Last week was International Education Week, a program sponsored by the US Departments of State and Education, and hosted by UNCA's International Studies Department and Study Abroad Office. The goal of this annual week of programs, lectures, and activities is to promote international travel and study, and to allow students (and even teachers) to share experiences abroad. Some of the highlights of this week were talks by our students about their recent trips, the International Photo Contest, and, for me, a presentation by the director the International Studies Department, regarding both the Interdisciplinary and International Studies Major and UNCA's new Asian Studies Minor. I have recently declared Asian Studies as a minor, and I am so excited to participate (this spring) in the new Chinese program that the International Studies Department has helped bring to our campus. This development in the courses offered at UNCA will definitely help make us a more competitive campus and will certainly help prepare students to live and work globally.
Here are some of my favorite pictures from the International Photo Competition:
Patagonia Coast
by Tim Meinch
Kiwi Life
by David McKee
Oaxaca Accordion Travelers
by Helen Jett
On Friday evening, I was accidentally present for the screening of the documentary, 2 Million Minutes, which was the closing event of International Education Week 2010. I was eating dinner in "The Grotto" at Highsmith Union when the movie began to play, but I remained because it was so interesting. The basic premise of the film is that all students share the same amount of time between finishing 8th grade and entering college; approximately 2 million minutes. It is how students spend this time that distinguishes them, and prepares them for global competition and even future economic success. The filmmakers followed six students, two each from the United States, China, and India, and compared the activities in which they engaged and the attitudes each had regarding work and school. While each student was driven to succeed in his or her chosen field of study, each had different opinions on how free time should be spent, or on how and when it is appropriate to hang out with friends, and what it means to be living in a world that is more interconnected than before. I would recommend that anyone interested pick up a copy and check it out.
Other links to check out:
