From its very beginnings, Beloit College has had an international inflection, and today, engaging with the wider world is expected as part of teaching, learning, and everyday life across the campus. International Week allows the campus to bring international engagement at the college to the forefront.
International Education Week, observed nationwide every November, began as a federal initiative in 2000. Beloit has direct ties to its founding—alumnus David Levin’73 proposed the week through the State Department and Department of Education as a way to celebrate off-campus study and the presence of international students. In fact, David’s role was recognized in 2019 with an award from NAFSA, the largest international education organization in the world.
Beloit College is not unusual in claiming to be international. However, it would be hard for a student at Beloit to not engage with international perspectives: They pervade the curriculum, the co-curriculum, and every day life on campus.
Further, distinctively, the college’s approach is highly collaborative and participatory. Witness, for example, this week’s story onchemists around the world, a CHEM 230 optional assignment, and theInternational Fridayseries, whose contributors include not only faculty, staff, and students, but recent alumni.
International education is a powerful driver of the Beloit College student experience, and helps position students well for their future careers and personal and civic lives.
The International Poetry Reading, a Beloit College International Education Week tradition, is going virtual. View videos of Beloit College students, faculty and staff reading their favorite poetry from around the world and celebrate international education and exchange.
Peace Corps is one of the original year of service organizations, dedicated to working side by side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges of the generation.
The French Program invites you to a panel discussion about study abroad in France featuring Emily Kratz (Political Science and French Language and Culture, ’21) and Elizabeth North (French Language and Culture, Religious Studies and Philosophy ’21).
Images and stories from previous International Fridays will be on display in the Powerhouse and in the Library. See these for yourself, or read through previous International Fridays here online.
Physical mobility across borders has been drastically curtailed under the COVID-19 pandemic, but that does not mean that the exchange of ideas and perspectives is not taking place.
Explore videos and media from some of our institutional partners and get inspired to study abroad or off-campus in the U.S.
Study abroad options at Beloit are not unlimited, but they are abundant in order to meet students academic, personal, and career goals. Below are but a few examples, focused on Beloit College’s bi-lateral partners.
University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom. university Sussex is committed to interdisciplinary and international perspectives, neighbors both a national park and a vibrant, multi-cultural city
University of York, York, United Kingdom. York is known for the strength of both its research and teaching, and the cathedral city of York is an attraction in itself.
Lingnan University, Hong Kong. Lingnan offers a liberal arts education with a Chinese inflection and a strong commitment to service learning.
Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan. Located in Japan’s capital and largest city, Rikkyo University a leading, private liberal arts university, and offers a specialized curriculum designed to support Japanese language learners.
Akita International University (AIU), Akita, Japan. AIU has a global focus but is also guided by a commitment to the welfare of the residents and culture of Akita Prefecture. Excepting the Japanese studies program, AIU’s curriculum is delivered in English.
Kansai Gaidai University, Hirakata, Japan. Hirakata neighbors Osaka and Kyoto, and close to historic Nara. Beloit College students who study at Kansai Gaidai enroll in its Asian Studies program.
Al Akhawayn University, Ifrane, Morocco. Al-Akwahayn is an English-medium university with excellent Arabic language instruction and computer science, among others. It also has a strong commitment to community service.
Shandong University, Jinan, China. Beloit College students enroll in Shandong University to strengthen their Chinese language skills and their understanding of China.
Henan University, Kaifeng, China. Founded in 1912, Henan University’ history of international engagement helped lay the foundation for a multi-pronged cooperation with Beloit College, involving the exchange of students, as well as the study of sustainability along the Yellow River.
Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Quito, Ecuador. A private, liberal arts university with some professional programs, instruction is delivered in both English and Spanish in Quito. USFQ’s Galapagos Semester Program is for study abroad students only and focuses on ecology, environment, and sustainable tourism. It is taught in English.
Washington Semester, Washington, DC. With Washington, DC, serving as the classroom, students take courses in specialized tracks, while gaining real-world skills by networking and interning.
The Philadelphia Center, Philadelphia, PA. This program introduces students to urban life and the world of work through 32-hour/week internships and seminars that use the city as classroom, and by living in apartments in various locations in Philadelphia. Internship placements include sports teams, museums, social service organizations, financial services, government agencies, and more.
ACM Field Museum Semester: Research in Natural History, Chicago, IL. The Field Museum is the campus for this program, which is designed for students with a focus in evolutionary biology, anthropology, geology, or a related discipline. Participants spend 25-32 hours/week conducting research and take two seminars. Each participant receives a $5,000 taxable stipend.
ACM Newberry Seminar: Research in the Humanities, Chicago, IL. Participants in the seminar spend the first half of the semester conducting research in the Newberry Library’s archives and becoming familiar with its resources. In the second half, they focus on an independent project. They also take a theme-based seminar. Many students also engage in paid-positions in the library.
ACM Oak Ridge Science Semester, Oakridge, TN. Students in this program conduct research under some of the leading scientists in the world at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. They also take an interdisciplinary course, and can elect to take one additional course. All participants receive a substantial, taxable stipend.
