It is International Education Week at Northwestern! This week NW is celebrating the benefits of cultural and academic exchange programs around the world. International Education Week is an incredible week to bring awareness to the programs that change students’ life. NW is a special college because it provides students with incredible opportunities to study abroad. Students can stay close at home by going to places like Denver or Chicago but also can go to places across the world like Oman or Romania. Study abroad programs provide something for everyone. There are two summer study abroad trips to Italy and Czech Republic, two domestic semester programs to Denver and Chicago and two international semester programs to Oman and Romania. Students take back lessons learned and unforgettable moments through the study abroad programs. Some of the experiences are five-day backpacking at Retezat National Park in Romania, swimming in a mountain pool in Oman and so much more. Each program focuses on different things like Oman focuses on the relationship between Christians and Muslims in the Middle East. It allows students to consider the idea of loving our neighbors despite such large differences in belief. The Romania semester is focused on community development, experiential education and sustainable development.
NW wants to provide any student with the opportunity to study abroad so they are willing to accommodate and explore other options to get students to experience their dreams of explore the world. The only way to get people to experience these opportunities is to get the word out. International Education Week is important to give students the information to get outside their comfort zone.
Sarah Pemberton, the marketing and administrative coordinator at the compass center, which encompasses the Off-Campus Studies Office, said, “There’s something very eye opening about getting outside of your own culture and experiencing life as others do across the world.” Students can become more well-rounded and better community members through study abroad programs. Not only do the programs benefit the students who participate in them, but also helps the communities the students travel to.
This week through the compass center NW is taking time to spread the word about the amazing programs the college provides. Throughout campus, the Compass Center set up stations for the off-campus programs. These stations help bring awareness to the school about the programs. One can stop by and say hi at any of the different locations around campus to get more information or get any questions answered.
Another method to get information is by visiting the NW website and searching study abroad. The website provides information and student stories. Another way NW is getting the word out is through posting on the college’s Instagram about studying abroad and having a link in the bio which leads to more information and stories about studying abroad. Even after International Education week students can stop by the compass center located in Ramaker for information about the student abroad programs. The Compass Center wants every student to get the information they need to be able to decide to study abroad. It interested, off-campus study applications open this week.
