YSU opens its doors to international students

This summer, Youngstown State University will host a professional training program for Indian engineering students — a move that could increase international student enrollment numbers.

Jef Davis, director of the YSU Center for International Studies and Programs, called the summer event a “recruitment initiative.”

“Most [participating Indian students] are looking for U.S. schools for graduate study. Our hope is that we will be able to recruit a number of those students to choose YSU,” Davis said.

Jalal Jalali, chair of the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is coordinating the summer program. He agreed with Davis and added that this training program will expand the university’s global footprint.

“This activity is an additional opportunity for YSU to internationally publicize undergraduate and graduate programs,” Jalali said. “It’s going to be good publicity for YSU throughout different networks in India.”

To produce this summer program, YSU partnered with 9-Global Institute of Management and Leadership, Inc., an educational tourism company that works to bring international students to the U.S.

“This is a company that recruits the students from different universities to bring them to Youngstown State University,” Jalali said.

Two groups — a June session and a July session — of roughly 60 Indian students will participate in YSU’s summer training program.

During their stay, Indian students will not only receive classroom instruction, but will also gain important hands-on experience in YSU’s laboratories and participate in excursions to local engineering firms.

“I think the students who are coming from India — based on my past experience — a lot of those students have a lack of hands on experiences working in the labs. This program will be a good opportunity for them to learn more,” Jalali said. “My hope is that they will return with a good experience that they gain throughout the program here at YSU. Not only from an educational point of view but also from the multicultural interaction with our students, faculty and community.”