Metro International Brings International Education Week to Life!
Six Diverse Programs Help Tri-State Residents, International Students, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and Corporate Leaders Celebrate

New York City, November 14, 2005 - Throughout the month of November Metro International is bringing people together to celebrate international education as part of the 2005 International Education Week, November 14-18.

While International Education Week is a special opportunity for Metro International to celebrate, Metro spends every week of the year celebrating international education with programs and services that connect this area's 56,000 international students with New York City's 8 million residents. International students hail from every corner of the globe and annually contribute over $12.9 billion to the U.S. economy.

International Education Week, a joint effort of the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education, encourages policies and programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.    This week is an important occasion for us to promote the important experience that is international education--as stated by Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings, "Education is a shared value among all nations.   And, it is the key to progress and development--the development of a region, a nation and an individual life."

The following six exceptional Metro International events illustrate a few of the many people that benefit from international education:

Metro Kicks-Off International Education Week with the CBS Morning Show (Monday, November 14, 7:30 am)
International students and Fulbright scholars from around the world are invited to celebrate International Education Week by participating in the audience of the CBS Morning Show.   Be sure to tune in!

Student Conference on United States Affairs (SCUSA 57) Hosted By The United States Military Academy at West Point (Sunday, November 13 - Wednesday, November 16) : Metro International leads an elite delegation of 32 international students and Fulbright scholars to take part in the 57th Annual Student Conference on U.S. Affairs (SCUSA). Their presence literally helps shape the opinions of America's future military leaders as they debated global issues and formulated written proposals for U.S. foreign policy together with West Point cadets and over 200 American undergraduates.

International Recruitment Seminar (Friday, November 18)
International Educational Professionals are invited to join in this timely, all-day workshop which will provide a comprehensive survey of the key issues related to international student recruiting.   This workshop will address prospects for continued recruitment, including promising countries and effective tools and resources.   Special attention will also be given to the considerations, challenges, and opportunities faced by recruiters from large metropolitan areas like New York.    Co-sponsored by World Education Services (WES) and Metro International.

A Thanksgiving Community Visit in Connecticut (Thursday, November 24) : Joining in a 30-year tradition, Metro International students and scholars will spend Thanksgiving with New England families jointly organized by the International Hospitality Committee of Fairfield County.

Thanksgiving Weekend in Pennsylvania (Thursday, November 24 - Sunday, November 27): International students will spend their Thanksgiving Weekend with Pennsylvania host families as they enjoy local culture and family fun.

Conversations with Fulbrighters: Throughout the month of November, U.S. Leaders in business and philanthropy will host intimate roundtable discussions with visiting Fulbright students.   Hosts include: Alberto Vitale, Former Chairman and CEO, Random House, Inc.; Gopal K. Chopra, MD, FRACS, MBA; Henry Buhl, Founder of the Association of Community Employment Programs for the Homeless; and Daniel Barth, President and CEO, Lalique North America.

For more information on International Education Week activities throughout the world, visit: http://iew.state.gov/index.htm

Metro International creates global learning opportunities for students, educators, and the community, in New York City and beyond. Metro was founded in 1977 to provide international undergraduate and graduate students with a bridge between their isolated campus environments and the broader New York community. Today Metro International's programs and services promote interaction between international visitors and New Yorkers in settings as diverse as local neighborhoods, school classrooms, businesses, and cultural institutions. Metro serves as the officially-designated coordinator of enrichment programs for visiting Fulbright scholars in New York and is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in providing substantive and innovative educational programming.

For further information on Metro, go to www.metrointl.org.