Virginia Governor International Education Day 2006

George Mason Hosts Virginia Governor's International Education Day 2006

George Mason University hosted a Governors International Education Day luncheon and celebration on Monday, November 13th.  Governor's International Education Day is sponsored by VaCIE, the Virginia Council on International Education.  Mason's Office of the Provost, Center for Global Education, Office of International Programs and Services, and Associate Dean for International Education worked together to organize the day's activities.  Events included a campus tour, international dance performances, a luncheon, and a plenary discussion, followed by the announcement of winners of an essay contest.  The second place winner in the international student category was one of Mason's graduate students.  Guests included international students and study abroad students from several Virginia universities, faculty and administrators, and members of VaCIE.

Essay Contest for International Students

Six students - three international students and three study abroad returnees - were named first-, second-, and third-place winners of the Governor's International Education Day 2006 Essay Contest, sponsored by VaCIE. In no more than 1000 words, writers should have addressed ways in which international education can be used as a tool for conflict resolution. Essays reflected students' own experiences abroad and/or described their vision of how an institution's curriculum can provide opportunities for international understanding and conflict resolution through international education. Two separate contests were held - one for international students and one for study abroad returnees. Each was judged separately, and each winner received a cash prize.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YAWAR HERAKAR, THE WINNER OF THE SECOND PLACE IN VACIE GOVERNOR'S INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION DAY ESSAY CONTEST!

Yawar Herakar, a graduate student at GMU, has won the second place in VaCIE's Governor's International Education Day essay contest! (a $100 prize.)

International Education Week

In celebration of this year's International Education Week (November 13th - November 17th), OIPS was staffing informational kiosks at the Johnson Center aimed at increasing awareness of International Education Week, as well as sharing facts and benefits of international education. Students were given a chance to take a Global IQ Quiz.

International Coffee Hours

International Coffee Hours were offered by OIPS in 2006-2007 as a networking and social event twice a month, every other week.

George Mason University International Classroom

In Fall 2006, the Office of International Programs and Services began a joint project entitled the "George Mason University International Classroom" together with the Meridian International Center. The Meridian International Center is a non-profit organization in D.C. that promotes international understanding through the exchange of people, ideas and the arts. The International Classroom project recruits international students at Mason to give dynamic, interactive presentations about their country to students in the Fairfax County public schools. The international students ("Cultural Consultants") are paired with U.S. students ("Classroom Facilitators") and they go into classrooms as a team. We feel this is a great benefit to schools in our community, providing rich cultural exchange experiences to all the students involved.

International Spouses Network

This program is for spouses (in F-2 and J-2 status, etc.) of international students and scholars and provides information to spouses as they make their transition to life at GMU and the community. It also affords opportunities to meet and get to know other spouses, find out about resources in the community, get involved in activities planned, share experiences and make your stay in Fairfax and in the US a pleasant one.

If you are a George Mason University student or exchange visitor and your spouse would like to participate in activities offered by OIPS through the International Spouses Network, please send an email to amenyayl@gmu.edu and we will follow up with you.