog

I've been considering a new look here at IHEC Blog for some time now.  Below are two possible versions I'm considering.  What are your thoughts?

Version 1

Version 2

There would be some tweaks to the sidebar but I'm just not sure about the background and color scheme. 

Study abroad is easy and a good way to increase one's grade point average! True or not true? Discuss...

I posted this question over on IHEC Blog's Facebook page a short time ago and there wasn't much discussion so I thought I would post here to see what people think.


I typically post a study abroad related tweet of the day on IHEC Blog's Facebook page and I find the most interesting and provocative tweets to come from the students themselves who are preparing to study abroad and those who are currently studying abroad or those who have recently returned from study abroad [there is some great qualitative data on study abroad out there on Twitter that is worth mining if you ask me!]   As the autumn semester/quarter comes to an end I have seen an uptick in tweets about grades and grade point averages and my interpretation of all of these tweets is that the students feel study abroad is easy and provides a boost to their grade point average (GPA).  Following are two such tweets that helped form my analysis:

"SERIOUSLY. Why do study abroad grades not count towards my GPA. 3 As and an A- sofar. 3.92 GPA. I would love that to count thanks. #fuckk"

"can't bring myself to study when i know i only need a 20% to pass the class #studyabroad #passfail"

If I were to poll my study abroad colleagues here in the U.S. about the academic rigors of study abroad programming I anticipate an overwhelming consensus that high academic standards and expectations are well established across the field and that the majority of programs are not a GPA boost.  


Conversely, if I were to poll current/recent study abroad students I anticipate an overwhelming consensus that #studyabroad is indeed a GPA boost.


What are your thoughts on this...and what's up with a course that requires 20% to pass?!?!?


For the record, study abroad was indeed a rather large GPA boost for me as I received some of the best grades in my college career while I "studied" in Valladolid, Spain.  I'm not saying I didn't learn anything when I studied abroad.  In fact, I learned more when I studied abroad than I did in any other semester during my college career...

505 International Education related YouTube channel subscriptions...

...are now available on International Higher Education Consulting Blog's YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/IHECBlog.  The purpose of this YouTube project is to host as many international education related channel subscriptions as I can find so that one can come to one central location to search for and view video content specific to international educational and cultural exchanges.

If you have a YouTube channel of know of one that should be added to the subscription list please leave a comment below or send me an e-mail at international.ed.consulting@gmail.com.

Coping with Anti-Americanism: A Guide to Getting the Most Out of Studying Abroad

A short time ago I received a copy of the new book Coping with Anti-Americanism: A Guide to Getting the Most Out of Studying Abroad (2011, Potomac Books) from the author Carol Madison Graham.  When I saw that this book had been published earlier this year I reached out to the author (I had already been following her blog Engage Abroad! and had interacted briefly a few times on Twitter) and asked if I could review her book on IHEC Blog.  I ended up with my own copy to include on the shelves of Bury Book International Education Library & Archive!


I really enjoyed reading Coping with Anti-Americanism and feel it is a must read for prospective U.S. study abroad students and their parents as well as for the greater international education community and other campus/organizational stakeholders.  Graham provides the reader with a clear picture of the realities American students face while abroad and she puts into perspective their place in the world outside of U.S. borders. Graham's work challenges U.S. students to take a step back and do some critical thinking on how the U.S. is viewed abroad and how they will be viewed and how they will represent the U.S. while studying abroad.  In addition to providing prospective U.S. study abroad students with valuable insight and guidance on how to cope with the anti-Americanism abroad they are bound to encounter this book is a valuable guide for study abroad program staff to inform discussions with students and their parents as well as for preparing pre-departure orientations and related meetings.


Chapters in Coping with Anti-Americanism are as follows:


1. American and Americans Through Foreign Eyes
2. The Land Without a History
3. Perceptions of Religion and the American South
4. Multiculturalism, Political Correctness, and Perceptions of a Divided America
5. "American Idiots"
6. The President of the Earth
7. Sheriff to Gunfighter: The United States and the World
8.  Superpower Diplomacy
9. Ambassador for Life


Coping with Anti-Americanism: A Guide to Getting the Most Out of Studying Abroad is published by Potomac Books and is available for purchase here.


A note about the author Carol Madison Graham: in 1981 Graham joined the U.S. Diplomatic Service and worked in France, Lebanon, Tunisia and in the United Arab Emirates.  In 2002 she was appointed to the UK Fulbright Commission as Executive Director and was the first American to ever hold this position.  She is now a board member of the Marshall Scholarships and a trustee of the Carnegie U.K. Trust.  She is available for speaking engagements and you can contact her here if you wish to further explore such an opportunity.


Graham also maintains the Engage Abroad! (which I have on my blogroll) and she is on Twitter at @engageabroad.

Call for Proposals: International Education Research Poster Fair at the NAFSA 2012 Annual Conference

Are you working on a research project related to international education? If yes, why not share it with colleagues, receive their feedback, and develop new collaborations at a professional conference? Both qualitative and quantitative research projects are invited.

The NAFSA deadline to submit a poster proposal is December 15, 2011. This year’s theme is Comprehensive Internationalization: Vision and Practice. Proposal requirements can be found at www.nafsa.org/proposals For questions about International Education Research poster fair please contact Yuliya Kartoshkina, Poster Fair Organizer for 2012 Annual Conference, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, at: yuliya.kartoshkina@email.und.edu.

You can access the NAFSA 2012 Conference Call for Proposals site here.

Semester at Sea LipDub Ship Tour

I'm not a big fan of the LipDub craze but the @SemesterAtSea LipDub Ship Tour is pretty sweet!

New Study from the British Council's Education Intelligence Service Examines Global Agent use in International Higher Education

“Student Insight: Why Students Use Agents” focuses on how students around the world view education agents when pursuing overseas study, and how expectations for services vary from region to region


Why do international students use education agents when making the decision to study overseas? What are the services they seek and what are the informational needs that are currently going unmet? The boom in international higher education has prompted increased demand for education agents, and the nature of that demand is studied in a report by Education Intelligence, the British Council’s global service.


Student Insight: Why Students Use Agents – Demand and Supply examines the global use of education agents through the perspective of prospective students who seek professional advice and guidance when considering overseas study. Without a doubt, the role of agents is controversial -- some in the international education sector view agents as neutral advisors while others see them as profit-seeking middlemen. However, despite the pros and cons, there is value in simply understanding the geographic nuances behind what is being mistakenly viewed as a monolithic trend.


“No matter the controversy, the fact that education agents have become a global industry is undeniable,” says Elizabeth Shepherd, Research Manager at Education Intelligence and author of the report. “We must step away from the debate and understand how differently prospective students and their parents view agents, depending on where in the world they live.”


Some highlights from Student Insight: Why Students Use Agents:


· Due to a lack of reliable internet access, African students may pursue an agent’s services simply to get information
· In South Asia, the service most sought after from agents is information on obtaining a visa
· Europe shows the lowest percentage of respondents who might use agents, likely due to relative standardization of education environment
· In China, foundation course and English language students are more likely to use agents
· Indian students who have previously studied overseas are less likely to use an education agent
· Students interviewed in Beijing viewed agents as responsible and quick to react
· In Guangzhou, students interviewed said agents did not provide adequate information on the visa application process


STUDENT INSIGHT is a series of research reports produced by Education Intelligence which provides an unprecedented look into the process of a student’s decision-making based on data collected from 130,000 prospective student survey responses around the world over the past four years.


Student Insight: Agents, as well country-specific reports, are available for purchase via the Education Intelligence website at: http://ihe.britishcouncil.org/.

The 2012 AIEA Annual Conference focuses on "Building A Secure World Through International Education"

Catering to senior international officers from around the world, the 2012 Annual Conference of the Association of International Education Administrators (A.I.E.A.) focuses on “Building a Secure World through International Education.”

Taking place February 19-22 at the J.W. Marriott in Washington, D.C., the conference features speakers Eboo Patel, Founder and President of Interfaith Youth Core; Botswana-based Justice Unity Dow, lawyer, activist and writer; and Abiodun Williams, Vice President of the Center for Conflict Analysis and Prevention at the United States Institute for Peace.

On February 18, AIEA collaborates with the American Council on Education (A.C.E.) for an all-day meeting on “The Collaborative Advantage: Exploring the Next Horizon in Global Engagement.”

Pre-conference workshops, including collaborations with the American Council on Education (A.C.E.), the American Association of Colleges and Universities (A.A.C.&U.), the European Association for International Education (E.A.I.E.), and the National Association of College and University Business Officers (N.A.C.U.B.O.) take place February 19 and 20, with themes including “Strategic Leadership for Campus Internationalization”; “Surviving (and Thriving) in Interesting Times: Career Planning and Management for International Education Leaders Today”; “S.I.O. 101”; “Bologna & Global Impacts – What S.I.O.s Need to Know”; “Global Learning and Internationalizing the Curriculum”; and “Successful Strategic and Operational Approaches to Campus Internationalization.”

More than 100 concurrent sessions and showcases will take place February 20-22.

Many institutions of higher education are actively engaged in programs that further environmental and energy sustainability, broader access to health care and education, resolution of conflicts, pursuit of fundamental human rights, economic development, and greater cross-cultural understanding in the U.S. and around the world. The 2012 A.I.E.A. Annual Conference provides a forum to reflect on the relationship between the internationalization of institutions and institutional responses to these important global challenges. Conference subthemes include “Administrative and logistical needs of colleges and universities as their international commitments grow”; “Defining values in internationalization”; “Recognizing and managing impact”; and “Partnerships, consortia and networks.”

Details on the 2012 AIEA Annual Conference can be found at www.aieaworld.org.

For additional information: aiea@duke.edu or 919-668-1928.

About A.I.E.A. (www.aieaworld.org)
Founded in 1982, the Association of International Education Administrators (A.I.E.A.) is a professional membership organization composed of institutional leaders representing over 200 institutions engaged in advancing the international dimensions of higher education. A.I.E.A. provides opportunities for members to join forces, exchange ideas, share institutional strategies, and provide an effective voice on matters of public policy through various means, including workshops, meetings and a scholarly journal.

Three U.S. Students Arrested in Cairo

Reports (now confirmed) indicate that three U.S. students studying in Cairo have been arrested and charged with throwing Molotov cocktails from atop the American University Cairo building near Tahrir Square and for not carrying passports. The three students are from Georgetown University, Drexel University and Indiana University. More at:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

and more at:  Indiana Daily Student, The Hoya, Washington Post, New York Times, The BBC, Al Jazeera, and at CNN.

Should IHEC Blog venture into Google+ territory?

I have barely touched Google+.  I have not really ventured into G+ territory for either personal or professional (IHEC and related activities) purposes.  Last week during some online discussions I was having related to my "Bottom Eleven U.S. States Receiving International Students in 2010-11" post here on IHEC Blog a colleague suggested that IHEC Blog venture into Google+.  So, today I asked on IHEC Blog's Facebook page "Should IHEC Blog venture into Google+ territory?"  You can participate in this brief and unscientific survey at http://www.facebook.com/IHECblog.

If you are on G+ and would like to connect we can do so here.

*Yes I did cast the first vote!

U.S. Senator Richard Durbin [D-IL] speaking at the NAFSA/Goucher College policy event "A Global Education: No Longer Optional" during International Education Week 2011

You can learn more about this event on the NAFSA website here.

So happy that Dick Durbin is my Senator!

C-SPAN’s Washington Journal TV Highlights the State Department Role in International Education

Assistant Secretary of State Ann Stock and IIE president Allan Goodman were the guests on a live call in segment [46+ minutes in length] on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal TV and radio broadcast, taking questions from callers across America.

 

Bottom Eleven U.S. States Receiving International Students in 2010-11

I've been reading much of the international, national, local and new media coverage pertaining to the release of the 2011 Open Doors data on Monday and it is all very exciting.  The majority of the coverage has highlighted the increased numbers (for both international students and U.S. students abroad) or the "Top" schools sending U.S. students abroad, the "Top" schools receiving international students, the "Top" academic disciplines of U.S. students study abroad, the "Top" sending countries of international students to the U.S. and so on...

Some IHEC Blog readers and many of my friends and colleagues in the field know that I sometimes like to take a different look at the Open Doors data (and sometimes a much more in depth look at the data) and post what I find.  Sometimes I hope my posts lead to further dialogue and debate in our field and sometimes my intent is simply to provide data that, most likely, is not presented in other places.  This post today probably falls under the later but I could be wrong.

Following are the bottom eleven U.S. states* receiving international students during the 2010-11 academic year:

#40  Nevada
#41 New Mexico
#42 New Hanpshire
#43 Mississippi
#44 West Virginia
#45 Idaho
#46 Montana
#47 South Dakota
#48 Maine
#49 Wyoming
#50 Vermont (article "Vermont's modest global draw" in the Burlington Free Press)
#51 Alaska

This list really doesn't say much but it would be interesting to go through the Open Doors data from the past several years and compare the lists to see ifwe can gain any insight into why these states comprise the bottom fifth of U.S. states receiving international students in 2010-11 and if they have historically fallen in the bottom fifth.  While a historical and comparative review might provide some insight I think more analysis of additional variables is necessary to fully understand why this is the case.  Know the total number of higer education institutions in each state would certainly be helpful but I think looking back to see if these states have issued state proclamations in support of international education, which may lead to resource allocation in an effort to market the state as a study abroad destination for international students.  Four states from this group of eleven issued a proclamation in support of International Education Week 2010. Another indication of state level support for international education and valuing international students is to see if these states have established (and hopefully active) consortium working to highlight the state as a study destination for international students.  To my knowledge, of these eleven states only West Virginia has established such a consortium called Study West Virginia at http://studywv.org/.  Update Nov. 17th:  The State of Mississippi also has an established consortium focused on bringing international students to the State.  Study Mississippi has a website http://studymississippi.us AND they are on Twitter at @studyMS.  Another colleague on Twitter reports that she is working to establish Study New Hampshire and that Study Vermont USA has recently been established.

I posted this list of bottom receiving states last night to IHEC Blog's Facebook page and a colleague, Lori Sjokolade, left a very interesting comment/observation about one reason these states may be the bottom receiving schools.  Lori makes the point that:

 "one thing these states have in common is that they are all EPSCoR states.  No surprise that these states rank the lowest since science and engineering are amongst the top fields that international students choose to study in the United States and these states are amongst those that have been identified as needing help in boosting their science and engineering competitiveness."

I hadn't even though about this aspect but I think this is a very valid point. 

What are your thoughts about any of this?

*51 total includes all 50 U.S. States and Washington D.C.
Source for state spedific data and ranking available on the 2011 Open Doors site

Secretary Clinton Delivers Message for International Education Week 2011

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on International Education Week 2011

What is the first data set you turn to when you look at Open Doors data?

The 2011 Open Doors data will be released by IIE this coming Monday, November 14th.  I attended the release last year at the National Press Club and it was a great experience.  Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend this year but I will be checking out the data and posting some thoughts to IHEC Blog.

When I first visit the Open Doors website I first turn to the student profile data within the study abroad section. I'm interested in seeing what progress, if any, has been made in changing the face of the U.S. study abroad population.  To be sure, I spend a lot of time sifting through the data and crunch some of the numbers to provide additional insight not covered by IIE Research and Program Evaluation Services staff.

Where do you first turn when you check out Open Doors data?

Previous IHEC Blog posts related to the Open Doors data:

- How do you use Open Doors data? (2010)
- Video and Test of Judith A. McHale on Release of the Open Doors 2009 Report
- Data Collection and Students with Disabilities Who Study Abroad (2009)
- U.S. Department of State press releases on Open Doors Data (2009)
- Additional Open Doors 2009 Data Tables Recently Released 
- Can a U.S. Student Study Abroad in the United States? (2008)
- StudyAbroad.com Site Traffic Data Also Provides Valuable Information (2008)
- Over 1,000 Students with Disabilities Studied Abroad in 2006/07 (2008)
- Some States See Decline in Total U.S. Study Abroad Numbers (2008)
- Open Doors 2008
- Open Doors Data on Study Abroad (2007)

Upcoming Mestenhauser Lecture on Cultural Diplomacy at the University of Minnesota (broadcast live online)

I thought many IHEC Blog readers would find the Mestenhauser Lecture Series on Internationalizing Higher Education to be of interest and in particular the upcoming 2011 lecture.  More information follows:


2011 Lecture
Cultural Diplomacy and International Understanding
Friday, November 11, 2011 form 2:00-4:00pm (CST), reception to follow
3M Auditorium, Carlson School of Management
Lecture will also be streamed live online

About the Speaker: Dr. Richard Arndt is an academic turned diplomat and an expert in the area of cultural diplomacy. He is the author of the book “The First Resort of Kings: American Cultural Diplomacy in the Twentieth Century.”

More information about the Mestenhauser Lecture Series and the 2011 lecture can be found at http://global.umn.edu/icc/lecture/index.html

20th Anniversary Slide Show Video of the National Security Education Program

During my research for my dissertation this evening I came across the following video celebrating the National Security Education Program with a special focus on the service requirement.  This was an excellent find for me as this fits perfectly with my research so I thought I would embed below.  The National Security Education Program is perhaps my favorite scholarship (and even over the Fulbright U.S. Student Program) and I'm happy to see it reach 20 years!

David Mize Undergraduate Scholarship Program through AMIDEAST

I recently learned about a great scholarship called the David Mize Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Egyptian students to study and obtain a degree in the United States that is offered by the AMIDEAST Egyptian Office and I want to share more information here on IHEC Blog to help promote this opportunity!

The following snippet is from the AMIDEAST website provides more description of this scholarship:

"The David Mize Scholarship program supports undergraduate students for four years of study at top U.S. universities. The value of the award is up to $50,000 US Dollars per year and requires that awardees secure additional outside support. This merit-based scholarship seeks well-rounded students with excellent grades, test strong cores, robust extracurricular activities and demonstrated leadership qualities. The scholarship is named after David Mize, former AMIDEAST/Egypt Country Director, in recognition of his leadership in the field of international education."

You can learn more specifics as well as direct students to apply here.

Please help spread the word about this great scholarship by putting it on the radar of your Admissions Office and/or Recruitment Office so they can promote it during their interactions with prospective undergraduate students from Egypt.  Additionally you can make the information about this scholarship available on your website(s) so that propsective undergraduate students from Egypt can learn more about this opportunity.  This is a substantial financial award to help a young person to come study and pursue a degree in the United States.

I have admired the work of AMIDEAST for a very long time when I read one of their old Advising Quarterly publications [of which I have many hard copies and PDF copies (a couple dating back to 1989) in my Bury Book International Education Library & Archive].  Additionally, I download their annual report each year to add to my Bury Book Library as well.  AMIDEAST is not just a leading organization in the Middle East; it is one of the leading and oldest organizations in the field of international education.  In fact, the year 2011 makes the 60th anniversary of AMIDEAST and if you are interested in the history of AMIDEAST you can learn much more at http://forms.amideast.org/flash/60th/60th.htm.

French Fries, French Dressing, French Bread and to drink, Peru

Just thought I would share this short clip from the 1985 movie "Better Off Dead" when the American mother prepares a meal for the French exchange student [young girl in the scene] who moved in next door.  This clip ties into my April 2009 IHEC Blog post "Portrayal of Exchange Students in Movies and on TV in the U.S."  Thanks to my good friend Katie for reminding me about this scene in the movie.

The Study Abroad Fund for my Children

I already started a study abroad fund for my 10 year old daughter and my 6 and 3 year old sons. The pot is small but it needed to be started. I think I actually need a fund for high school exchange programs and a fund for international experiences at the the college level.

To be sure, I'll be putting the various study abroad scholarships on their radar!

Previously posted to IHEC Blog's Face Book page on August 25, 2011

Focus on International Education in Wisconsin

I was born an raised in Wisconsin (Milwaukee area) and I was very happy to find this video with interview snippets from educational professionals (primarily K-12 educators) from across the State of Wisconsin talking about the importance of international education.  Just some home state pride that I wanted to share.

Are U.S. Students who Study in Non-Western Countries More Serious Students?

I posted the following to IHEC Blog’s Facebook page a short time ago and thought I would post here to see what readers think.

I recently read an article that suggested that  U.S. students who study abroad in the Middle East or in Asia or in Africa or in Latin America are more serious students than those who study in Europe or Australia.  I think the point they were making is that many U.S. students who go to Europe and Australia are there to party while those students who select non-Western locations are more focused on the educational experience/opportunities.

What are your thoughts on this?  I think there is a bit of truth to this statement as I was an exchange student in Germany twice during high school (a month long program through my high school both times) and I "studied" abroad in Spain for a semester during my undergraduate studies.

The First Chinese Student to Graduate from a University in the United States

As I continue to settle into my new home and begin to bring Bury Book International Education Library & Archive out of hibernation I am rediscovering all kinds of great and rare publications that focus on international education.

One such publication that I found tonight is: A Survey of Chinese Students in American Universities and Colleges in the Past One Hundred Years (1954). Written in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the graduation of the first Chinese student from an American University, Yung Wing, B.A. from Yale in 1854.  This publication was published under the joint sponsorship of the National Tsing Hua University Research Fellowship Fund & the China Institute in America).  Based on a quick skim of this publication I learned that were a decent number of Chinese students studying in the United States during the last half of the Nineteenth Century and into the early Twentieth Century.  Upon completion of my dissertation this will be one of the first publications I read.

After doing some searching on Google I discovered that Miami University (as do a few other institutions) has this publication in their library holdings.

Provide Feedback on the Development of an International Education Research Network (IERN)

Tonight I learned from the IDP Database of Research on International Education via Twitter at @IDPDRIE and IERES-L that The International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) is developing an International Education Research Network.  Those of you who know me well will understand that this is very exciting news for the field and I thank IEAA for taking on this important effort!

IEAA has launched a brief survey (approx. 5 minutes) seeking feedback on the development of IERN.  Readers who are conducting or are interested in the academic/research side of our field please visit http://www.ieaa.org.au/researchnetwork where you can learn more about this effort (including a brief discussion paper available for download) and complete the survey!

The National Security Education Program celebrates 20 years

On September 8, 2011 the National Security Education Program (NSEP) celebrated 20 years in Washington, D.C. with the author of the 1991 legislation Senator David L. Boren, currently President of the University of Oklahoma, in attendance.  At the celebration, Senator Boren and Dr. Clifford Stanley, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, addressed the Boren Fellows, Scholars, members of the NSEP Board as well as other lucky international educators and stakeholders in attendance.  

Following is an excellent video (11:12) of interview snippets with Senator Boren, Under Secretary Stanley, former Boren Scholars and Fellows as well as those in the federal government who employ Boren Scholars and Fellows.  

You can learn more about the Boren Awards for International Study at http://www.borenawards.org/ and the National Security Education Program at http://nsep.gov/.


Two days prior to this 20th anniversary celebration, on September 6, 2011, I started a new job at Chicago Booth (The Business School at The University of Chicago) as the Associate Director for International Programs.  I am very excited and fortunate to have landed this new position but I must admit I will miss much of my previous work as the Senior Adviser for International Initiatives in The College and as Assistant Director in The Office of International Affairs, both at The University of Chicago.  In particular, for the past eleven years I served as the Fulbright Program Adviser for the U.S. Student Program and as the Campus Representative for the Boren Awards for International Study/NSEP and it is the advising of prospective applicants to both of these Fellowship/Scholarship competitions that I will truly miss.  I must confess that my favorite group to work with has been the Boren/NSEP applicants as this is a small, select and focused group of young women and men.  I like the Boren /NSEP program so much that I am focusing my dissertation research on the service requirement component of the program.  The early history of the program is very fascinating, on many levels, and one that all students of international education should be familiar with (in my opinion) and that history will also be part of my dissertation.  I got caught up in an end of summer slump on the dissertation front and this 20 year celebration of the NSEP has certainly been a motivator for me!  More on all of that at at a later time...

IHEC Blog is a featured blog in The New York Times "Headlines Around the Web" section focusing on international education

For quite some time The New York Times section on International Education (online) has been feeding IHEC Blog posts to their "Headlines Around the Web" section of the page.  I find this section of The New York Times to be one of the most informative news outlets to learn about happenings across the globe related to International Education so this is, of course, an exciting thing for me so I thought I would share.  IHEC Blog is also included in numerous blog rolls across the web and I'm thankful to each and every one who has found enough value in IHEC Blog to include it in their blog roll.

You can access The New York Times section on International Education here.

Abroad101 and IEM Study Abroad Launch $10k China Scholarship Giveaway

Abroad101, the world’s first and largest website featuring study abroad program reviews, has partnered with IEM Study Abroad to offer its first scholarship contest. The “$10k China Giveaway,” which launches today, will grant three lucky students 10,000 dollars worth of scholarships to IEM’s China program in Shanghai, promoting the mission of President Obama and Hillary Clinton’s “100,000 Strong” initiative.

“Abroad101 is committed to helping as many students as possible study abroad by providing insider program reviews for students and universities alike,” says Michael Stone, President of Abroad101. “Given our mutual efforts to promote meaningful international experiences, we are thrilled to support ‘100,000 Strong’ by partnering with IEM to offer a scholarship to encourage more students to study in China.”

Launched in May 2010 by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the “100,000 Strong” initiative is, “a national effort designed to increase dramatically the number and diversify the composition of American students studying in China.”

In a recent statement, Hillary Clinton affirmed, “Today, more than ever, there is a global understanding that no major challenge can be resolved without the active engagement of both the United States and China. That is why President Obama has called upon the nation to build up a cadre of Americans knowledgeable about Chinese history, culture, and language.”

Grammy-award winning musician and producer will.i.am has also become a supporter of this initiative, confirming that, “In order to become responsible global citizens, young people need to experience the world around them. Kids from underserved communities rarely have the opportunity to study and travel abroad, and we want to change that.”

Michael Vu, VP of Programs at IEM Study Abroad, states, “IEM’s Study Abroad participants often refer to their time in China as among the most transformative events of their lives. Whether relaxing at Xing Wei College, touring China’s most historically diverse cities (such as Shanghai, Suzhou, Xi’an and Beijing) or interning in Shanghai with a cosmopolitan corporation, IEM Study Abroad students are deeply immersed in Chinese culture.”

Abroad101 is a popular destination for students to find the perfect study abroad program for their needs. Vu reaffirms that, “Prospective study abroad students already visit Abroad101 to locate exactly the kind of unique and exemplary programs that IEM Study Abroad works so hard to offer – programs that strike a happy balance between flexibility and structure, cultural immersion and cohort participation, adventure and comfort.”

Students can enter the “$10k China Giveaway” contest through October 17th at: http://www.studyabroad101.com/iem-china-giveaway

About Abroad101:

Abroad101 is a review website and online marketplace for the $40B International Education industry. Founded in 2007 by Tufts, Harvard, and MIT graduates, Abroad101’s mission is to promote global citizenship by fostering the most meaningful study abroad experience for all students through technology innovation in higher education. Abroad101 empowers universities with its free market-leading online evaluation tool and provides an advertising and student recruitment platform to global program providers. Abroad101 is a 2010 winner of the MassChallenge global startup competition. To learn more, visit http://www.studyabroad101.com.

About IEM’s China Program:

The IEM Study Abroad China Program presents a blend of East and West unique to the Study Abroad market. Students study at Xing Wei College, where they are able to survey and explore Chinese culture from the structural comfort of a familiar curriculum. At the same time, students participate in the outstanding IEM Peer Mentorship Program. This program intensively pairs each student with a Chinese counterpart who actively introduces that student to the finer points of Chinese culture. IEM Study Abroad has worked hard to ensure that the China experience is one filled with academic challenge, breathtaking excursions, a full schedule of fun activities and memories that will last a lifetime! To learn more, visit http://www.iemstudyabroad.com.

My Shared International Education Items via Google Reader

Last week I posted about the various internet properties I own that focus on international education.  In that post I mentioned that I plan to highlight one of my sites every few days.  To that end, here is the first of several posts in this series.

I don't know about you but I am a big fan of RSS Feeds.  I first learned of them several years ago while at the NAFSA Winter Leadership meetings when I was on the NAFSA Teaching, Learning & Scholarship (TLS) knowledge community team.  However, I could not figure out how they worked so I missed out on several good years of use.  About three years ago I tried again with Google Reader (Google is my preferred tool for my new media activities) and it one of the most valuable tools I use to keep up to date on international education related news and happenings.  My Google Reader provides a great opportunity for me to share what I find on the internets with others who may find value in the information/resources.


You can link to my Shared Items at http://www.google.com/reader/shared/international.ed.consulting.  If you do utilize the power of RSS feeds you can subscribe to this shared items feed via the link above.

My International Education Internet Properties

I own a variety of internet properties that focus on international education and I have a presence on a variety of new/social media sites (beyond Facebook and Twitter).  Okay, I don't actually own these sites as I use all free services but they are and have been mine as I have developed, added content and maintained them over the years.  They all (or predominately) focus on international education issues and while there is some overlap of content I try to post and feed different information to my various websites and pages.  

Over the next several weeks I hope to highlight one of my sites every few days (except for IHEC Blog because you are here now!).  Until then you can link to all of them at https://plus.google.com/111848031801692293699/about

Analysis of the Research and Literature on Diversity in Education Abroad A Synopsis

The following document is an executive summary (in bullet point format) of some research I did a few years ago for my invited presentation at the Colloquium on Diversity in Education Abroad: How to Change the Picture  hosted by the Academy for Educational Development on May 2, 2006 in Washington, DC.  My annotated bibliography on underrepresentation in education abroad is in desperate need of an update and then I think I need to analyze the literature again to see what, if anything, has changed.  Anyways, just thought I would share here on IHEC Blog.

Analysis of Research & Literature on Diversity in Ed. Abroad-A Synopsis by Comp, 2008

The Austrian-American Fulbright Program, 1950-2010

Frequent IHEC Blog readers know that I like to research and post about the history of international educational exchanges.  Recently I came across a set of four videos on the YouTube channel of the Austrian-American Educational Commission (AAEC) that I found incredibly interesting so I thought I would post them here.  These very well produced videos make up a forty-five minute documentary directed by Georg Steinböck and based on interviews with generations of Austrian Fulbrighters from the 1950s to the present and with recent U.S. grantees.  The documentary also includes historical footage, photos, and archival material.

Foreign Policy Association’s FPA U program will be coming to New York City, Washington, D.C., and expanding to Boston!

The following information about the Foreign Policy Association's FPA U program and upcoming seminars is being posted here to IHEC Blog with permission.  I recently became aware of these low cost and excellent seminars and I think they may be of interest to IHEC Blog readers so I am posting about them today.  I just wish that FPA U expanded here to Chicago so I could attend!

This fall, the Foreign Policy Association’s FPA U program will be coming to New York City, Washington, D.C., and expanding to Boston!

Beginning in October, seminars will be offered on the following topics:

Careers in International Development
* October 6 (New York City) * October 18 (Washington, D.C.) * November 3 (Boston) *

Who is hiring in development & where are the jobs?

• Current career opportunities in international development
• Home office vs. field assignments, salaries, lifestyle
• What employers are recruiting for right now 

Getting Into the Best International Affairs Graduate Program

* October 11 (New York City) * October 17 (Washington, D.C.) * October 24 (Boston) *

• Examine the top International Relations graduate programs in the U.S.
• Valuable information on career options, financial aid, networking
• Expert guidance on: applications, resumes, interviews, & exams

Landing a Job at the United Nations
* October 12 (New York City) * October 19 (Washington, D.C.) * October 26 (Boston) *

Get your foot in the door at the world body

• The various bodies of the U.N. system: what they are & which are currently hiring
• National Competitive Recruitment Exam preparation
• Non-traditional points of entry into U.N. employment

Working Around the World

* October 13 (New York City) * October 20 (Washington, D.C.) * October 25 (Boston) *

International jobs: where they are & how to get them

• Explore the wide array of international opportunities
• Prepare for a global career: degrees, internships, training programs
• Breaking into the field: resume & application guidance

All attendees receive:

• Course-specific FPA U Tool Book
• Automatic enrollment in the Foreign Policy Association's Global Jobs email alerts
• Light food and drink during networking session

FPA U registrants receive a 75% discount on a Young Professional Membership with the Foreign Policy Association.

Space is limited | Register here.