The goal of the International Education program is to provide Vol State students with a global perspective. It starts in the classroom with new ways of looking at academic subjects. It grows with special international events and speakers on campus. It blossoms with travel-study, which allows students to participate in academic travel to countries across the globe. Faculty members are active partners in the endeavor, through academic work, organizing special programs and in teaching travel-study classes. Ultimately, international education prepares students for active participation in the global village.
On Campus
The purpose of International Education at Vol State is to engage students in thinking about the greater world and prepare them for global competition. It brings international learning events and speakers to the Vol State campus. The International Education Committee at Vol State holds seminars and guest lectures featuring distinguished faculty from colleges and universities all over the area. Special guest speakers have included Arun Gandhi, the grandson of civil rights leader Mahatma Gandhi.
Faculty Opportunities
Faculty involvement in International Education includes everything from organizing campus events to teaching overseas.
Study Abroad
India, China, France, Spain, Scotland, South Africa, The Netherlands, Jamaica, and the United Kingdom: These are some of the places where Volunteer State Community College students have been exploring and learning. Travel study incorporates what students see and experience directly into their Vol State courses.
The International Education initiative provides scholarships for the students to help cover travel expenses. The Tennessee Consortium of International Studies (TnCIS) organizes the programs, providing years of experience in planning the itinerary and the course work. That expertise goes into everything from travel logistics to student safety.
TnCIS programs involve an immersion in the culture of another country and an opportunity to study in a foreign location. Each program involves visiting historical and cultural sites and cities in the host country. Students from Vol State will be eligible to apply for scholarship assistance through the International Education Committee. The travel/study programs begin just after the completion of the spring semester each year and usually last about three weeks. Information sessions about travel-study are held during the school year.
