Program Allows International Students Look at UA Life
The UA is involved in both an International Visiting Students Program and Exchange Student Program, for students wanting to experience life abroad.
The International Visiting Students program assists international students who attend the UA for one semester or a year. Qualifying students are either seeking their degrees from a partner institution, according to an online article.
“Having so many international students on campus makes my experience at the UA greater than I was expecting, I not only get to live an American culture but learn others from Europe, Asia and many other places” said Nicolas Gamarra, marketing major.
According to the requirements of the program, visiting students are enrolled in a full course of study at the UA and courses will transfer to the students’ home institutions.
These students also have many programs at their availability and convenience, such as a Conversation Club, Cross Cultural Mentor Program, Friendship Family Program, Global Greeks, International Culture Team, Dinner in the American home, field trips, International Education Week, Orientation, Spouse and Family and Student Cultural Organizations, according to an online article.
Exchange students at the UA come from many places around the world, such as Italy, Denmark, China, France, Africa and Spain. The Office of Study Abroad and International Exchange welcomes exchange students from their partner institutions, such as Univsersite du Main in France, Politecnico di Torino in Italy and Kansai Gaidai in Japan, that are nominated through a reciprocal exchange agreement for a semester or year.
“The exchange students have access to all the programs that International Students and Scholars Office has, the same as the visiting students, but they are not required to do any. Additionally our exchange students have PALS here in the UA who help them once they get here, take them out, pick them up from the airport and get to experience many other things” said Laura Moix, UA faculty-led programs and exchange coordinator.
“My time abroad was more than perfect, it changed my life for the better and changed the way I look at things, also for the better. Not only did it open me up to a new culture, it also deepened the appreciation of my own” said Caroline Kent, international relations major.
Both visiting students and exchange students experience U.S. culture and values, are taught to develop their academic performance through use of the Enhanced Learning Center, University Libraries and study groups. They are encouraged to participate in the Friendship Family Program in order to broaden their perspectives, according to an online article.
