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10 Mar 2004
uwRyan.com This website is meant to provide value to UW students by delivering information. Please provide feedback on what I write as well as give me suggestions of topics to cover. You can send e-mail to me to ryan[at]uwryan[dot]com.
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Federation of Students 
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Learning from the worldInternational education growing at UW
At the January senate meeting UW president David Johnston that about three percent of UW students graduate with some kind of international experience. He said that such experiences are so valuable that after he was gone he could rest easy if the number was 100 percent. UW has been becoming more international and it is worthwhile, but we are still far from bringing every-single student to the world. The percentage of students from outside Canada and the USA has more than doubled in the past five years from less than 7 percent to more than 14 percent. While not counted in Johnston's 3 percent, coming from another country is an international experience itself. There are more international exchanges programs, UW info lists 89; more international research agreements, UW signed its 150th in 2001; and efforts to internationalize curriculum. The International Association of Universities under UNESCO has affirmed the value of internationalization. In 2000 it adopted a statement noting, "[...]that internationalization of higher education is today more than ever a worthy goal, the International Association of Universities wishes to reaffirm its own commitment to this effort and to urge all stakeholders to contribute to its realization." Arts student, Heather Macdougall, had two international experiences last year when she studied in Spain for the summer and then worked in Ireland for the fall term. About the importance of international experiences she said, "Most importantly, I think international experiences can be really fun. You get exposed to all sorts of different perspectives and ideas." Also she points out that it is more natural to learn a language when immersed in it. Associate VP Academic Gail Cuthbert-Brandt said last week that there were few applications to the international experience awards donated by Rod Coutts. Last week there had been about half a dozen applications for the about 20 awards that are expected to be granted. The three types of awards range in value from $1,500 to $2,500. For those student who are planning an international experience in the coming year the deadline for the JR Coutts international awards is March 31. Information on applying for them is at international.uwaterloo.ca. |