November 10, 2016

 Morteza Hosseinnehad

Morteza Hosseinnejad

MSUB’s Office of International Studies presents International Education Week

Events held all week in hopes of spurring conversation of international students, staff and opportunities at MSUB and held in partnership with the US Department of Education and US State Department

 

Contacts:

Office of International Studies, Abby Cook, 657-1761

University Relations, 657-2266

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — Nineteen-year-old Morteza Hosseinnejad has been at Montana State University Billings not even a semester and finds himself amongst friends.

 

Next week, the pre-engineering major from Iran and president of the International Club is hoping his friends and other students, staff and faculty at MSUB take the chance to ask him about where he’s from.

 

IEW pin
He will be wearing a pin, pictured here, as will the rest of the 25-member strong ISC, as part of International Educational Week, sponsored by the Office of International Studies.

 

IEA is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.

 

The joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education works to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad.

 

Hosseinnejad is hoping the week-long event, which includes sessions on study abroad opportunities, a reception for recognizing MSUB’s international and internationally educated faculty and staff and a reception that is open to the public on how to tap into international career tracks, will spur conversations.

 

“People don’t really know about Iran,” he said. “They have a false sense about my country, given to them through Hollywood movies … like that we are just a desert.”

 

For one, Iran has a lot in common with the United States. It is a modern state with sprawling metropolitan areas and, Hosseinnejad said, “like Billings, it is one place I’ve been where people are friendly and say hello to one another.”

 

“This is going to be a good week for us to present our countries,” he said. “There are 25 students in the club and a lot to learn from.”

 

The Office of International Studies works with partner universities from around the world to offer study abroad opportunities for MSUB students. Many of these programs are direct exchange programs so students pay MSUB tuition to study abroad, giving many an economical way to travel and live internationally while being immersed in a new culture and perhaps learning a new language.

 

The office will be sending five students abroad for the spring semester. Two will be studying in Costa Rica, two in England and one will be heading to Spain.

 

Lizzy King, 19, and an elementary education major, is looking forward to her upcoming travels to Winchester, England.

 

King has lived in Billings her whole life but has some traveling under her belt.

 

“I’ve been to Germany and Honduras so I wanted to study somewhere but didn’t think Billings had that kind of program,” King said. “I was really excited when I found out that I had that opportunity available to me.”

 

She anticipates the experience will help her academic and future success as an educator.

 

“I really want to look at how elementary education is taught there. That is exciting to me and I think it will make me a better teacher,” King said. “I’ll learn different cultural norms and that will be a benefit.”

 

Abby Cook, immigration specialist with the Office of International Studies is hopeful community members will also attend the session on Wednesday, November 16, about international careers available to people who study at MSUB.

 

“When people hear MSUB, they don’t think ‘international,’ but we have a lot of really good opportunities,” Cook said. “One way we want to highlight that is with this session. We are bringing in businesses and career professionals to discuss their careers and how students can get started.”

 

International Education Week Schedule of Events

 

Monday, Nov. 14

Study Abroad

  • 8am-5pm, SUB Atrium: Information Table – Study Abroad
  • 12-1pm, SUB Beartooth: Information Session – MSUB Study Abroad opportunities, finding financial support and experience gained

Tuesday, Nov. 15

International and Internationally Educated Faculty & Staff Recognition

  • 8am-5pm, SUB Atrium: Information Table – General OIS handouts
  • 12-1pm, SUB Beartooth: Reception – To recognize MSUB’s international and internationally educated faculty & staff members

Wednesday, Nov. 16

International Careers

  • 8-10:30am, SUB Atrium: Information Table – International career tracks and encouraging attendance to plenary session
  • 2-4pm, LA 205: Plenary Session – Billings community professionals will discuss their international careers and/or education and the different avenues MSUB students can take to achieve an international career and lifestyle.
    • Open to students, faculty/staff and community

Thursday, Nov. 17

World Languages at MSUB

  • 8am-5pm, SUB Atrium: Information Tables – Language study at MSUB (French, Spanish & German)
  • 12-1pm, SUB Beartooth: Information Session – The importance of language study in students’ curriculum and where it can lead
  • 4-5pm, Upper SUB Atrium/Galleria: UnitedCampus Ministry International Coffee Hour and MSUB International Club meeting

Friday, Nov. 18

MSUB International Club

  • 8am-5pm: Information Table – MSUB International Club
  • 12-1pm, SUB Beartooth: Information Session & Game (TBD)