Georgia Tech is taking a unique approach to international education with
the introduction of its new International Plan. The program is designed
to give students international experience in three distinct areas: international
coursework, language proficiency, and international experience.
Students will be required to complete a combination of the three elements
— three international courses, second language proficiency equivalent
to two years of college language study, and an international experience
consisting of any combination of study abroad, international internship
or research lasting at least 26 weeks — to graduate in the International
Plan program. Graduates of the International Plan receive the designation
“International Plan” on their diploma and transcript.
Howard Rollins, director of international education, says students participating
in the international plan will have an advantage when entering the workforce.
“Many companies today conduct business in countries around the
world, and they employ professionals from a variety of cultures who work
in teams to solve problems that bridge countries and cultures. Such companies
are going to be very interested in hiring International Plan graduates.”
According to Rollins, the International Plan is unique in that it allows
each discipline within the Institute to adapt the plan to best fit its
own needs and demands.
“The International Plan is unique and important to Georgia Tech
and its students because it puts together for the students in a coherent
way the appropriate amounts of international coursework, language proficiency
and international experience and integrates these with the student’s
major,” said Rollins. “These features of the plan are also
what sets it apart from international programs at peer institutions. Most
major universities have the same ingredients, but few offer programs that
are coherent and integrate the international elements into the student's
major.”
Georgia Tech’s peer institutions vary in their approaches to providing
students with access to international experience and giving them recognition
for that experience. They offer co-majors, dual degrees, certificates,
international internships, study abroad or a combination of these elements.
Each peer institution has its own set of guidelines as to what qualifies
as international experience.
Dr. Brian Harley, director of Programs for Study Abroad at Purdue University,
was impressed with the ideas behind Georgia Tech’s International
Plan.
“A lot of universities will be looking at this program and citing
it. This is the type of program that can keep a university on the cutting
edge of the international component of higher education,” said Harley.