By Jenna Somers
On November 15th, international students in EDUC 5100: U.S. Education Concepts and Communication at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development kicked off International Education Week at World in Focus. Hosted by the International Mentorship at Peabody (iMAP) program, the event showcased presentations of student research on selected countries and topics of interest inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The presentations allowed students enrolled in U.S. Education Concepts and Communication to share their global perspectives, knowledge, and the country they are proud of, as well as to synthesize their learning throughout the course together. The course helps these students build a supportive learning community as they are new to studying in the U.S. and are completing their first semester of master’s degree programs at Peabody College.
Niyouyang Wang and Sisilia Tunga, students from China and Indonesia, respectively, shared what this course and studying at Peabody have meant to them.
“The EDUC class helps me a lot by introducing various resources, and I am happy to make new friends in this class,” Wang said. “The key lesson I have gained is the value of reaching out and forming connections, which helped me acclimate to the atmosphere at Peabody College and also the International Education Policy and Management program.”
Tunga added, “Joining this course has been an eye-opening experience, offering my first real exposure to the U.S. classroom setting and a deeper understanding of its education system through insightful faculty discussions. Peabody provides so many opportunities for growth, like Common Grounds, which has helped me connect with a supportive and diverse community of students. Choosing Peabody, the top-ranked special education school in the world, has been a dream come true, and being here has truly been transformative for both my personal and professional journey.”
Common Grounds, a program of Peabody’s Office of Student Life, pairs Peabody community members for casual conversation and exploration.
At World in Focus, students in U.S. Education Concepts and Communication presented research on a range of topics:
- Women’s empowerment and progress in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China
- Presented by Chinara Abdymomunova, Cecilia Lin, Nurkhon Madyarova, and Aida Mametkanova
- A comparison of urban and rural education quality in China
- Presented by: Yufan Zhang, Yuqi Zhang , Shiyu Zhou, and Xiangshu Zhou
- School choice in China: the effect of enrollment policies on education equality
- Presented by Ruisi Feng, Niyouyang Wang, Jingyi Xiao, and Tianqi Xu
- Mental health accessibility for immigrants and refugees in Germany
- Presented by Fabiana Icaza, Gita Gouranmohit, Tina Benzinger, Xin Hao
- Gender equality in China by examining education, retirement, employment, and fertility
- Presented by Zhaoyuan Han, Tongtong Li, and Xuanying Li
- Quality health and well-being in China
- Presented by Ran Huo, Haoyue Lu, and Chunxu Zong
- Education policy history in South Korea, compared to Nashville’s busing policy during desegregation
- Presented by Nehal Abaza, Shumbul Khan, ManHi Lee, and Mahima Sherchan
- Ending “period poverty” in China, Indonesia, and Panama. “Period poverty” refers to the lack of access to menstrual products, clean facilities, and education, which leads to significant health, educational, and social barriers for women and girls around the world.
- Presented by Wenbo Cai, Ana Lucia Hincapie, Sisilia Gracella Tunga, and Chang Xu
- Ensuring equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities, in India and Pakistan
- Presented by Andrea Dcosta, Ibad Ur Rehman Mahmood, Pei Lin Tsai, and Syed Muhammad Husain Zaidi
