3 PM
It began with a rubber band. Leaflets, postcards, posters and brochures of universities from all around the world tied together. It’s Wednesday, September 22 and the rubber bands have just been taken off, the materials set on marks on the tables, volunteers and workers of the Office of International Education (OIE) warmed up for the 2 hour race.
The Annual Study Abroad Fair at the University of Richmond (UR) was about to break out.
Crowds of contestants/students do not storm the doors of the Alice Haynes Room, the biggest conference space on campus. They stroll in gradually one by one. Tables are strewn all around the place, each carrying a tag with a name of the institution they are representing.
Some contestants hesitated as if they were thinking: "Where do I start?"
"We have the fair every year, roughly around this time," says Amy Bergman, Study Abroad Advisor from the OIE. "It is geared toward attracting students to look for their study abroad for the future. We invite exchange students to represent their own country and university. As well as passport students, US students who were abroad and came back. All of which we consider experts."
The University of Richmond has 23 year old tradition of international education and is proud of it tradition. It’s valued on campus and nationally. According to the UR web page, in 2007 Newsweek magazine ranked it: The hottest school in America. The university partners with about 70 institutions from over 30 countries. Some universities participate in the fair every year.
It only lasts for two hours but takes months of planning.
"We have to give our partners abroad enough time, so that they can see whether they will actually be able to come," explains Bergman. "For example this year the representative of university of Melbourne came all the way from Australia to attend our fair. It is very expensive for the partners to come here. When we don't have enough of them, we rely on our students to actually work at the tables."
About ten people from the Office of International Education organize the event. It is their responsibility to cover as many tables as possible, about 70% of tables this year. Students can’t always represent their universities because of classes or school duties.
But those who make it are enthusiastic and proud. "I decided to volunteer at the fair, because I think it is very important to have a witness of the place where you want to study," says Sara Caprioli, a business student from the Bocconi University in Milan. "Brochures are not sufficient to describe what you will find at the foreign university. I personally decided to come to Richmond based on what other Italian students told me about their experience here."
International education is a priority at UR the numbers speak for themselves. In fall 2010, there are 289 international scholars; 9 percent of the total undergraduate population. Conversely 260 UR students are studying abroad. The most popular countries to visit are Spain (with 40 students), followed by Italy (30), Denmark (22), Australia (21) and Scotland (18). On the other hand most international students studying at UR are from China (55), Spain (16) and UK (12).
The goal of the OIE is to send fewer than 10 students at a time to one institution. That’s to avoid students grouping with other students from their home universities, to make them meet new people and culture.
UR’s commitment to international education has led to new Carole Weinstein International Center. It opened in October and centralizes offices, classrooms, art galleries, conference room space and even has a cafeteria.
"It is meant to be a highlighting feature of the importance of international education at Richmond, since Richmond is very supportive of it," says Bergman on behalf of OIE. “It is a symbol of international spirit at UR"
4 PM
Halftime of the Study Abroad Fair. Music is creating a cozy atmosphere and students are already promenading through the room. They all have the the same aim – a search for futures.
But he fair is not the only source of information for those seeking foreign academic experience. The OIE also holds weekly information sessions and led by trained peer advisors. More information can be found on the web site.
But the fair is a unique opportunity to see all the universities in one place, compare them meet institution representatives. They can ask them directly about their school and country.
"The students were mostly interested in where in London Queen Mary is located, what departments were rated the best and whether QM had a wide range of courses to choose from," says Emma Qubain from Queen Mary, University of London.
Caprioli, the Italian business student, agrees: "They were interested in the courses, especially whether they were challenging or not. They wanted to know what the weather and night life were like in Italy and they were worried about the language."
Sarah Covington, a sophomore majoring in biology, is weighing options. "I am not sure, where I would like to go, yet," she admits while munching numerous leaflets in her hands. "But I am tending to a university in some English-speaking country with an interesting science program."
Selecting the desired destination might be the most important step, but is not the last one. After choosing a location, students have to fill in applications and other required materials.
"We review the applications," says Bergman. "We look at students' essays, their transcripts and at information from the application itself. We evaluate the GPA, whether it meets our partners' requirements. If the student has a border GPA, we look harder on their essay and recommendation. We can also check their language background and make sure they are a good match for the program, if language is a part of it. Sometimes we even look at their course background to see if they have good grades and experience in the field they want to study abroad."
Students can study abroad as many times as they want, provided they acquire half of their credits (17.5 units) on campus. Scholarships can be obtained for up to a year abroad. If the students want to spend more time at foreign institutions, they have to cover the expenses themselves. Students are permitted to study abroad beginning the fall term of their sophomore year. If they decide to do so, the fair is a good event to help them decide.
This year of the fair added new table decoration contest. Volunteer students were asked to bring their own decorations and materials to improve the design of their stands and visiting students could vote for their favorites. The University of Hong Kong and the one of University Blas Pascal from Argentina were big winners. The latter won the whole competition, partly because of enthusiasm and lobbying of one of its student representatives, Gabriela Arribillaga.
"We used traditional things from Argentina that we had with us," describes Arribillaga. "It was our flag, some sport jerseys, mate (a typical Argentinean drink) and some postcards with pictures from the most remarkable places in Argentina."
The Hong Kong tabled sported colorful leaflets sent by the university, pens with logo and students Eliza Zhai and Claire Shuo Sun who even bought traditional candies to woo the passers-by.
Small wonder they tried so hard: the grand prize, was a bag filled with hundred dollars worth of UR bookstore stuff.
"I liked the prize a lot," says Arribillaga, who shared her table and reward with her colleague from the Blas Pascal University Exequiel Rafaela. "There was a glass cup, a sweatshirt, a blanket, a cap and some candies."
5 PM
It ends with a rubber band. Different leaflets, postcards, posters and brochures of universities from all around the world are again re-bundled again. Materials have been collected from the tables. Volunteers and workers of the Office of International Education are cooling down. The two hour race is over
Until next year.
It began with a rubber band. Leaflets, postcards, posters and brochures of universities from all around the world tied together. It’s Wednesday, September 22 and the rubber bands have just been taken off, the materials set on marks on the tables, volunteers and workers of the Office of International Education (OIE) warmed up for the 2 hour race.
The Annual Study Abroad Fair at the University of Richmond (UR) was about to break out.
Crowds of contestants/students do not storm the doors of the Alice Haynes Room, the biggest conference space on campus. They stroll in gradually one by one. Tables are strewn all around the place, each carrying a tag with a name of the institution they are representing.
Some contestants hesitated as if they were thinking: "Where do I start?"
"We have the fair every year, roughly around this time," says Amy Bergman, Study Abroad Advisor from the OIE. "It is geared toward attracting students to look for their study abroad for the future. We invite exchange students to represent their own country and university. As well as passport students, US students who were abroad and came back. All of which we consider experts."
The University of Richmond has 23 year old tradition of international education and is proud of it tradition. It’s valued on campus and nationally. According to the UR web page, in 2007 Newsweek magazine ranked it: The hottest school in America. The university partners with about 70 institutions from over 30 countries. Some universities participate in the fair every year.
It only lasts for two hours but takes months of planning.
"We have to give our partners abroad enough time, so that they can see whether they will actually be able to come," explains Bergman. "For example this year the representative of university of Melbourne came all the way from Australia to attend our fair. It is very expensive for the partners to come here. When we don't have enough of them, we rely on our students to actually work at the tables."
About ten people from the Office of International Education organize the event. It is their responsibility to cover as many tables as possible, about 70% of tables this year. Students can’t always represent their universities because of classes or school duties.
But those who make it are enthusiastic and proud. "I decided to volunteer at the fair, because I think it is very important to have a witness of the place where you want to study," says Sara Caprioli, a business student from the Bocconi University in Milan. "Brochures are not sufficient to describe what you will find at the foreign university. I personally decided to come to Richmond based on what other Italian students told me about their experience here."
International education is a priority at UR the numbers speak for themselves. In fall 2010, there are 289 international scholars; 9 percent of the total undergraduate population. Conversely 260 UR students are studying abroad. The most popular countries to visit are Spain (with 40 students), followed by Italy (30), Denmark (22), Australia (21) and Scotland (18). On the other hand most international students studying at UR are from China (55), Spain (16) and UK (12).
The goal of the OIE is to send fewer than 10 students at a time to one institution. That’s to avoid students grouping with other students from their home universities, to make them meet new people and culture.
UR’s commitment to international education has led to new Carole Weinstein International Center. It opened in October and centralizes offices, classrooms, art galleries, conference room space and even has a cafeteria.
"It is meant to be a highlighting feature of the importance of international education at Richmond, since Richmond is very supportive of it," says Bergman on behalf of OIE. “It is a symbol of international spirit at UR"
4 PM
Halftime of the Study Abroad Fair. Music is creating a cozy atmosphere and students are already promenading through the room. They all have the the same aim – a search for futures.
But he fair is not the only source of information for those seeking foreign academic experience. The OIE also holds weekly information sessions and led by trained peer advisors. More information can be found on the web site.
But the fair is a unique opportunity to see all the universities in one place, compare them meet institution representatives. They can ask them directly about their school and country.
"The students were mostly interested in where in London Queen Mary is located, what departments were rated the best and whether QM had a wide range of courses to choose from," says Emma Qubain from Queen Mary, University of London.
Caprioli, the Italian business student, agrees: "They were interested in the courses, especially whether they were challenging or not. They wanted to know what the weather and night life were like in Italy and they were worried about the language."
Sarah Covington, a sophomore majoring in biology, is weighing options. "I am not sure, where I would like to go, yet," she admits while munching numerous leaflets in her hands. "But I am tending to a university in some English-speaking country with an interesting science program."
Selecting the desired destination might be the most important step, but is not the last one. After choosing a location, students have to fill in applications and other required materials.
"We review the applications," says Bergman. "We look at students' essays, their transcripts and at information from the application itself. We evaluate the GPA, whether it meets our partners' requirements. If the student has a border GPA, we look harder on their essay and recommendation. We can also check their language background and make sure they are a good match for the program, if language is a part of it. Sometimes we even look at their course background to see if they have good grades and experience in the field they want to study abroad."
Students can study abroad as many times as they want, provided they acquire half of their credits (17.5 units) on campus. Scholarships can be obtained for up to a year abroad. If the students want to spend more time at foreign institutions, they have to cover the expenses themselves. Students are permitted to study abroad beginning the fall term of their sophomore year. If they decide to do so, the fair is a good event to help them decide.
This year of the fair added new table decoration contest. Volunteer students were asked to bring their own decorations and materials to improve the design of their stands and visiting students could vote for their favorites. The University of Hong Kong and the one of University Blas Pascal from Argentina were big winners. The latter won the whole competition, partly because of enthusiasm and lobbying of one of its student representatives, Gabriela Arribillaga.
"We used traditional things from Argentina that we had with us," describes Arribillaga. "It was our flag, some sport jerseys, mate (a typical Argentinean drink) and some postcards with pictures from the most remarkable places in Argentina."
The Hong Kong tabled sported colorful leaflets sent by the university, pens with logo and students Eliza Zhai and Claire Shuo Sun who even bought traditional candies to woo the passers-by.
Small wonder they tried so hard: the grand prize, was a bag filled with hundred dollars worth of UR bookstore stuff.
"I liked the prize a lot," says Arribillaga, who shared her table and reward with her colleague from the Blas Pascal University Exequiel Rafaela. "There was a glass cup, a sweatshirt, a blanket, a cap and some candies."
5 PM
It ends with a rubber band. Different leaflets, postcards, posters and brochures of universities from all around the world are again re-bundled again. Materials have been collected from the tables. Volunteers and workers of the Office of International Education are cooling down. The two hour race is over
Until next year.
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