BEYOND THE BELLTOWER: NC STATE ON THE WORLD STAGE

“LOCALLY RESPONSIVE, GLOBALY ENGAGED...”

• When Chancellor Woodson came to office in 2010, he chose this phrase to describe NC State’s direction for the future— a university that is locally responsive and globally engaged.

• With all the opportunities available to students at the university, it’s an easy promise to keep.

Chancellor of NC State, Randy

Woodson.

NC STATE: A GLOBAL COMMUNITY

• NC State is very much an international institution- it always has been.

• The university currently has over 3,000 international students from over 100 different countries.

• There are 625 foreign-born faculty from 95 countries.

• NCSU has 200 partnerships in more than 50 countries.

A group of students relax on the Court of the Carolinas.

Many Roofs, One Home: The OIA

• The Office of International Affairs (OIA), led by Vice Provost Bailian Li, works to incorporate international perspectives into the university and to strengthen the university’s presence in the world at large.

• OIA includes: the Study Abroad Office, the Office of International Services (OIS), the Global Training Initiative (GTI), the Confucius Institute, the Japan Center, the Peace Corps, and the Global Health Initiative.

The OIA houses the various international

programs at the university.

PASSPORT TO PROGRESS: Studying Abroad

• NC State currently offers 49 study abroad programs to countries such as China, Ghana, New Zealand, Italy, Costa Rica, Egypt and everywhere in between (literally.)

• More than 1,000 students studied abroad in the 2009-2010 school year, and the number continues to grow.

Students clearly enjoying their study abroad experience.

PASSPORT TO PROGRESS: Studying Abroad

• Studying abroad allows students to live and take classes in a country of their choice, earning credits in just about every discipline imaginable- from civil engineering to creative writing.

• Programs vary in length. Some are one or two weeks, others are a semester, and a few are a full year.

A student gives a shout out from atop the Great Wall of

China.

PASSPORT TO PROGRESS: Studying Abroad

• Students can study in English or in the native language of the country, depending on the program and their goals for the experience.

• Not only will students be learning in the classroom, they’ll be learning their country’s language and culture by default every time they step outside the door.

• Studying abroad also looks great on a resume.

A student relishing in the

laid back, European lifestyle.

Czech This Out: The Prague Institute

• The university even has a satellite campus in the city of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.

• Students can take a variety of classes here. Some of the courses offered include: art and design, political science, and accounting.

• One unique perk is paying in- state tuition, despite being 5,000 miles away!

The sunrise in Prague.

Above and Beyond: the Caldwell Fellows

• For those apart of the university’s prestigious Caldwell Fellowship, there is also the opportunity to travel abroad with a focus in mind- such as the 2008 “Peace and Conflict Resolution” trip to Bosnia or the “This I Believe” excursion into China.

• Caldwell Fellows can be admitted after their first semester at NC State.

Some Caldwell Fellows enjoying their dim sum.

OIS: Welcoming International Students Into the Pack

• The Office of International Services (OIS) provides both international and American students the opportunities to strengthen international ties and learn as a global community.

• Some of the OIS programs that foster such a community are: the English Conversation Club, the International Friends, and the Culture Corps.

Students conversing at the Atrium.

“What’s Up” With the English Conversation Club?

• The English Conversation Club helps international students practice their English by giving them American students as partners to converse with.

• Through this program, non-native speakers can become very proficient speakers by getting real world practice and instruction.

Two club members practice their English at a club

orientation.

On the Fast Track: the Intensive English Program

• The Intensive English Program is a non-credit course designed to significantly improve the English of non-native students.

• While international students are accepted to State based on their stellar academic performance, many may still struggle with speaking English- this is where the IEP comes in.

• Supplemental courses, like English pronunciation and American culture, are also offered.

Some alumni of the Intensive English Program.

“Critically” Important: Project GOLD• Much like the Intensive English Program, the

University also offers several critical language courses in Arabic, Chinese, Urdu, Russian, etc. as a part of Project GOLD (Global Opportunities for Leadership Development.)

• Each course is six weeks long and can count for academic credit.

• Though the program generally targets students involved with the military, it is open to all students.

President Barack Obama speaks with General Raymond Odierno- the commander of the United States Joint Forces, and an NCSU alumnus.

Brothers From Another Mother: the International Friendship Program

• The International Friendship Program helps foreign students feel at home by pairing them with American students who have similar interests and personalities.

Culture Corps: Bring What’s Out There, In Here

• The Culture Corps allows international students to bring their home culture to NC State.

• Traditional dancing, music, cooking, and artwork are some of the ways the international students contribute. A student plays his native

instrument at a Culture Corps seminar.

There Are Many Ways to Say “Success”: the GTI

• NC State’s Global Training Initiative is a program designed to help international students succeed in the United States, both academically and professionally.

• The Initiative offers a certificate in U.S. culture and also provides opportunities for students to conduct research or work at an internship, all with the goal of getting them to be a successful student at an American university.

Recent students and faculty of the GTI program.

Far East, Real Close: The Confucius Institute

• The Confucius Institute promotes the continued learning of the Chinese language and the Chinese culture.

• To accomplish this goal, the Institute offers several non-credit courses in subjects like Mandarin, Chinese culture, and even tai chi.

A recent graduate of the CI language program

holds his diploma with pride.

Far East, Real Close: The Japan Center

• The Japan Center was started by governor Hunt in 1980. It serves to strengthen the state’s ties with the country of Japan.

• Several non-credit courses are offered so students and the greater community can practice their Japanese speaking skills and perfect their hiragana or their katakana.

A kanji character meaning “friendship.”

Remedying the World’s Biggest Problems: the Global Health Initiative

• The Global Health Initiative is an effort by NC State to promote health and wellbeing throughout the world.

• One strategy to accomplish this goal is a competition where student teams come up with a solution to solve a real life global health issue.

• State is also a part of the Triangle Global Health Consortium, a similar movement that partners with UNC and Duke.

A NCSU professor with his student.

Never Start Sentences With “I Should Have…”: the Peace Corps at NCSU

• The Peace Corps is a long respected program that promotes peace and friendship throughout the world.

• By sending young American students out to countries in need to assist and educate them, the Peace Corps hopes to foster a better global society.

A Peace Corps volunteer with her new friends in Kenya.

A Different Kind of Spring Break

• The Center for Student Leadership, Ethics, and Public Service (CSLEPS) holds “alternative” spring and winter breaks every year. Instead of traditional vacations, the trip revolves around service projects in another community.

• These breaks often go to other countries, like the Dominican Republic, and assist communities in need.

A student and his new friend have differing opinions about the program.

Student Groups: A Place Among the Pack

• The university has over thirty registered student cultural and multicultural clubs, like Mi Familia, Barkada, and the Iranian Student Association.

• And with an institution as large NC State, there’s plenty of diversity among the other 400 plus student organizations (cooking club, skateboarding club, fraternities and sororities, religious groups, etc.)

Students with their various clubs.

A “Major” Part of Your Education: State’s Globally Focused Academic

Plans

• NC State offers over twenty internationally focused majors, minors, and academic certificates.

• This makes it possible for a student to get a major in Spanish and two minors in Hindi and Russian Studies if they wanted. All from one of the top ten best public schools for overall value- NC State!*

* U.S. News and World Report, 2011.

Coming Back Home• NC State is a world class institution, focused on

being locally responsive and globally engaged.• This is the place where students can be players on

the world stage, moving beyond the Belltower and into the future.

Students in Florence show some school spirit. The sun never sets on the Wolfpack nation!

Credits

• All photos courtesy of NC State University or the NCSU Study Abroad Photo Contest.

• All sources courtesy of ncsu.edu.