The Middle for World Applications and The Knowlton Middle for Profession Exploration at Denison College just lately hosted Columbus Connections for Worldwide College students (hereafter known as Columbus Connections), a fall break occasion to attach worldwide college students at Denison with worldwide scholar alumni and employers within the Columbus, Ohio space.
The occasion was held at Denison Edge, an extension of the Knowlton Middle that gives supplementary profession and skill-building experiences for school college students and up to date graduates. Practically 30 Denison worldwide college students attended the occasion as the primary cohort of this pilot program.
Whereas many college college students could return residence to go to household or go away our residential campus throughout fall break, worldwide college students are sometimes extra restricted, particularly college students who will not be but as accustomed to the US or with our neighborhood. An intentionally-designed program throughout this time presents college students a chance to community, be engaged of their educational and profession journeys, and socialise with their friends.
The 2-hour occasion included a panel of audio system – all worldwide scholar alumni working in Columbus – adopted by lunch and roundtables with native employers. Panelists and roundtable members included representatives from Kimball Midwest, The Ohio State College, JP Morgan Chase, Nationwide Youngsters’s Hospital, Owens Corning, and Park Nationwide Financial institution.
Columbus Connections was organised by Joshua Gory, assistant director of worldwide scholar advising & profession teaching. He stated: “I developed the Columbus Connections for Worldwide College students occasion to supply an in-person, networking and profession exploration alternative designed particularly for worldwide college students.
“Whereas there are a variety of extremely impactful networking occasions they’ll attend, navigating these occasions might be difficult as a result of some employers is probably not educated about, or open to, hiring college students with curricular sensible coaching (CPT) and elective sensible coaching (OPT), or could not sponsor a visa.”
Connecting with employers in a purposeful setting permits college students to observe networking expertise and be taught what employers worth in job candidates. As one scholar famous: “My favorite half was the open networking session throughout lunch. It gave me the possibility to satisfy professionals in my subject and ask them about real-world profession experiences. I feel these connections will likely be invaluable after I begin making use of for internships, as I now have a clearer understanding of what expertise are wanted and find out how to place myself.”
One key piece of recommendation that stood out to me was to begin constructing a private model early
Pupil who attended the occasion
The occasion additionally bolstered the worth of presence on-line, and starting an expert branding initiative early in a scholar’s school journey, efforts that Denison strives to bolster by way of advising practices in each facilities. As one other scholar famous: “One key piece of recommendation that stood out to me was to begin constructing a private model early. By sharing my experiences and expertise on-line, I can create a stronger skilled presence, which is able to make it simpler to face out in a aggressive job market.”
Alumni panelists who take part in any such programming can present invaluable views on navigating internships and careers as a world scholar. It is usually vital, nevertheless, to make sure that alternatives like Columbus Connections are simply accessible. World Applications and Knowlton have been happy to have the ability to provide transportation to the occasion, on condition that campus is roughly 30 miles east of Columbus, and supply lunch for gratis for individuals, assuaging ancillary challenges that will in any other case discourage scholar engagement.
As Melanie Murphy, director of profession communities and training for the Knowlton Middle, famous: “Offering a chance for our worldwide college students to profit from their fall break by networking with native employers signifies that college students not solely see the significance of connecting with employers throughout their time at Denison, however how essential it’s to construct and keep relationships in our better neighborhood.” Denison intends to proceed serving as a powerful mannequin for worldwide scholar success, by way of applications like Columbus Connections, that present alternatives past the educational calendar.
In regards to the writer:
Dr. Kelly McGee is director of the middle for international applications at Denison College the place she oversees operations for off-campus research, worldwide scholar assist, and the multilingual studying workplace. Her educational background as a sovietologist, alongside along with her expertise main Russian language immersion applications for undertaking international officers (a Division of Protection language initiative), is formative to her philosophy round work in worldwide schooling. Kelly’s skilled expertise spans positions in greater schooling, authorities and government-adjacent work, and the non-profit sphere.
