Students Look Abroad at Fair

Students entering the tent outside the Science Center yesterday may have felt like they were traveling a lot further than Harvard Yard.

Over 70 organizations participated in the International Experience Fair, an annual collaboration between the Office of International Programs and the Office of Career Services, representing international study and exchange programs from around the world.

As part of a larger initiative to send students abroad, Harvard held its first international fair in the early 1990s.

In the past few years, Harvard Summer School has increased its international presence to 25 programs run by Harvard faculty around the world, said OIP Director Catherine H. Winnie.

“I think it’s a very good time to be [at Harvard], because we’re building,” said Winnie, speaking about the University’s increased attention to international experience.

“We’re interested in you guys having access to the connections that Harvard has in the world.”

Last spring, David Rockefeller ’36 donated $100 million to Harvard to support international programs and the arts.

The OIP estimated that over 1500 students attended the fair.

“The advantage of this fair is that you have all the providers in one place,” said Assistant Director of the OIP Erin E. Goodman, adding that the OIP and OCS hoped to “make it easier for students to navigate the world of international opportunities.”

Students in attendance remarked on the breadth of information available at the fair.

“I’ve just been cruising around,” Daniel C. Norris ’12 said while carrying a handful of program pamphlets.

Norris is thinking of spending a summer in St. Petersburg with the Harvard Summer School program, taking courses in second year Russian and Russian culture. Though he had learned about the program beforehand, he said he prefers speaking to representatives in person who “have more information than you could get from the Web site.”

Representing the International Honors Program, Jessica Lockrem said most students she encountered were interested in summer programs rather than term-time study.

“It’s the opposite at other schools,” she said, adding that it was unfortunate because the IHP only offers semester programs.

Other tables advertised cultural immersion exchanges, such as the Kawamura Fellowship, which offers a fully sponsored five-week trip to Japan, South Korea and Thailand, promoting international exchange.

“It’s kind of hard for students to believe that this sort of program exists,” said Austin Oehlerking, representing the fellowship. “They think there’s a catch.”