Community educators and leaders invited to attend “A Path to Global Awareness” conference

On April 3, Henry Cisneros, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be keynote speaker at a International Studies Conference sponsored by North Harris College and Cy-Fair College in partnership with the Gulf Coast Consortium of Community Colleges.

The conference, “International Education: A Path to Global Awareness,” will be Saturday, April 3, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Cy-Fair College Conference Center, 9191 Barker Cypress Road. Registration is $25. All area leaders and educators are encouraged to attend this unique convention. For registration and conference information, call Dr. Sue Poor at 1-800-561-9252, ext 6435.

According to Dr. David Sam, president of North Harris College and former international student from Ghana, “The challenge of contemporary education is to contribute to students’ abilities to live in increasingly diverse local communities and an ever-shrinking world community. Effective education for the 21st century must provide firsthand opportunities for students to learn about the cultural diversity around them. Cross-cultural competence can be fostered by meaningful and long-term interactions with others with different worldviews, life experiences, languages, and cultures. The culture of NHC’s campus and the Houston area is increasingly becoming a rich mix of people and perspectives, drawn from many cultures, traditions, and backgrounds. That diversity provides NHC students and the community with a distinctive learning advantage: they can juxtapose unique elements of their individual cultural traditions with elements that have been embraced, incorporated, and transformed into a shared culture. In the process, they learn that diverse heritages are accessible to all.”

North Harris College, part of the North Harris Montgomery Community College District,  located in Houston, Texas is the recipient of a two-year Title VI Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education, 2002-2004. The college’s commitment to this venture is evident in the creation of an associate of arts specialization in International Studies, as well as internationalizing the campus community.

Students have the opportunity to attain an area of concentration in International Studies, and this is particularly attractive to those who wish to pursue bachelor’s level studies in international relations, international business, or foreign language study.

North Harris College faculty, from a variety of disciplines, have worked together to enhance a number of courses, developing instructional components that introduce students to the international context of their coursework.

Aside from curriculum offerings, internationalizing the campus incentives include: the establishment of a Great Decisions Program to discuss foreign policy issues; an Ambassador Series, inviting international diplomats on campus to meet students and discuss bi-lateral relations between nations; an International Studies Lecture Series, inviting guest speakers from senior institutions to discuss issues such as bilingual education; foreign language training; library cultural exhibits; theatrical productions;  and a host of campus/community interactions including travel abroad opportunities.

Dr. Theresa McGinley, professor of history, is the co-director of the International Studies program at North Harris College, and will be offering an Honors International Studies History course in the fall 2004.

“International Studies is an integral part of higher education. Students learn of the impact of the United States on the world, but also of the world’s impact on the United States. Global exchange is constant, and awareness of international affairs essential,” says Dr. McGinley.

Faculty members have developed serv