- 303 Haggar College Center
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556
(574) 284-4579 - Director of Media Relations
Gwen O'Brien
gobrien@saintmarys.edu
Saint Mary's College Celebrates International Education Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saint Mary’s College “Opens Doors” to the World
--College Celebrates International Education Week and Plans for More Internationalization--
Contact:
Gwen O’Brien
Director of Media Relations
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Ind.
(574) 284-4579
November 16, 2009 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—For college students, the world seems to have no boundaries. Evidence of a shift to a global society can be found in the 2009 Open Doors report released today as part of the kickoff of International Education Week. The annual report highlights trends in the number of U.S. students studying abroad and international students studying at U.S. campuses. It shows an 8.5% jump in Americans studying abroad and an 8% increase in international students at U.S. colleges and universities. The Institute of International Education (IIE) publishes Open Doors annually, with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Students at Saint Mary’s College are among those preparing to be global citizens. The College has a robust study abroad program with more than 20 different opportunities to study in Asia, Europe, Africa, South America and Australia. The program, overseen by the Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership, has more than doubled its locations for study in the past six years. The participation rate among Saint Mary’s 2009 graduates was 42%. Out of Saint Mary’s College’s 1,664 students, 260 are expected to study abroad during 2009-2010. Meanwhile, there are currently 11 international students enrolled at the College from the countries of China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Iraq, Panama, Poland and South Korea as well as two exchange students from South Korea.
Strengthening the College’s internationalization is a priority for President Carol Ann Mooney and one of the top ten recommendations in her five-year strategic plan released last fall titled “The Path to Leadership 2012.” Under the recommendation, 50% of Saint Mary’s students would participate in study abroad programs by the time they graduate. The plan also calls for increasing the number of international students on campus and expanding the curricular offerings in international studies.
Last fall Mooney announced that Saint Mary’s had joined the American Council of Education’s Internationalization Laboratory to examine the College’s internationalization efforts. ACE invites a handful of colleges to work in its laboratory for 18 months. Since then an Internationalization Lab Team, led by two Saint Mary’s professors, has evaluated the College’s current international initiatives, the international expertise of the faculty, and the College’s global education plans. The project is nearing completion, with the ACE Center for International Initiatives Peer Review Group conducting a site visit to the College last week. The Internationalization Lab Team is expected to release a final report at the end of the calendar year.
“Today’s graduates must be prepared to work and compete with colleagues from around the globe and potentially to spend some portion of their careers living outside of the United States,” Mooney said. “To prepare our students to fully participate in the emerging global community, we must expand their opportunities for international studies and further internationalize the College community and its curriculum.”
Media: There are many opportunities for video, photos and interviews as the Saint Mary's community celebrates International Education Week. Please let Gwen O’Brien, director of media relations know if you plan to attend any of the following:
Monday, November 16
• Intercultural Learning Showcase at 7:00 -9:00 p.m. in Stapleton Lounge, Le Mans Hall. Students will learn about their classmates’ recent study abroad learning experiences.
Tuesday, November 17
• "Music and Dance Around the World" at 7:30 - 9 p.m. in Welsh Parlor, Haggar College Center. The Departments of Modern Languages, Music, and Dance will co-host a showcase of performing arts performed by students.
Wednesday, November 18
• Student Panel on International Internships Noon - 1:00 p.m. in Conference Room C of the Student Center. Students will share experiences of life abroad as well as their professional experience in various fields from publishing, human resources, finance, marketing, and other areas.
About Saint Mary’s College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, women’s institution offering bachelor’s degrees in more than 30 major areas of study. The College has six nationally accredited academic programs: social work, art, music, teacher education, chemistry and nursing. Saint Mary's College ranks among the nation's top liberal arts colleges in U.S. News & World Report's 2009 annual survey. Founded in 1844, Saint Mary’s is a pioneer in the education of women, and is sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.
