CREATING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Jill ForestAssociate Director, Career ServicesNAFSA International Academy ‘13Kennesaw State University (formerly SPSU)
Meghan PopickInternational Student Advisor, Office of International EducationNAFSA Region 7 Regbud for Student IssuesNAFSA Trainer CorpsGeorgia Institute of Technology
GA TECH…● Colleges: Architecture, Computing, Engineering, Sciences, Liberal Arts and
Business
● 2013-2014 International Stats
○ Top Nationalities: China, India, South Korea, France, Taiwan
○ 4,301 F and J students from 110 Countries
○ 878 J Scholars
○ 885 graduates authorized to work in the US
SPSU (NOW KSU)...• Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering
Technology
• College of Computing and Software Engineering
• College of Architecture and Construction Management
Total Student population – 6,484
• 705 students not born in the United States
• International – 261 (numbers are way down)
• Permanent Resident (Green Card Holders) - 444 (number is down)
• Top Sending Countries - China, India and Saudi Arabia
WHERE ARE OUR STUDENTS GOING WRONG?
Why is this important?
Collaboration
Between OIE
and Career
Services
Student
frustration
over job
search
HOW DID WE GET STARTED?
At GA Tech…
“My resume is good but no one is
calling me.”
“Do you know companies
that sponsor?”
Students had questions that were different from domestic
students
The price of
not
understanding
small talk…
HOW DID WE GET STARTED?
At SPSU…
Professional Development Series
GA TECH ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
10 Workshops and GROWING!!!• Dan Beaudry, Author Power Ties• Career Planning for Int’l Student
Workshop• Choosing Your Path: Career Exploration
for Int’l Students• Business Etiquette Workshop• Coops and Internships & Their Work
Authorizations
Professional Development Series Continued
GA TECH ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
• A World of Difference• Immigration Lawyer• Alumni Panel• OPT Thesis Students Workshops• J-1 Employment Options
ADDITIONAL EVENTS/PROGRAMS● Individual Events for specific cultural organizations
○ Chinese Resume Workshop
● Chinese Grad Student Program Series (Private Donor Sponsored)▪ George Renwick▪ Business Etiquette Lunch▪ Webinar with Judy Shen Filerman
www.dreambridgepartners.comLab● Housing● Upcoming: Lab group
OPT Table at Spring and Fall Expos
SPSU ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS• I email registered employers about
openness to OPT • Brazilian Scientific Mobility
Students• Present at Orientation• Networking in the International Community• Use of Going Global
– H1B Company Listing– Country Career Guides– Other
SPSU ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
• Job Search Guide for International students
• Chinese companies doing business here in the US and vice versa
• Work very • Permanent Resident Resume
Tips
WHAT ARE OTHER SCHOOLS DOING?
SPSU->KSU – FUTURE PLANS• U Beyond Mentorship
Conference 1-30-2015– AT&T
• Survey creation• International Alumni Panel• Following our int’l graduates• Workshops for OPT candidates• Regular involvement with int’l
groups
HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR STUDENTS
• ASK for Access to Going Global– Share the cost with another dept– Academic departments?
• SHARE contacts in the community– NACA– NAAAP– NetIP
• MEET with Career Services Staff
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