AIESEC at Georgia Tech in the Media

Georgia Tech's AIESEC Chapter Promotes Global Outlook

David Beasley - Atlanta - 04.07.10

The April 5 event, sponsored by Georgia Tech's chapter of the international student group  AIESEC, was designed to celebrate Georgia Tech's diversity while also encouraging students to travel abroad for conferences and internships. There are students at Tech from 104 countries, according to the university's  Office of International Education.

Kate Wharton, a sophomore at Georgia Tech who is president of the AIESECchapter there, is proof of the opportunities offered by the organization.

In less than two years as a member of AIESEC, she has been to the organization's conferences in  Istanbul, Turkey,   and  Guatemala City,  Guatemala. Georgia Tech helped pay her way.

"One of the advantages of going to these conferences is gaining a global network ," Ms. Wharton, a native of Cincinnatti, told  GlobalAtlanta. "In Istanbul there were 52 countries represented. So I know people from 52 countries. I have contacts, I have friends because of being a member of AIESEC ."

AIESEC, which in English stands for International Association of Students in Economics and Business, was founded in 1948 in  Stockholm, Sweden,   as a way to help rebuild  Europe after World War II by encouraging students to think globally, leading to greater international cooperation.

It now has chapters in 107 countries and 1,700 universities. In the  United States, there are 36 chapters, with three in Georgia: Georgia Tech,  Georgia State University and the  University of Georgia. Former presidents of the Georgia Tech chapter,  Missy Shields and  Tiffany Curtiss, have gone from heading the local chapter to leading the U.S. branch of AIESEC.

In addition to conferences throughout the world, AIESEC members are eligible for internships abroad with companies, non-profit organizations and governments ranging from two to 18 months in duration.

Georgia Tech's Global Village event was  part of a week of university-wide events called CultureFest which also included an international food fair and a movie series.

More than 20 student groups participated in the Global Village, with students who got their "passports" stamped by at least 10 groups eligible for a free t-shirt. 

Georgia Tech graduate student  Kazi Rahman worked at a booth representing the  Bangladesh Student Association, which has 35 members.

The booth helped Georgia Tech students learn more about Bangladesh, said Mr. Rahman, who was born there and moved away at age 4.

"A lot of people didn't know where Bangladesh was," he said. "Exposure is a big deal for us."

A global perspective will help Tech students as they enter the job market upon graduation, said Ms. Wharton, who is majoring in economics and international affairs.

"Companies understand the importance of having a very broad education, not only in your courses but in the things you do outside, " she said . "Working, not only domestically but internationally, gives you a huge edge ."

A survey of more than 200 CEOs by the  Institute of International Education backs up her contention, with more than 60 percent saying they pursue and reward job candidates with study abroad experience.

For more information click  here.