Thank you, professors!

Upon arriving at their new universities, many students are unaware of what to expect in the first year. They expect to gain knowledge, make new friends, and have good times while finding a new sense of direction. But imagine facing those challenges in a new country! I felt the weight of all those challenges and struggles that come with the importance of getting an education. However, when I got to know the people at VIU, who are very kind and open-minded, they pointed me in the right direction and gave me their warm support. They had answers to all the different questions and lingering doubts I had as a student. In my view, student life is the best period of any person’s life, filled with sweet memories. In this period of time, students start their own lives, especially if the students are international students.

                I have learned a great many things from my professors and from VIU staff members. I believe they gave me a broader outlook and attitude toward life. I always found it exciting to prepare for exams with my friends and to complete group work, all of us working and facing pressure together. Our professors pushed us out of our comfort zones and encouraged us to do our best. They motivated us to learn more, to be open to diverse viewpoints, and to pursue internships. They supported us every step of the way.

                One of the proudest accomplishments of my life is having earned my master’s degree. I had a dream to get my master’s degree from an American university. I believe graduation is a time to celebrate the hard work, dedication, perseverance, and individual achievements that led to such a prestigious accomplishment. It is a time when the individual can reflect on this stage of life and be proud of completing this phase of the educational career. I am sure, for most of us, this was no easy task. Especially for those who had to manage their time carefully, attending classes, writing papers, working part-time jobs, tending to spouses and children, and spending time with friends. In my opinion, these are experiences we can reflect upon with pride and which lead us forward with ambition.                  

                Concerning my own future career path, I am heading in the right direction, diploma in hand, and I am very grateful to my VIU professors for providing me with this direction and support.

Written by Nafisa Ismailova 

Entrepreneurship

Are you thinking of starting your own business venture? Entrepreneurship can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience with an opportunity to be your own boss, set your own agenda and schedule, and make a decent living doing something you enjoy. However, successful entrepreneurship requires thorough reflection and market knowledge, in-depth planning, creativity, hard work, and determination. Do you have what it takes?

Let’s look at some of the characteristics and skills commonly associated with successful entrepreneurs.
■ Accepting of Risk:  Running your own business involves a certain degree of uncertainties. By definition, entrepreneurship is about responding to business uncertainties. Do you enjoy the thrill of taking calculated risks? Or are you the type that avoids uncertainties and likes to have full control of all activities?
■ Self-Reliant: Entrepreneurship can be very lonely and you have to make a lot of decisions on your own. The ability to trust your instincts is essential. You also cannot be afraid of rejection every now and then.
■ Persuasive:  Effective entrepreneurs are persuasive. If you cannot persuade your customers, employees, investors, or partners, you may find entrepreneurship to be challenging. The ability to sell your ideas with ease is fundamental to bringing people on board and closing deals. If you can persuade, you can sell.
■ Able to Negotiate: Because of the constraints on your business (time and money), you have to know how to negotiate for everything – from leases to contract terms to rates. Effective negotiation skills will help you save money and keep your business running smoothly.
■ Creative:  Are you able to think of new ways and ideas? Can you imagine new alternatives and creative ways to solve problems? Entrepreneurs must be able to think creatively to survive given the level of competition and limited resources. If you have insights and the ability to respond to challenges creatively, entrepreneurship may be a good fit for you.
■ Plugged Into a Support System:  Starting a business can be very stressful, lonely, and frustrating. Be sure you have a strong support system in place.  As a business owner, you will make many important decisions, especially within the first months of opening.  A key support person is a business mentor. A business mentor is someone who is experienced, successful, and willing to provide advice and guidance.

20 KEY QUESTIONS FOR STARTUP BUSINESS OWNERS

1. Why am I starting a business and what are my motivations?
2. What kind of business do I want and why?
3. Who are my ideal customers and how do I know them?
4. What products or services will my business provide and what gap am I filling?
5. Am I prepared to make the level of commitment and spend the time and money needed to get my business started?
6. What differentiates my business idea and its products or services from others in the marketplace?
7. Will my business be based on-ground, online, or both?
8. How many employees will I need in year one?
9. What types of suppliers do I need in terms of partnership?
10. How much is my initial investment? (Are you assuming, or do you really know?)
11. Will I need to get a loan from a bank, friends, family, or investors?
12. How quickly can I bring my products or services to market?
13. When is my breakeven point and how long will I wait before making a profit?
14. Who is my competition and do I know my competition well?
15. What is my pricing structure compared to my competition?
16. What is the legal structure of my business – sole proprietorship, S- Corporation, LLC?
17. What taxes do I need to pay, to whom and when?
18. What kind of insurance do I need – comprehensive or limited liability?
19. How will I manage my business and what is my organizational structure?
20. How will I advertise my business and do I have a marketing plan?

Written by Dr. Stephen Onu

Real-Life Entrepreneur: Patcharee Wetpisai

Recent MBA graduate Patcharee Wetpisai took Dr. Onu’s entrepreneurship advice to heart in taking advantage of opportunities to grow her own family business. Read her story here:

Patcharee stands in her graduation cap and gown, surrounded by family

I am a 2014 VIU graduate with a double MBA major in HR Management and Marketing Management. For me, graduation was the key that opened the door to my professional life. I had the HR experience and passion to develop the employer brand and to solve the problem of employee turnover in Thailand. As the oldest in my family, I have to take on responsibilities in my family’s cosmetics business. Now I use my HR and marketing knowledge helping my father in customer relationship management, as well as doing some market research for more effective product development program.

Studying at VIU helped me to achieve strong business connections with friends from all over the world. Within two days of graduation, I established new export opportunities to African countries and the United States because of the strong VIU global network. My job now is very enjoyable.  My every day work is all about learning new things in the real business world. I am hoping that someday I will get a chance to fulfill my dream of improving HR function by starting my very own company!

A Day in the Life of a VIU Student: Koheita Nagai

When Koheita Nagai arrived in the USA from Japan in May 2013, the only English words he knew were “Hello” and “Good morning.” At first, life was difficult – no English, no friends, nowhere to settle down. However, after six months, his life in America has improved dramatically; he improved his English, found a great place to live and made friends from all over the world. As we followed Ko, as he is affectionately known, around for a day, we learned many more things about him and what it’s like to be a VIU student in the USA. So, get comfortable and ride along, as Ko shows us how he goes about his daily life.

“I saved money to study in America.”
In Japan, I delivered pizzas on my motorbike to save money to come to the US. It was my dream to study
abroad in the US, and I worked very hard toward my goal. Life here is exciting because everything is new for me; even the things that would not be special to me back in Japan are special to me here just because they are American! Finding a great school, especially the best ESL program was one of my goals. A friend of mine suggested VIU to me because of its affordability and quality, and I am so glad I chose it.

“Sometimes my roommates wake me up!”
I used to live with an American host family to improve my English, but they were not around enough for me to improve much. Shortly after, I moved to another accommodation, provided for students by VIU. My roommates are from India and Ethiopia. I usually wake up at 7 am to prepare for school, but sometimes my roommates have to wake me up, to be honest. I take a bus from Fair Oaks Mall at 8:00am and arrive at school by 8:20 am. Class runs from at 8:45 – 3:00 pm. During my short break time, I usually eat a sandwich, salad or pizza with my peers.

“The ESL program helps me achieve my academic goals.”
The very first week, classes were kind of scary; I felt that my classmates’ English proficiency was better than mine. But, it got better because of the excellent instructors and my own efforts. The teachers always give good examples, answer questions thoroughly and help us speak English in class. I developed these skills and also practiced my English during ESL Club activities, such as the Hiking Club. All in all, I have found studying English in VIU’s ESL Program to be a helpful step toward achieving my academic goals.

“Bowling with friends is fun!”
I am not fan of staying at home; instead I love to explore new things. Playing billiard with my roommates at
the apartment is one of the favorite things to do. When I was in Japan, I didn’t use to cook by myself. In contrast, here I often cook food like Japanese curry, a pizza called “Okonomiyaki” and other food that my Indian roommates taught me to make. We usually eat together while talking and watching TV, and do assignments afterwards. There is a gym in my apartment building where I go twice a week. On weekends, I usually wake up at 10:00 am if there are no school activities. We spend the weekend watching movies, listening to music and going bowling, which is fun!

“Living alone abroad has made me more confident.”
VIU’s multinational students opened my eyes to the various cultures and religious of the world. Having all of us here gives us a chance to compare our cultural practices. For instance, whenever I meet people in the US, I need to say “Hello, how are you” whereas in Japan, I would never say that to a stranger. Furthermore, it was very uncomfortable for me to keep my shoes on at home. I had to get used to them. I have gone everywhere by myself in the US, which is good for me; it helped me gain confidence. Coming to VIU and the United States on my own made it possible for me to learn how to live alone and how important friends are!

Scholarships Part II: Tips for Scholarship Applicants

Do Your Research
  • There are search sites which pull scholarships from many sources. Find a site that you like and create an account! Check back often for new and updated scholarships.
  • Find out what department is responsible for scholarships at your school and become familiar with the scholarship offerings, requirements, and deadlines.
  • Never pay to apply for a scholarship. If you are asked to pay a fee in order to apply, it’s probably a scam!

Know What Makes You Unique
  • Find your niche and maximize on it; you would be surprised what types of scholarships are out there. What are your scholastic interests? What are your hobbies? Do you have a unique family situation? Have you overcome an obstacle? Use your experiences to your advantage!

Start Early
  • Do not procrastinate when you’re working on a scholarship application. Build plenty of time into your schedule to complete applications, write and revise essays, and meet deadlines!

Persevere!
  • Don’t give up! If you don’t receive one scholarship, keep trying for others.

Preparing Global Leaders: 15 Years of Excellence

Global leaders possess an exceptional set of characteristics which make them stand out and enable them to succeed. Three key factors help educate young people to empower them to become future global leaders. First, it takes a special vision and a visionary who can guide those young people and all those impacting them. Second, it takes a unique environment that challenges students and feels safe, at the same time. Finally, it takes a culture of success, in which leadership skills are nurtured in a practical way. VIU has been preparing students to be global leaders from its very founding, 15 years ago. Here is the story of our accomplishments, at a glance.

The Visionary
VIU founder, Dr. Isa Sarac, has been involved in the higher education field for most of his life. Holding multiple graduate-level degrees, Dr. Sarac has been a professor, a researcher, an education publisher and a university founder. Having already founded a successful university in London, he wanted to replicate and improve on that experience in the United States.  When Dr. Isa Sarac founded Virginia International University (VIU) in 1998, he did so with a set of core values that still serve as the foundation of VIU today. Those values of openness, diversity, innovation and peace-building come out of Dr. Sarac’s conviction that education is the main tool to build peace throughout the world. By founding an institution of higher education wherein students can come from diverse national, cultural, and social backgrounds and study alongside each other in the classroom, Dr. Sarac has truly made this vision a reality. Today, VIU is a place where there is real freedom to exchange ideas, backgrounds and grow together.

The Growth

Since 1998, when VIU officially opened its doors and began achieving the goal of providing the highest quality of education, it has shown consistent growth. An institution that began with a handful of students in the Fall 1999 semester, had 25 times more students by Fall 2005!  In 2010, VIU’s students more than doubled again, representing more than 50 countries across the globe.  In this same year, VIU opened the School of Online Education. Students can now enroll in, study, and earn a degree or certificate from all over the world, both here on our campus in the Washington DC metropolitan area, and through our online classrooms. We launched many new in-demand programs along the way, as we increased our numbers of students, faculty and staff.

The Commitment
VIU is committed to providing a better education for a better world. Through a student-centered approach, we provide the most positive environment for learning available anywhere. Our programs are structured to allow students great flexibility in the design and direction of their own studies. As part of our commitment to give back to the community, students are encouraged to apply for a variety of scholarships and to work in the university as student representatives in their field. This provides them with practical, hands-on knowledge that they can take with them into the real world.

The Global Success
Throughout their time at VIU, our students’ leadership skills are developed and nurtured, and they graduate fully prepared to make a positive difference in their communities as they enter the workforce. Our success can be seen in the success of our alumni: so many of them are leaders in their fields, some staying in the local area and others going back to make positive changes in their home countries.
VIU alumni are leaders in many areas: several of them head various government agencies around the world, from leading communications in the embassy of a Middle Eastern country to strategic planning at the Ministry of Mineral and Energy Resources of a Central Asian nation. Others work in large multinational corporations like Deloitte, Ernst & Young, in international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank or in large technology companies like IBM, Cisco and Google. Entrepreneurship also runs strong at VIU; after graduating with prestigious VIU MBAs, several alumni have started their own businesses: a school in the Far East, a textile mill in South Asia, a technology firm in Africa. And yet other alumni surprise us, becoming executives in fields as varied as American media and the European air and space industry. One thing remains certain: wherever our alumni end up, they are well equipped to lead with the preparation and practical experience they have gained at VIU.

The Appreciation
The year 2013 marked an important milestone for our university, as our doors have been open for 15 years.  15 years of providing education to a diverse student body, 15 years of making educational dreams come true, and 15 years of building the future together.
Our president Dr. Sarac would like to highlight many great people who have been instrumental in VIU’s growth and development. Starting with his own family, initial investors in his dream, as well as Richard J. Ernst, Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, Jennifer Watts, Dr. Bishnu Poudel, Dr. Habib Khan, Mr. Tarik Celik, Mr. Hasan Karaburk, Dr. Laura Hills, Dr. Gail Whitaker, and Dr. Masha Vassilieva, and so many more individuals whose contributions are unparalleled. We would also like to express our deepest gratitude to all the wonderful staff, current and former, alumni, current students and friends and supporters that have made VIU succeed. We have become more than we could have ever dreamed, because of them.

The Bright Future
In the last 15 years, VIU has not only broadened its brand and global reach but expanded physically, growing to 4 campuses. VIU has also been a continuous innovator, providing superior education through faculty and staff who go to the latest conferences and participate in research in their fields as well as the latest technological advances, including the VIU app and even an electronic text-based student alert system.
As we look back on these 15 years of excellence, we see our alumni becoming successful global leaders in business, technology and education sectors and we see our current students excel in their fields. In looking towards the bright future, all of us here at VIU are excited to see what the next 15 years of excellence will hold for our institution, and we firmly believe that the best is yet to come.

Founding the Latin American Culture Club

VIU has many different student clubs: the African Pride Club, the IT Club, and the Indian Spirit Club, among many others. Students create the clubs themselves, based on their interests. Through their participation in club activities, students get to know each other and form a close-knit community of peers, a closeness that defines VIU. One of the newest additions is the Latin American Culture Club (LAC2). Colombian MBA student Maria Del Mar Garces is the vice president of LAC2. Created with the purpose of establishing cultural exchanges between VIU students from Latin America and students at VIU and in the surrounding community, the club hopes to make a difference through community service, cultural activities, film forums, festivities and commemorative celebrations, culinary events, and health and fitness awareness. Besides Maria, club officers include Sileni del Moral, Paulette Zegarra, Veronica Enriquez, and Armando Mori. Maria and the other club members feel that it is their duty to make everyone feel welcome at the university. “We want other students to learn the Spanish language and create a strong connection with Latin American culture.”

Maria (in yellow) stands with other LAC2 officers

Maria received a bachelor’s degree in industrial and product design and worked for five years in the field of design for large Colombian companies. She is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration in Marketing Management at Virginia International University. “My decision to study at VIU was always clear. I felt that this school cared about me and my goals when I took my first course. VIU gave me what I was really looking for,” says Maria. After graduation, she would like to apply all her acquired knowledge and work for a large company in Colombia. “Returning to Colombia with an MBA from an American university and a fluency in English would dramatically contribute to my professional life. I will be the product marketing manager of a large company and an expert in brand management.” Likewise, she has always been very curious about the behavior of the brain in purchasing decisions.  She hopes to expand her knowledge of neurosciences and combine it with her knowledge of marketing and industrial design. “Combining these two fields with neuromarketing is my primary professional objective.” Until then, Maria will put her branding skills to work getting the Latin American Culture Club’s name out in the VIU community and helping to build what the group trusts will be a long-lasting presence at VIU.

Scholarships Part I: Our Students' Success is VIU's Success

It is well-known that students feel more motivated when they are recognized for their effort and hard work, and as a result, they are more likely to be engaged in activities proposed by their professors and university. Thus, the question is: what is the best way for a university to acknowledge and promote student accomplishments and support students on their dreams at the same time? The answer is: SCHOLARSHIPS!

Virginia International University has a history of supporting its students. Since it was founded, VIU has been awarding scholarships to full-time undergraduate and graduate students as a way to recognize students who have special talents, demonstrate academic excellence, or actively participate in on-campus activities. VIU has been offering different types of scholarships throughout the years, always expanding in order to benefit more students. Right now, there are seven types of scholarships which are available for eligible prospective and current students: fresh start (for transferring students); student activity (for students who are strongly engaged in on-campus activities); campus employment (for those students who work on campus); special achievement (for students who demonstrate a special talent); new horizon (for students who come from countries which face economic and political problems); and deans and presidential (for students with exceptional academic results). Scholarships are available for both on-campus and online students. Over the years, more and more students have been granted scholarships at VIU. When students receive scholarships, they tend to exceed their own expectations by putting more efforts into achieving their academic goals. And our students’ success is VIU’s success. Written by Camilla Nunes.

VIU Scholarships: What the Students Say

Ali Iqbal Murshed
MBA in Global Logistics

Never considering myself an “A” student, I always struggled with academics. However, since coming to VIU, the supportive learning environment has consistently inspired me to regain interest in learning, which has reflected in my recent academic successes. My professors were generous enough to write some excellent recommendations for me and my past experiences certainly did pay off by adding much needed credentials for the selection committee to consider. Receiving this scholarship has boosted my confidence to a whole new level and motivated me to continue to strive for excellence in the future. I must also mention that VIU has given considerable attention to providing financial support for international students whereas many other well known institutions surprisingly do not have such facilities.

Faria Islam
MBA in International Finance

It came to me as a pleasant surprise when I realized that I was one of the proud recipients selected for the Special Achievement scholarship this year. As this was my first semester at VIU, I really did not expect to be awarded a scholarship.  As an international student I have gone through lots of challenges, one of them being financial challenges. This scholarship has really helped me by reducing some of the pressure. Moreover, this is the first time studying and staying outside of my country and I was expecting it to be tough. But with VIU, the transition has been very smooth, as I have been helped by the university at every step. Everyone has been a great support to me.

Diplomatic Connections

Virginia International University has had great diplomatic connections, as a result of its diverse student body and active community outreach. Recently, VIU officials began the latest series of meetings with ambassadors as well as cultural and educational attachés in order to foster relationships with officials in partner countries, receive advice and connections with other educational institutions abroad, and have embassy officials participate in VIU events. Ambassadors have been quite active in VIU life for its entire history; they attend VIU events as speakers, as well as to meet with President Sarac, faculty, and students. Both the Mongolian and Kazakh ambassadors visited VIU, and Dr. Sarac paid visits to the embassies of Hungary, Qatar, and Austria to meet with their ambassadors. Additionally, some of VIU faculty and staff have met with attachés at the embassies of Mexico, Peru, Liechtenstein, Croatia, and Morocco.
[The photograph on the left features VIU President Dr. Isa Sarac (right) with H.E. Mohammed Jaham Al Kuwari, Ambassador of Qatar to the United States of America (left).]

What's Next in Online Education?

Over the last decade, there has been a tangible shift in education towards online programs. While online programs have not replaced the on-campus experience, they have come a long way from their beginnings, both in terms of technology & culture.

In the early days of online or distance education, students would read some material, send in their coursework via email, and visit a local testing center for their exams. Despite the recent rise and popularization of distance learning, it is not new – it has been around for several decades, with mail-in courses and lectures on VHS tapes that long-time professionals in the field still remember sending to their students. The recent rise of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), however, has prompted major research universities around the world to quickly increase their numbers of online offerings and has led to a cultural change in the way that society now views online learning. While online learning is still not as widely accepted as regular on-campus education, attitudes are changing for the better – after all, if Harvard has online courses, it must be ok, right?

MOOCs: What, Where and Why?
So, what are these MOOCs that have education leaders worried? MOOCs stands for “Massive Open Online Courses” and they are just that – online courses that are open to all, which usually makes for a very high number of registered students. These courses are usually free, which provides the access to all, with occasional option to pay for an extra certificate. In the past few years, several large companies and non-profits such as Coursera, EdX and Udacity, have arisen, making MOOCs even more popular and accessible, offering interesting courses in various fields from professors at top world institutions. These courses are user-friendly and can be attended by anyone from anywhere, as long as they have a good internet connection. To give an idea of just how massive these courses (and companies) have become, we can look at Coursera alone, which boasts 5,592,076 students, 543 courses and 107 partners. And this is what has the traditional education community worried – that students will now opt for free MOOCs instead of the traditional college degree. However, the MOOCs do not actually provide college degrees! And the vast majority of people taking these individual courses are doing so only for their own professional development or amusement. There is no need to fear MOOCs; in fact, they actually serve the entire field of distance learning in popularizing online education and making it more mainstream and, therefore, acceptable, as well as in forcing institutions to spend more time, money and effort on their online classes ensuring the continued high quality of online education. I am not alone in my view; at the 19th Annual Sloan Consortium International Conference on Online Learning, which took place in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on November 20-23, 2013, Daphne Koller, Co-founder of Coursera, stated that most “Courserians” are taking courses to further their own professional development. “I don’t know about your field, but a lot has changed in my field of computer science since I received my degree,” Koller joked.

Online Education Growth
So, if the MOOCs will not take over online education, what will happen? Well, there is a lot of great news. First, it has shown consistent growth over the last ten years. According the 2012 Survey of Online Learning, conducted by the Babson Survey Research Group, over 6.7 million students are now taking at least one online course, and 32% of higher education students now take at least one course online. Finally, while individual faculty members and members of the public are still unsure of the quality of online higher education as compared to on-campus, according to the same Babson survey, 77% of academic leaders rate the learning outcomes in online education as the same or even superior to those in face-to-face classes.

Online Education in Practice
Having experienced online education from all angles, as a student, a professor and administrator and even a marketer, I can state from personal experience that online education is a very practical and cost-effective way to study and earn a degree. In fact, in several recent unofficial student surveys, online education was rated as having the best value. In speaking to online students here at Virginia International University, most comment on how convenient it is. Because the classes are so flexible, they can accommodate any schedule, leaving students in all time zones able to work, maintain family responsibilities and study at times convenient to them. Most students cite an initial fear of online courses, as they are unused to them and not sure what to expect; and then, without exception, all are pleasantly surprised by how interactive the courses are and how much support and feedback they receive from their VIU Online professors.

In conclusion, recent technological developments and adoption of online learning by leading educational institutions has made it easier for online learning to enter the mainstream. With competition created by the propagation of online learning, also spurred on by MOOCs, now is the absolute best time to enroll in an online degree program to take advantage of the latest advances and gain the best value. Written by Katherine Magalif.

African Bridge to Education: Alex John Luketa

Virginia International University students and alumni are passionate about business, technology, innovation, and bringing change to their communities. One of our most passionate alumni is Alex John Luketa from Tanzania, whose passion is connecting African students with education opportunities in the US at VIU. Having graduated with an MBA in International Business Management, one of Alex’s most important lessons learned during his time at VIU was “you will not win if you don’t try.” This principle was true for Alex throughout his career – first, when he applied to VIU and was accepted, and then when, in an effort to improve his business and communication skills, he applied for an on-campus position. When Alex applied for a VIU scholarship, he succeeded! “I realized that at VIU everything is possible; it is possible to meet diverse students, experienced professors, and gain global connections,” said Alex of his success.

Alex is excited about sharing that success with other students who just need that last little push to realize that wherever they come from, they too can apply to VIU, study hard, and succeed. As a student, Alex became a country representative for Tanzania, connecting academic institutions in his home country with VIU. He even traveled to Tanzania and met with representatives of many universities, as well as students, teachers, and parents, to answer their questions and encourage young people to pursue their dreams, just like he did.

Recently, Alex has expanded his role to connect students not just in Tanzania but throughout Africa by helping them to apply to VIU so they too get a chance at an excellent American degree. Alex sums it up perfectly: “I have learned a lot from VIU, and I have discovered that many people fail because they don’t try. If we can learn how to try whenever we see an opportunity, it is possible to achieve what we want to achieve. I also believe that the education I have attained should not simply be a diploma, but go beyond that. The community in which I am living should benefit through my knowledge, so that I may inspire the young generation to believe in education and opportunity.” And we at VIU are proud that we have Alex, such a motivated, passionate individual serving as VIU’s own African bridge to education.

"Selfies" Go Viral

Selfies are becoming more and more popular these days and the word is becoming more widely used by young people and older generations alike. Even NASA took advantage of this pop culture trend with their “Global Selfie” Earth Day initiative in which they asked people from all around the world to snap and then submit their own selfies. On their Facebook page, NASA Climate Change posted that they’d received around 50,000 photos through various social media platforms. If you need more proof of the selfie phenomenon, turn on the radio and maybe you’ll hear the song “#SELFIE” by the Chainsmokers. The song jokes of young people’s obsession with cheesing for their own cameras.

Recently, VIU students – and even VIU President Dr. Sarac! – have jumped into the selfie craze. They can be spotted taking photos of themselves and preserving memories with their friends at fun events like the Alumni Dinner and graduation.

Students Will Pursue Policy-Related Internships in the Capital

If you are interested in politics-domestic or global-and if you crave the excitement of electoral competition, high-wired campaigns, and policy making, you can hardly find a better location than Fairfax, Virginia. The School of Public & International Affairs (SPIA) at VIU is relatively young, yet from its opening, its two programs of Masters in International Relations (MIR) and Masters of Public Administration (MPA) were set to take full advantage of this opportune location and its immediate access to the three levels of US politics: federal, state, and local.

VIU is located just minutes away from the US capital, which allows students easy access to Congress, all federal government institutions, more than 350 policy think tanks, and the headquarters of major multinational organizations (such as the World Bank and IMF). In the past year, many of our faculty and students attended academic conferences and workshops at some of these institutions, and a number of our students will be pursuing policy-related internships in the capital. Next fall, most of SPIA’s new faculty will be coming from these top institutions. In terms of state politics, Virginia has emerged as a key battleground state in the last two elections.  Major demographic changes in Northern Virginia in the last decade have significantly altered the political nature of the commonwealth, bringing a realignment in state politics and turning Virginia  into one of the most hotly contested swing states in the nation. This started in 2008 when Barack Obama won the state by 7% over John McCain, and reached a peak level in 2012 when Virginia again became one of 13 key states where the result was to be decided by the smallest of margins, less than 4%.  In a state where every vote can make a difference, the intensity of the electoral campaigns in terms of on-ground volunteer effort, get-out-the-vote mobilization, and public appearances by the President and his challenger is momentous – presenting our students with  a lot of opportunities to directly observe and participate in these practices of the political process. For those specifically interested in organizing campaigns, running for office, and working on the electoral and media side of politics, the battleground status of the state provides a key unique element for an overall US-based educational experience.

Finally, in terms of local administration, VIU is situated in one of the most affluent, efficient, diverse, economically bustling, highly educated, and forward-oriented states in America.  Fairfax County is an over-achiever in a lot of areas:  with an unemployment rate of less than 4% (half the national average), the county essentially offers employment to everyone who seeks a job. Fairfax County has the largest concentration of technology jobs of any major US market, receives billions of dollars in US government contacts every year, is home to 10 Fortune 500 company headquarters, and has recently been voted “One of the great economic success stories of our time” and “One of the most desirable places to live and work in the United States.” In addition to being at the cutting edge of economic development, the county is also exceptional in its public policy administration.

As the SPIA expands, its Public Administration Program will partner with Fairfax County and its various departments to offer SPIA students hands-on experience and internships at the county level.  This will expose our students to some of the best administrative and policy-making practices in the field, and will help them establish valuable professional ties and networking opportunities for the future. In a nutshell, our special location makes the SPIA degrees even more exciting, hands-on, and valuable. Written by Dr. Klara Bilgin.

Conference Attracts Educators from Around the World

With well over 200 participants from all around the world, the inaugural Conference on Language, Learning, & Culture (CLLC), organized by the VIU School of Education, was a major success.  Attendees represented institutions from four continents including North America, South America, Africa, and Asia; the CLLC additionally hosted teacher-practitioners, researchers, business leaders, and community services from over 70 organizations. The 2014 theme, “Innovations at the Intersection of Language, Learning, and Culture,” sought to frame educational experiences as ideally meeting the needs of diverse students, their communities, and the various stakeholders who can benefit from high-quality, socially responsive language programs.
“The speakers were what most attracted me to this conference. It is remarkable that the CLLC was able to

Dr. Ken Petersen, American Councils, Keynote Address

attract such renowned and sought-after speakers its very first year,” said one participant. The event kicked off with a keynote address by Dr. Ken Petersen, Technical Director for Online Learning and Assessment for American Councils for International Education. Dr. Petersen provided insight into how technology is currently used in the classroom and the direction that the field of education is moving.  He observed that today’s classrooms need to meet the needs of learners when, where, and how they currently participate in society.  His call to action urges that teachers connect to the technology their students are already using.  Dr. Petersen demonstrated that the field of education and language teaching needs to keep pace with the technology at hand.
After the first keynote address, participants broke out into paper sessions and workshops. Since the conference was organized around four relevant strands in the field of language learning, there were a variety of fascinating presentations. The strands included: language learning and development; pedagogical considerations; program evaluation and policy; and language in society. Session topics as diverse as a psycholinguistic approach to second language learning to using Mariachi as pedagogy attracted participants and engendered much lively discussion.
Following the first set of sessions, Dr. Shelley Wong, a professor at George Mason University and past TESOL president, addressed the audience. With a critical focus on inclusion in the classroom, Dr. Wong’s talk was centered on the rights of students in our classrooms.  She urged that the call to social action and social responsibility around the issue of immigration rights is a key responsibility of teachers, policy makers, and the US government.  She also stressed that the key issue in improving communities as a whole is ensuring that all students are able to receive an education and improve their lives.
The later sessions included several workshops, including one by VIU’s own Dr. Marietta Bradinova on non-verbal communication and cross-cultural differences. Dr. Bradinova started off her workshop by having attendees think about whether certain non-verbal signals were appropriate in their cultures or not. Nodding her head, she asked “does this mean ‘yes’ or ‘no’?” Conflicting responses from across the room led participants to the first of many signals that differ across cultures and continents. In small discussion groups, participants worked out a practical approach to solving cross-cultural communication challenges. “This is the best communication workshop I have ever attended,” commented a smiling participant from the southern United States to a colleague from Canada, as both walked to their next workshop.
The 2014 CLLC ended with a keynote address by Dr. Terrence G. Wiley, President and CEO of the Center for Applied Linguistics. As a guiding light in the fields of education and linguistics, Dr. Wiley framed the discussion around focusing on priorities in language education policies in the United States.  In particular, he noted that the United States is a multilingual society built upon a long history of immigration, a fact which is often missed in a narrative around “English only” policy and thought.  This discussion demonstrated that the US is a diverse society in which various languages color and enhance the multicultural tapestry that is at its core.

Kevin Martin, Director of the VIU School of Education

The conference received much positive feedback from its many participants. VIU Vice President of Academic Affairs, Ms. Badamsukh Yadamsuren, noted, “This conference has impacted so many people on such a wide scale, within several different academic areas. I am especially impressed by how many people traveled from such great distances.” Participants praised the quality of speakers, the highly relevant topics, and the interesting strands of CLLC 2014, which allowed for many fascinating papers, workshops, keynotes, and poster sessions. Many have written back stating that they have shared their newly-acquired knowledge with colleagues and are utilizing the best practices in their own teaching and research.
“I am incredibly grateful for the support of my colleagues at VIU and across the globe,” beamed VIU School of Education Director and CLLC organizer Mr. Kevin Martin.  “We could not have organized this conference without them. The event was completely sold out, and we already have a lot of interest in next year’s topic. We are excited to grow and expand in 2015!”

About the Participants
30% Foreign
70% North American
North American Locations
Canada, Maine, Mississippi, California, Missouri, Texas, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC

AFFILIATIONS
Participants were affiliated with Georgetown University, George Mason University, American University, Center for Applied Linguistics, Fayetteville State University, CUNY, Florida International University, ICLS, Mentora College, SUNY, Literacy Council of Montgomery County, Literacy Council of NOVA, Old Dominion University, Qatar University, Northern Virginia Community College, the Global Language Network, University of Pennsylvania, Trinity University Washington, UMASS, University of Maryland, and Texas A&M University, among others.