 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
- COVER STORY: Destination: Discovery RELATED: Other
Features: |
|
Injecting a global view Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Ann Freter always is thrilled to see students from other countries on her class roster. A professor who thrives on vigorous classroom discussion, Freter looks forward to international students injecting a unique cultural perspective. “Students from different countries can bring a viewpoint to the discussion that I oftentimes can’t,” she says. “It’s good for American students to interact, laugh and sweat out midterms with people from different cultures. Being in the classroom together is a major bridge-builder.” This academic year, nearly 1,200 students from about 100 countries are part of the Athens campus culture, living in residence halls, studying in Alden Library, writing for The Post, serving on Graduate Student Senate and socializing at The Front Room. "International students provide us with a diverse environment that helps our American students better understand global issues,” Rota says. “And when they return home, they take with them an appreciation of American values, culture and society that contributes to improved international relations, business relationships and cultural ties.” Besides contributing to the multicultural landscape of campus, international students aid the region economically. According to the Institute of International Education, the estimated 500,000 international students studying in the United States added morÍ than $12 billion to the U.S. economy during the 1999-2000 academic year in money spent on tuition, living expenses and related costs. In the Athens area, the impact is estimated at $19 million annually.
Degrees from U.S. institutions are competitively sought because of the schools’ reputation for quality. In fact, nearly 150 current and past foreign heads of state made their first visits to the United States as students, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French Premier Lionel Jospin and former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo. Graduate student Sumanth Botanna hopes his Ohio University education leads to a top software programming position in his native India. “A degree from Ohio University will definitely give me an edge,” says Botanna, who is studying computer science. “I was working for a company in India when an American client told the company that it would be a big advantage to have someone with a master’s degree from the United States, so I guess you could say I took their advice.” Other students from developing or recently independent nations want to use their degrees as tools to help strengthen their countries. "I hope to be able to go back and find positions of influence and teaching so I can share what I have learned and help Macedonia with my knowledge,” says Bisera Gjosevska, one of three students from Macedonia who this fall received four-year undergraduate scholarships to study in the College of Business. International students often become some of the institution’s most loyal alumni. When Glidden meets with members of the German Chapter Serving Europe, he is surprised to find graduates traveling from all corners of Europe to reminisce about their college days and flip through photos he’s taken of campus. Alexander Sascha Tung, MFA ’94, co-chair of the chapter, acknowledges the powerful bond that international alumni share. “I try to think about ways to keep in touch with Ohio University, which I have come to cherish,” says Tung, who has returned to campus twice as a guest speaker. “Studying at Ohio University and living in Athens was one of the most important experiences of my life.”
|
|
|