The University of New Mexico is continuing to host International Education Week (IEW) at various locations across campus and the Albuquerque area this week.
Along with other institutions, organizations and businesses, IEW is a series of events meant to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchanges worldwide, according to the IEW website. IEW began on Nov. 12 and will conclude on Nov. 16.
UNM’s Global Education Office (GEO) coordinated this week’s various events, and on Tuesday afternoon students were able to find information about study abroad opportunities and cultural exchanges in the Student Union Building Atrium.
GEO provides services to international scholars coming to UNM, coordinates opportunities for UNM students to study overseas and offers intensive English language programs to students interested in studying in the U.S., according to the UNM’s GEO website.
According to the GEO Faulty-Led International Program Coordinator Annette Mares-Duran, the office hosts two study abroad fairs at UNM but starting this year they decided to involve international students and create the global fair.
“Our hope is that students come here to learn about studying abroad and the different kinds of opportunities to study, intern, work and volunteer abroad as a UNM student,” Mares-Duran said.
Students are able to use their financial aid such as the Pell Grant or Lottery Scholarship — among other scholarship opportunities — to fund their study abroad, Mares-Duran said.
The global fair hosted various UNM faculty who showcased study abroad options and exchange students displaying information about their home country while promoting exchange programs.
“UNM students can go study in another country for a semester, a summer or a year and pay their regular UNM tuition and students from that institution come here,” Mares-Duran said.
UNM Adjunct Faculty in Cinematic Arts and the Architecture Department Teresa Cutler-Broyles was invited to highlight her class in Italy and encourages students to study abroad.
“I think it’s important for everyone to go abroad — especially students — because they are introduced to new ideas, new people, new food, new cultures and I think interaction with the world is really important especially today,” Cutler-Broyles said.
Cutler-Broyles said it is easy to get the wrong information from the news or from the stereotypes that exist.
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Also in attendance was John Quale, chair and professor of the Architecture Department and the director of the School of Architecture and Planning. He said he requires his students to write papers about the buildings and landscapes they are studying before they leave to visit them.
“I think it really helps people contextualize their own lives by being exposed to the unique cultures of other parts of the world,” Quale said.
IEW continues through the end of this week, more information can be found on the GEO’s website.
Alyssa Bitsie is a freelance reporter with the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Albitsie.
