Currently located on the third floor of building two, the Office of International Education works to help international students on campus, build connections between students and bring a little bit of cultural opportunities to Sinclair Community College.
There are a variety of ways that international education works to achieve these goals, one of which is study abroad. Sinclair’s study abroad trips are short term and in 2019 will be going to six different places, Italy, the U.S. Mexican border, Ireland and Scotland, Canada and South Africa.
The trips offer students a unique opportunity to experience a different culture and a different way of life. Giancarlo Mariani, an international education specialist in the office, reflected on some of his, and others he knows, travel abroad experiences. He said that it really changes who you are.
While these trips do cost, there are several scholarships offered to help students be able to have these experiences. Mariani encourages interested students to always apply, as you never know what scholarships you could get.
The office of International Education is always willing to help students interested in the program. “Students can always just come by the International Education Office and we can talk to them about the specific programs and walk them through the application process.” Said International Admissions Coordinator Alex Brauer.
Another way the office works to connect students is the international committee, who works to build relationships between domestic and international students through events hosted on campus. Events such as hosting days where students can come to the Office of International Education and all come and watch the European soccer games together.
The international education office isn’t solely for international students, while that is a big part of what they do they also want to help build relationships between the different students on campus.
Mariani and others at the office urge students to come in and meet someone different from them, learn about another culture and help introduce international students to their culture here as well.
Cerridwyn Kuykendall
Managing Editor