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ACC Member Universities and Colleges Hold First International Education Conference
by Susan Felker
On November 4, the Atlantic Coast Conference colleges and universities
concluded their first International Academic Collaboration (IAC)
conference---and everyone was a winner.
The two-day event, held at The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton
Conference Center, brought together representatives from each
participating ACC institution for round table discussions, seminars, and
panel sessions to share best practices and explore opportunities for
meaningful collaborations on international programs.
The meeting resulted from the desire of ACC members to work together on
initiatives that will strengthen the member institutions academically,
not just in the sports arena. David Brown, provost emeritus of Wake
Forest University, was instrumental in advancing the international
education agenda.
Virginia Tech President Charles Steger welcomed the ACC academic
representatives and underlined the significance of the initiative. "This
will establish a framework for a broad range of collaborations across
all of our international programs," Steger said. He also hosted an
evening reception and dinner for the group." Rector of the Board of
Visitors Ben Davenport spoke to the group about involving the university
board in the international agenda.
Keynote speaker for the event was The Honorable R. Nicholas Burns, U.S.
Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, who informed the audience
that Secretary of State Condaleeza Rice and Secretary of Homeland
Security Michael Chertoff are working together to facilitate the visa
approval process for international students wishing to attend colleges
and universities in the United States.
"One of the best ways to attain long-term international understanding"
is through educational exchanges between countries, Burns said. He
indicated that the Department of State is fully aware of the negative
impact of the strict post-9/11 visa regulations on recruiting the best
international students for institutions in the United States,
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Representatives from Atlantic Coast Conference universities and colleges
gathered on the Virginia Tech campus in November to explore
opportunities for collaborations on international programs. George
Wilson from North Carolina State University is shown addressing the 90
attendees.
including
the growing practice among such students of enrolling in universities in
Britain, Canada, or Australia. He also noted that Secretary of State
Rice wants to bring back federal grant programs for the study of foreign
languages.
Early last year, the ACC formed a Working Group on International
Academic Collaborations (IAC) including chief representatives from each
college or university with responsibility for international programs.
This group developed a strategic plan that created a managing committee
and that calls for biennial conferences to share best practices and
information. Vice Provost for Outreach and International Affairs John
Dooley represents Virginia Tech and chaired this first ACC/IAC
conference.
The managing committee also reported to conference attendees about its
other initiatives, including honoring outstanding international
programs, faculty, and students; creating an ACC/IAC website linking
international gateways at ACC member institutions; collaborating on
existing education abroad opportunities and introducing new ACC
multi-institutional initiatives; establishing an education abroad
scholarship program; encouraging faculty collaboration through annual
summer overseas missions; and initiating research to assess the
effectiveness of international education programs.
Photo credit: Kelly Obenauer
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