U.S. Welcomes International Students

U.S. Welcomes International Students

For decades, U.S. higher education has opened its doors and its arms to students from Taiwan, as well as to students from all around the world, eager to expand their knowledge and develop their abilities. U.S. schools and public and private research foundations are the envy of the world, as is evidenced by the fact that the world's top scholars and researchers continue to make the United States their first choice for a study abroad destination.

Despite new security measures that have affected the student visa application process, American academic institutions remain committed to educating students from all over the world. Moreover, U.S. government officials have expressed strong support for international student exchanges. During her recent confirmation hearings, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice remarked: "I am a big proponent of ... student exchanges... It's the best policy that we can have." Rice also declared that "America must remain open to visitors and workers and students from around the world."

Notably, President George W. Bush has stated that "We ... encourage international students to take part in our educational system... The relationships that are formed between individuals from different countries, as part of international education programs and exchanges ...foster goodwill that develops into vibrant, mutually beneficial partnerships among nations."

With nearly 4000 postsecondary institutions, the United States has the largest and most diverse higher education system in the world. In comparison with the United States, no other country's higher education system offers a greater range of comprehensive academic disciplines, cutting edge technologies, state of the art research and instructional tools, diversity of learning environments, flexibility of programs, access to faculty, and personalized attention.

However, size and diversity are not the only attributes that annually attract more international students to study in the United States than to any other country in the world. The pursuit of academic excellence is at the heart of a quality education, and it is the superb quality of the educational experience provided by America's colleges and universities that makes academic degrees earned at U.S. educational institutions valued and recognized worldwide.

Graduates of American institutions bring to the global workplace not only solid technical and professional skills, but also insights into American society, culture, ethics, and business practices. The American college experience is highly collaborative, allowing students to cultivate a worldwide network of fellow alumni, yet it also strongly encourages individual achievement. Currently there are over 570,000 international students studying in the USA, the world's top destination for students who study abroad.

Seminars for Students

In conjunction with the 2005 American Education Spring Fair in Taiwan, a series of seminars for students will be offered in a presentation room adjacent to the exhibition area. Topics to be covered include English proficiency test preparation, internship opportunities, preparing for visa interviews, selecting the right school, and quality English, graduate and undergraduate programs.

AIT Support for Orientations & Student Visa Seminars

AIEF appreciates the support from AIT and its officers who regularly participate in our orientations for U.S. schools representatives, as well as in special seminars for students. This spring, AIT officers will offer seminars on applying for student visas and security issues at all three of the American Education Fair venues in Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung.

Next Generation TOEFL Information from ETS

Information provided by Educational Testing Service (ETS) about the next generation TOEFL will be disseminated at each of the fair venues.

AIEF Scholarships

Information about these scholarship programs is provided annually at AIEF's Spring and Fall American Education Fairs in Taiwan.

AIEF Encourages You to Visit the Fair and Sign Up Online!

AIEF welcomes students and parents to visit the fair and interact with representatives from a broad range of U.S. schools, including language programs, community colleges, four-year colleges, and graduate programs. To expedite the registration process, you are encouraged to sign up online in advance at: http://www.uscampus.com/eposter/spring05_aief_engtw.html .

2005-03-13 / Taiwan News, Staff Reporter /