Celebrating Our Wolfpack World

NC State’s campus welcomed more than 1,500 international students from 60 countries this semester, including graduate students, undergraduate students, exchange students and non-degree seeking students.

To celebrate the international diversity of our campus community, the Office of Global Engagement and its units held the first welcome celebration during Wolfpack Welcome Week to bring together our diverse student populations and to highlight global opportunities for everyone on campus.

Students took pictures with international flags in front of the Belltower, enjoyed Howling Cow ice cream, and learned about global engagement at NC State.

“Our new and returning students from around the world bring vital global perspectives into our classrooms and the community,” said Bailian Li, senior vice provost for global engagement. “NC State has a long tradition of welcoming international students. We value our international students’ contributions to our campus in many ways, from conducting research as graduate students to teaching with a global dimension. They all bring different international experiences and cultural diversity to benefit our domestic students and local communities. For the benefit of every NC State student, we are creating more opportunities right here on campus for all students to be a part of a global experience at home.”

Welcome to the Wolfpack world:

• The Office of International Services welcomed over 1000 new graduate students and approximately 200 undergraduate students to campus this week from 60 different countries. NC State is proud to be home to the most diverse student body in North Carolina.
• The Study Abroad Office welcomed 104 new exchange students this year to study for a semester or a full year. These students come from 36 different institutions in 18 different countries.
• The Intensive English Program welcomed 82 new students and 19 returning students this year, where students are preparing for a degree program at NC State or improving their English skills for their careers.
• The Global Training Initiative welcomed 158 new SKEMA students to campus this fall, helping to connect and integrate the students into the community. A majority of students are pursuing master’s degrees in management, with others studying financial markets and investments, international business, and global management. Twenty-five of these students will be working towards a dual-degree with NC State.

In addition to welcoming the new international and exchange students to NC State, there are many opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to engage in global activities on campus:

• Get involved in Japanese events and language classes
• Learn about Chinese culture and language
• Visit our on-campus Passport Services to get your passport
• Attend the Triangle Global Health Conference in Talley Student Union
• Watch an international film in the Global Film Series
• Make an appointment with the Peace Corps recruiter

Learn more about international programs at NC State.

This post was originally published in Office of Global Engagement.