Orientation Helps Students Prepare for Experience in U.S. Schools

06/25/2009

During the Pre-Departure Orientation, students outlined their goals and expectations for their educational experience in the U.S.

A group of 28 students and scholars prepared for their upcoming journeys to study and teach at American universities at a recent orientation session, where they learned the nuts-and-bolts of travel logistics, dealing with medical issues, academic expectations and opportunities for acting as cultural ambassadors for Uzbekistan.

Each of the participants is preparing to study in the U.S. through the Global Undergraduate Exchange (Global UGRAD), Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship or Fulbright Foreign Student exchange programs, which are administered by the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent. The Pre-Departure Orientation covered many of the issues they will face during their period of study, with the goal of helping them have a successful and productive experience.

“Living and studying in a completely different environment is a big challenge, and we want to give the students all the knowledge and tools we can to ease the transition and make their programs a success,” said Carrie Lee, the Cultural Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent. “The Pre-Departure Orientation is our chance to answer questions about everything from where to buy course books to what to wear to class. We want our participants to know from the beginning that we are here to help and support them.”

The orientation outlined expectations and gave all sorts of practical advice: how to set up a bank account; where to go if they have medical problems; how to register with the university and meet with academic advisors; how to choose classes and figure out the right amount of coursework; and ways to deal with homesickness and cultural differences. Speakers strongly encouraged the students to seek out new experiences, from attending American football games to traveling around and participating in academic conferences.

Several previous participants in U.S. educational programs also offered advice based on their own experiences at American universities.

One of the alumni participants, Jalol Nasirov, encouraged the students to seek out an internship that would enhance their studies and lay the groundwork for starting a career when they return to Uzbekistan. Nasirov, who studied Business Administration at Ball State University in Indiana on the UGRAD program in 2006-2007, said his internship with a financial advising company was one of the most important aspects of his experience.

“It took me three or four months of searching to find a good internship, but it was a great thing to jumpstart my career,” he said.

U.S. Ambassador Richard Norland told the participants that they could take pride in the fact that they were selected from the hundreds of students from all regions of Uzbekistan who had competed for spots in these educational programs. The U.S. Government pays for all educational, living, medical and other expenses of the programs.

He stressed that the programs are designed as both education and cultural exchanges.

“You will live in university dormitories and experience American customs; have an opportunity to travel around the country and celebrate American holidays,” he said. “You will also serve as cultural ambassadors for Uzbekistan, explaining your country and culture to your classmates and colleagues…. These scholarships will allow you to pursue your studies in the United States and also work to promote mutual understanding, as well as the economic, social, and democratic development of your country.”

The Global UGRAD Program allows undergraduate students from the nations of the former Soviet Union to study for one year at a U.S. community college or university. Students live in dormitories or with host families and are required to volunteer for community service projects and hold professional internships while they study.

The Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program allows graduate students and young professionals to study for one or two years at U.S. institutions of higher education. The program is designed to foster democratization and transition to market economies in Eurasia. Most fellows are in fields such as business administration, education, law, journalism and the social sciences.

Four of the orientation participants will study in the U.S. on the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, which is being administered by the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan for the first time. The program is for graduate students, young professionals and artists who want to study in the U.S. for one year or longer. Many students study in the humanities, hard sciences such as engineering, or social sciences.

The U.S. Embassy administers a range of educational exchange programs designed for high school and college students, graduate students, scholars and professionals. You can find out more about these programs here.