INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

Marcia Harris
Director of University Career Services

Visit to England, July 2006

In July, 2006, Marcia Harris, Director of University Career Services, visited England. During her visit,

1. She attended the biennial conference of the International Council of Experiential Learning (ICEL) in Lancaster at which she gave a presentation entitled "Students Speak Out on the Value of International Experiential Learning."The purpose of this conference was to learn more about a variety of experiential learning programs both in the US and other countries and ways to evaluate their effectiveness.
   
   
2. She visited with several UNC students who are engaged in internships in the UK and with UNC alumni who have provided the internships. These internships were generated this year by University Career Services as part of its new initiative to assist students to participate in international work experiences.
   
   Marcia also planned and hosted a reception for approximately 25 alumni who are working in London. The reception was co-sponsored by UNC's University Center for International Studies (UCIS). Through her visits and meeting UNC alums who work in London, Marcia learned more about the preparation that students need to have before going overseas for an internship. She plans to collaborate with the Offices of Study Abroad and UCIS to offer preparatory workshops for students before they engage in an international internship.Marcia was able to develop contacts for students interested in working n England next summer.
   
   
3. Marcia met with the directors of the Careers Office (British term) of the University of Westminster and Lancaster University to exchange information and ideas and to explore the possibility of a future exchange of student interns.