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This semester Creighton received its largest group of international students ever through the International Students Exchange Program.

Creighton welcomed seven international students for its current fall semester. They come from: Botswana, Denmark, France, Italy and South Korea.

ISEP is a network of over 300 colleges and universities in 45 countries cooperating to provide affordable access to international education for a diverse student population. ISEP students gain intercultural competence through integration into their host institution and host culture while exploring the international dimensions of their academic fields.

Creighton became a member of the program in the spring semester of 2002 and received its first international student, who was from Malta, during the fall semester of the same year.

ISEP-Exchange works on a balance system where universities exchange students and every two years the balance must be equal. For example, if Creighton received 10 international students in total during two years that means 10 students from Creighton spent at least one semester abroad at an ISEP institution also during the two years.

According to ISEP, Creighton qualified as a “very good chance of placement” university, which means international students have a high probability of matriculation. Since the program began at Creighton, students have come from: Botswana. Denmark Germany, Finland, France, Italy, Malta, Poland South Korea and Thailand,

When Creighton faculty ask the international students what they like at Creighton, the most common answer is that the people are so nice, Heather Torres, Creighton study abroad coordinator, said.

“I received quick answers every time that I had any questions concerning my stay and I have a really nice international buddy,” said Christina Kirk Kjærsgaard, a Business junior from Denmark.

Many efforts are made to help the students integrate into the Creighton community. Some activities include having an “international buddy,” the Multinational Ambassador Program and participating in events like the International Students Banquet which took place last Friday.

International students usually get a J-1 visa which requires them to return to their home countries after the semester’s completion — although sometimes they can extend this period by doing an internship.

“ISEP is a really good opportunity for both sides, the incoming and outgoing students because it allows students to study abroad for the same cost that would normally pay to go to university in their own countries,” said Torres.

“The other benefit of ISEP is that when we have an American student who studies abroad we receive an exchange student here which helps to internationalize campus and brings new perspectives to our Creighton community.”

For Creighton students that would like to study abroad and find out more about ISEP you can contact the Office of International Programs, which is located in Harper Center.

In addition to ISEP-Exchange, students can also participate in ISEP-Direct, which is a program that provides the opportunity to enroll directly in a host institution abroad instead of exchanging places with another student. In this case, students simply pay the fees to the host institutions.

With ISEP, international students see not just a way to learn English but also a chance to experiment with a new way of life.

“The fact of studying abroad is not just an opportunity to learn or improve another language, it represents also a chance to discover a new culture, new mentalities, new way of learning, and also meet new people,” said Ines Sathout, an Arts & Science junior from France. “I really encourage the people that would like to study in another country to take the leap.”