I Link: Students committed to intercultural learning Content 1 2 3 4 5 Background Objective Structure Committees a b c d Activities a b c d e f I-Money I-Publicity I-Activities I-Trips I-Orientation Welcome and farewell sessions Excursions Cultural visits International Fair Service learning 1
1. Background Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM): located in northeastern Mexico, 12,000 students, liberal arts Growing number of international exchange and visiting students (part of strategic IaH efforts) Various previous attempts at involving local and national students with international students Linkage with the Student Leadership Center in order to establish a student association (credit-bearing co-curricular activity) 2. Objective I-Link is a group of students that seeks to reinforce the humanistic education prevalent at UDEM among the visiting and exchange students and integrating them, at the same time, into the UDEM academic community by means of different activities that further a sense of belonging, of mutual respect, and of diversity in a multicultural setting. This way we hope to consolidate a group of young leaders who, respecting and cherishing cultural diversity, believe in and work towards global understanding and brotherhood. 2
3. Structure The board of the group consists of: President Two vice-presidents Two secretaries Treasurer Representative from the Student Council The board works together with all participants, and there are various committees that help with the organization of different events and activities. 4. Committees The purpose of creating different committees is to achieve a better organization and coordination of events and activities as well as the active involvement and contribution of each member with a specific task. The different committees are: I-Money I-Publicity I-Activities I-Trips 3
4. Committees (cont d) I-Money: In charge of looking for sponsors and fundraising activities in order to generate resources for events such as I-Fair or activities such as excursions and cultural visits. Also in charge of financial bookkeeping. I-Publicity: In charge of promoting all events and activities of the association through posters, emails, flyers, among others, in order to involve the greatest possible number of students. 4. Committees (cont d) I-Activities: In charge of proposing and designing activities and of coordinating the logistics of events. I-Trips: In charge of organizing excursions, choosing different destinations, and identifying the most cost-effective options. 4
5. Activities I-Orientation Welcome and farewell parties Excursions Cultural visits International Fair (I-Fair) Service learning activities a. I-Orientation Three-day orientation program with the purpose of integrating out-of-state Mexican and international visiting and exchange students, clarifying doubts and providing information about the city of Monterrey, student life at UDEM, cultural peculiarities of the regiomontanos, immigration procedures, etc. 5
b. Welcome - Farewell Opening and closing events that are organized with the purpose of achieving the integration of visiting students, welcoming them to UDEM and making them feel at home and, at the end of their stay, bidding them farewell to allow for closure and reflection upon the exchange experience at UDEM. c. Excursions The excursions contribute not only to integration purposes but also to expanding the visiting students knowledge about the diversity of Mexican culture by visiting sites of touristic, cultural, and historical interest and significance. Regular site visits include the following destinations: Xilitla, Cuatro Ciénegas, Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Ciudad de México, Michoacán, Real de Catorce, Acapulco, Cuernavaca, Taxco, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta. 6
d. Cultural visits These activities in Monterrey and its surroundings contribute to making our visiting students understand and appreciate the cultural diversity of Mexico and its expressions and rituals. Visits and activities include, among others: Visit to Cola de Caballo, Villa de Santiago, Grutas de García, ciclos de cine, concurso de altar de muertos, visitas a museos, entre otros. e. International Fair Exposition of visiting students home countries in which they can share with the UDEM community their cultures, food, music, and traditions. This event is organized once every semester and has become a steady part of the international flair on campus. It is a good opportunity for UDEM students to get to know more about the visiting students home countries. 7
f. Service learning These activities have the objective to make visiting students live for themselves the motto of UDEM: Man fulfills himself only in service to his fellow man. They help to create conscience among both Mexican and international students about the conditions of the poor in our communities and about the possibility of making a difference by serving the most needy. 8