In honor of International Education Week (IEW), the Office of International Student Programs (ISP) will spotlight students each day who have shared what international education means to them. IEW is an initiative driven by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education that encourages educational institutions to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. The Office of International Student Programs is sponsoring activities and events all week, in collaboration with various campus departments, student clubs and community organizations. You can view the full schedule events by clicking here.
Our next student spotlight is Sota Hirayama, an exchange student from Sophia University in Japan, who is studying at Canisius for the 2016-2017 academic year.
Why did you choose to come to Canisius College?
“At first, I chose to come to the U.S. because there are many different races and people who study together and I wanted to meet different kinds of people. Specifically, I came to Canisius because it is a liberal arts school. There are small class sizes and the professors know my name and remember me. Members from ISP, like Molly, care about me and meet with me every week and that personal care is very helpful for me.”
Why is international education important?
“My major is management. I want to work in a company that practices all over the world so it is necessary to study about other countries. If I studied in Japan only, I could not fully understand aspects of other countries, so I choose to come here and meet many people of different backgrounds. It is very helpful for my career and future.”
Submitted by: Kathleen Brucato, director, Office of International Student Programs