MU hosted the U.S. State Department’s 2012 Near East and South Asia Global Undergraduate Exchange Program Re-Entry Workshop from March 30 to April 2.
The State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs created the NESA UGRAD program.
NESA UGRAD is designed to be a substantive academic and cultural experience for students from the region and help students gain a greater understanding of U.S. society through community service and mandatory internships, said Terrence Graham, director of higher education for the American Councils for International Education.
“Students in many ways serve as ambassadors of their home countries, giving presentations on campus or taking part in events where they can share with Americans about their culture,” Graham said.
Currently 79 students from 15 different countries participate in the NESA UGRAD program, Graham said. Including MU, 23 different institutions support the program.
MU currently hosts four students from the Middle East and north African regions, MU International Center assistant director David Currey said. MU’s international population reached 1,948 in 2010, according to the International Center website.
“The MU NESA students are taking courses in American (art), culture, literature and various courses related to their degree programs back home, including journalism, engineering, economics and international relations,” Currey said.
During the workshop, MU international student advisors Callie Fleming and Leah Buretta delivered a presentation titled “Reverse Culture Shock,” which gave the NESA students tips on dealing with the transition they should expect when going back to their countries in May 2012, Currey said.
Riham Darwish, one of four MU NESA students from Jordan, said one of the best things he learned from the workshop was how much of an impact studying in the U.S. had on NESA students.
“I didn’t meet most of the NESA students since last August, and meeting them last weekend made me realize how their language improved, how they became more responsible, and I’ve heard their stories and discussed how can we make changes in our countries,” Darwish said.
After the workshop, the participants established lasting friendships with other NESA UGRAD students across the region and will be able to rely on this network of friends for the rest of their lives, Graham said.
Graham said MU was a wonderful host and provided a hospitable environment to the participants during the workshop.
“Few of the students had any idea of what life in Missouri might be like,” he said. “Now they have a lasting and positive memory of their weekend at MU.”
The main priority for MU’s International Center is to ensure accurate and timely reporting and record-keeping that keeps MU in compliance and supports the academic and research success of international students, Currey said.
“We provide comprehensive services to help new international students prepare prior to arrival and upon arrival for life at Mizzou, as well as throughout their academic and training programs, from start to finish and beyond,” he said.
Regarding the effort from MU’s International Center, Darwish said it serves international students perfectly, as it has introduced students to life at MU when they first arrive and has helped them with advice and assistance throughout the year.
“They also had organized a number of excursions to places in Missouri so that we got a better understanding of the state in which we live in,” he said. “I went with them to Jefferson City, St. Louis and Kansas City, in addition to different places inside Columbia.”