Return of foreign exchange program good for Lamar, students
3 min read
Lamar had a vibrant international exchange method before the pandemic, but like so a lot of other matters involving travel from other countries, it’s been suspended for two many years. Finally, as Covid figures get started to decline, the system is being revived.
Five pupils — 3 from South Korea, one from Germany and 1 from France — came to Lamar in January as the semester commenced. These pupils will shell out the present-day spring semester at Lamar and then return to their household campuses in May perhaps.
That last element is essential, due to the fact Lamar’s foreign trade program is reciprocal. It has partnered with 6 universities — in Germany France Alicante, Spain Taiwan and two in South Korea — to mail college students in the two directions.
Lamar sends three college students to these schools and has a few appear here. That way, Lamar doesn’t drop any tuition, despite the fact that other overseas pupils normally fork out the greater out-of-state tuition costs.
The benefits of these trade programs are a lot more varied than some may possibly understand.
Overseas college students get a own look at of America that goes further than what they see on television displays or films. American learners can interact with an individual from a overseas country they would not meet usually. This obviously can boost their knowledge of that student’s region — once again in a way that exceeds what they might find out normally.
Quite a few neighborhood substantial faculties have comparable plans, and the similar positive aspects utilize. Persons from unique cultures interact, master from each individual other and get previous stereotypes.
It’s difficult to see a draw back in any of this, but some People in america are suspicious of foreign college students and never want them coming to our universities. They may even assume that a international college student is getting a slot at the campus away from an American student.
Some educational facilities do have enrollment caps due to the fact they have grown so a great deal, but that is not the case at Lamar. And even at faculties with minimal enrollments, the other positive aspects of the system outweigh that variable.
So if you fulfill a international student at Lamar out in the community, lengthen a hearty welcome and it’s possible even check with if there’s nearly anything they have to have. Systems like this set off a ripple of experiences and interactions that can previous a lifetime, and Lamar should really be 1 of the universities that participates as a great deal as achievable.
We like Southeast Texas, but there is a massive environment out there. We’d also like to bring as substantially of it right here as doable.