- Welcome Back Meeting for Returning Exchange Students
- Experiences of Former Exchange Program Participants
- Study Abroad Feedback Form
- Opportunities For International Activities On and Around Campus
Welcome Back Meeting for Returning Exchange Students
OIE invites returning exchange students to a Welcome Back Reception at the beginning of each Fall and Spring semester. It's the perfect time to share your stories from abroad with other exchange students, as well as with your OIE advisors. We also discuss opportunities for you to stay involved internationally now that you're back on campus. Look for your invitation if you're just returning from an exchange program!
Experiences of Former Study Abroad Participants
Want to know what it’s like to study abroad? Want to know what your peers think? Find out from your fellow Georgia Tech students! Comments from those who have previously gone on an exchange program have been compiled so that future participants like you have the inside scoop on our partner institutions and host countries.
Argentina
Comments on Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires
Australia
Comments on The University of New South Wales (semester program)
Comments on The University of New South Wales (summer program)
Under construction
Chile
Comments on Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
China
Comments on Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Denmark
Comments on The University of Aarhus
Egypt
Comments on The American University in Cairo
France
Comments on Sciences-Po
Germany
Comments on The Universität Duisburg-Essen (BEST Summer Program)
Comments on Technische Universitat Munchen
Hong Kong
Comments on the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Under construction
Japan
Comments on Waseda University (Undergraduate Exchange in Japanese)
Comments on Fukuoka University
Under construction
Mexico
Comments on Monterrey Tec (Summer Program)
Netherlands
Under construction
New Zealand
Comments on Victoria University Wellington
Under construction
Singapore
Comments on Nanyang Technological University
Comments on the National University of Singapore
Spain
Comments on Escuela de Alta Dirección y Administración
Comments on the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia
Sweden
Comments on Lund University
Comments on Blekinge Tekniska Hosgskola
Switzerland
Under construction
Turkey
Comments on Bilkent University
Exchange Program Feedback Form
If you’ve participated in one of our exchange programs and would like to give your comments, please fill out this form and return it to Jennifer Evanuik (jennifer.evanuik@oie.gatech.edu). Please feel free to comment on everything from academics to housing, social life to food! Your comments will be used to help future study abroad students better prepare for their programs. Thanks!
Opportunities For International Activities On and Around Campus
Part of the overall experience of studying abroad is the return home. It can sometimes be difficult to readjust to life back in the U.S. It is natural to make some changes in your life based on lessons you learned from your time abroad. Following are some ideas of ways to become involved in your community using your enthusiasm for activities that have an international component.
The Georgia Tech Office of International Education (OIE) invites students to apply for its Peer Advisors Program. Applicants must be returned Education Abroad students who participated in a semester/academic year exchange or a summer/faculty-led study abroad program.
Peer advisors play a critical role in promoting study abroad to Georgia Tech’s students. They help OIE at campus events throughout the academic year, talk to their fellow students interested in specific programs, interact with incoming exchange students, and help develop marketing materials. Peer advisors gain public speaking, leadership, and creative experience.
For more information, please contact Becky Gunter at becky.gunter@oie.gatech.edu.
The 2009-2010 Peer Advisors application deadline is September 4. Please return it by email or in person to OIE. Application
Join a student club or organization
CultureTech
Culture Tech is a student organization that works with the OIE to promote cross-cultural relations on campus through discussions, events and other means of interaction. CultureTech is in charge of organizing CultureFest, a week-long event of on-campus cultural activities. CultureTech also holds occasional Culture Breaks. These cross-cultural programs are designed to stimulate the senses and share knowledge about the various cultures represented at Tech. If you are interested in getting involved in this organization or any of its activities, contact the CultureTech President at culture@gatech.edu.
International Student Organizations
Itching to meet international students at Georgia Tech? There are many nationality clubs on campus. For a full listing of those clubs, visit www.cyberbuzz.gatech.edu, and look under “organizations.” Meetings are open to everyone.
AIESEC
As the largest international student exchange program in the world, AIESEC offers foreign job training experiences to its student members. AIESEC is located at more than 800 prestigious universities in 85 countries. Georgia Tech has its own AIESEC chapter. For more information, visit their website: www.aiesecgt.org.
IAESTE
The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience
IAESTE provides opportunities for students to participate in paid internships overseas. In addition, the exchange involves international students coming to Atlanta in order to participate in an internship and cultural immersion experience. IAESTE coordinates on-the-job training for students in technical fields such as engineering, computer science, mathematics, natural/physical sciences, architecture, and agricultural science. IAESTE can also provide work permits to students (even those who are not engineering or science students) who have identified their own international internships. For more information, please contact the President of IAESTE at president.iaeste@gmail.com.
Volunteer
AMIS
The Atlanta Ministry with International Students, Inc. (AMIS) offers many volunteer opportunities for people who are interested in welcoming international students to the Atlanta area. Befriending an international student, helping with a welcome reception, and hosting students for Thanksgiving and Christmas are among the ways you can volunteer. For more information or to sign up, go to www.amis-inc.org.
Hands on Atlanta
This is a non-profit organization that places volunteers in more than 400 service organizations and schools in the Atlanta area. Many of these projects, such as the Ulster Project Atlanta, the Fulton Atlanta Action Authority, and the International Rescue Committee, would connect you to Atlanta’s international communities. You can volunteer individually or with friends and family. Go to their web site, www.handsonatlanta.org, for more information.
International Education Week
Every November, OIE hosts events around campus to promote international education and cross-cultural awareness. Past activities have included international film festivals, a craft sale supporting fair trade goods, an international coffee hour, and a session on cross-cultural communication. Student volunteers are needed to make these events run successfully! Please see www.oie.gatech.edu/iew/ for more information or send an e-mail to info@oie.gatech.edu.
GILC
The Georgia International Leadership Conference (GILC) is an annual event that usually takes place in January. This is a great venue for meeting international students studying at different colleges and universities throughout the state, as well as sharing stories and experiences with other U.S. students who have studied abroad. A service project kicks off the 3-day conference, followed by student- and faculty-led sessions on varying topics with international components, food, and fun. To learn more about this conference, contact the Office of International Education at 404-894-7475, e-mail info@oie.gatech.edu, or go to www.uga.edu/gaie/gilc.
International Community School Volunteers
Volunteers from the Office of International Education assist elementary-school children in the after-school program at the International Community School in Avondale Estates every week. The International Community School is a DeKalb County charter elementary school with a mission to serve refugee children. The time commitment is 3 hours a week, from 3-6 pm every Wednesday during the semester. OIE provides MARTA cards for transportation to the school. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please e-mail OIE at info@oie.gatech.edu.
Around Campus
Georgia Tech has plenty of international appeal!
International Student Orientation
The number of international students at Georgia Tech is increasing dramatically. In order to serve our international students well, the OIE conducts an orientation for new international students every semester. Without the help of our orientation assistants, we would never be able to do all of the work involved in making the sessions successful. If you would like to welcome these students to GT by helping at orientation, please contact the OIE at 404-894-7475 or e-mail info@oie.gatech.edu.
International Coffee Hour
Co-sponsored by OIE and Housing, International Coffee Hour is held every Monday from 6-7pm in the I-House (South Lounge of the 4th Street Apartments, Building #134 on campus map). This on-going event is full of coffee, food, and lots of interesting conversation! Join other globally minded students, faculty, and staff to practice your language skills (English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese…) and visit with new friends, both from the U.S. and abroad. Anyone is welcome…just ring the doorbell! If you have any questions, please contact Daina at daina.plitkins@oie.gatech.edu.
THE I-HOUSE (International Living and Learning Experience)
The I-House is a learning community, located in the 4th Street Apartments, that involves both international students and students from the US with an interest in international issues. The community will facilitate a schedule of events to include dinners, movies, and lectures. For more information visit our web site at www.oie.gatech.edu and click on I-House.
Polish your language skills
Foreign Language
If you learned a foreign language or improved your existing foreign language skills while you were abroad, keep up with the language you worked so hard to master. You may decide to add some foreign language courses to your curriculum here at GT, www.modlangs.gatech.edu. Another good way to keep your language skills keen is to buy language lesson tapes. Simply reading magazines and books written in a foreign language will help you remember what you learned abroad. If it’s comprehension that you need to practice, purchase books on tape and listen to them in your car. It would be a shame to forget ALL of those vocabulary words, wouldn’t it?
Go again
If your study abroad experience only made you want to go back for more, perhaps you should! There’s no rule that says you can only study abroad once during your time at Tech. You may be able to work another program into your schedule. The OIE can give you information on many types of programs to many destinations. Some are for just a few weeks, and some are for a full year. Don’t think you can afford it? Swing by the OIE and pick up some information on the many scholarships offered to study abroad participants. If you just can’t fit another program in while you’re a student, you may want to think about going abroad after graduation. Some of the available scholarships, like the Fulbright Program, are for graduate students or students who are finishing up Bachelor’s degrees. There are also organizations that will help you get a temporary work visa, and some will help you find a job or an internship before you go overseas. Information on work abroad options is available at www.workabroad.gatech.edu.