Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’ Melissa Mace will participate in the fifth annual EducationUSA Forum in Washington D.C. from June 23-25.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the EducationUSA Forum will bring together 550 university representatives with over 60 EducationUSA regional educational experts and advisors from around the world. They will discuss strategies for helping international students to study in the United States and promoting U.S. study abroad.
The EducationUSA Forum offers practical information and strategies to help internationalize U.S. campuses. Workshop sessions, presented by international education experts, U.S. higher education representatives, and government officials present unique and valuable information on recruiting international students while supporting diversity in international education.
“As two of our institutional focal points are to not only increase international student recruitment, but also to encourage study abroad by SIUE students, it is important for SIUE to participate in these types of events,” said Mace, assistant director of admissions for graduate and international recruitment. “We are always searching for more strategies to put SIUE’s exceptional academic offerings in front of prospective students. This conference will enhance our ability to achieve that goal.”
According to EducationUSA, universities such as SIUE play an important role in strengthening ties between the United States and countries around the world. By internationalizing campuses, EducationUSA believes relationships are built between people and communities around the world that solve global challenges. Its theory is that an international education prepares students for a globalized 21st century workforce, and international students have a positive economic impact on the United States.
As the premiere study destination for international students, the education sector represents the fifth largest U.S. services export and added nearly $25 billion to the U.S. economy during academic year 2012-13.
EducationUSA is the U.S. Department of State-supported network of hundreds of advising centers around the world. Each year, EducationUSA advisors provide millions of international students with accurate, comprehensive and current information about how to apply to U.S. colleges and universities.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs promotes mutual understanding between Americans and people from around the world through a wide range of academic, cultural, private sector, professional and sports exchange programs. These international exchanges engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes and emerging leaders from the United States and nearly 170 countries. Alumni of these exchanges comprise over one million people around the world, including more than 50 Nobel Laureates and more than 350 current or former heads of state and government.