KEI Study Abroad Update!

Welcome to the Knowledge Exchange Institute’s (KEI) March 2005 on-line newsletter!  (for students, current KEI participants abroad, program alumni, and others with an interest in studying abroad).

In this month’s issue: 

  • KEI Updates: KEI Program Application Deadline Extended
  • Featured City: Bangkok, Thailand
  • Featured Programs: Dublin, Ireland
  • In the News: Attitude Over Academics Will Help Land That Internship
  • International Trivia Question

KEI Updates: Summer Application Deadline Extended

KEI has extended the application deadline for summer 2005 programs in Kenya, Mexico, Belgium, Ireland, Spain, China, USA, Russia and Thailand. The extended deadline is March 30. Applications received after this date will be reviewed if space is available in the program. Students should inform KEI of their intention to apply as soon as possible to ensure housing is available for the summer. 

Featured City: Bangkok, Thailand

What makes Bangkok special? Bangkok is a sprawling metropolis with an eclectic mix of  contemporary and traditional life. Elaborate Buddhist temples stand proud next to Western-style steel and glass skyscrapers; wreaths of jasmine flowers dangle from the rear-view mirrors of polluting buses and taxis; orange-robed monks walk barefoot side by side with suit-and-tie business people and hair-colored youth blasting MTV Asia. 

Bangkok is a melting pot of 8 million people. Although most Thai are Buddhist, there are many other cultures and beliefs mixing in Bangkok. It is not uncommon to see religious and cultural festival throughout the city. Chinatown is, perhaps, one of the most distinct and fascinating district in Bangkok, offering a glimpse into 300 years of cultural development. Temples, parks, crisscrossing canals, ancient artifacts and modern architecture make Bangkok one of the most diverse and exciting cities in South East Asia.

Over the years, Bangkok has acquired a taste for fun and hospitality. The city is reportedly sinking at a rate of  2 inches per year, but there's too much sanùk (a Thai sense of fun) going on for that to get anyone down. 

 See here for more info: www.KnowledgeExchange.org. 

Featured Programs: Bangkok, Thailand

KEI offers 9 discipline-specific academic and internship programs at Mahidol University International College (MUIC) in Bangkok/Salaya, Thailand.

  • Science, Math & Engineering Research
  • Environmental & Ecological Studies 
  • Pre-Medicine, Health & Biomedical Science
  • Computer Science & Software Engineering 
  • Psychology, Sociology & Human Engineering
  • Southeast Asian Business, Law & Diplomacy
  • Southeast Asian Tourism & Hospitality Management
  • Southeast Asian Studies & Languages 
  • Summer Internships

Mahidol University (MU) is the oldest and one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in Thailand. Founded in 1890 by H.M. King Chulalongkorn as the first medical school in Thailand, it has since evolved into a multi-disciplinary university, recognized for its outstanding achievements in teaching and research. The University enrolls approximately 18,000 undergraduate and graduate students. KEI students study at the International College, which offers its entire curriculum in ENGLISH.

KEI programs include academic credit, internship placement, housing, medical/travel insurance, on-site coordinator, orientation, airport welcome and transfer, mobile phone, access to Internet, and cultural activities and excursions throughout Thailand, and border towns of Burma and Laos (conditions permitting).

The extended application deadline for the summer 2005 programs is March 30.  Visit the KEI website - www.KnowledgeExchange.org - for more information.

In the News: Attitude Over Academics Will Help Land That Internship


Below is an excerpt from an article published on MSN's Encarta website with advise and tips on how to land the perfect summer internships.  

"You have decided to apply to some internships. But your GPA is less than stellar and your college didn't come close to cracking the top colleges list. No hope? Should you invest in a spatula and head to the nearest burger joint? 

... With most internships, application requirements are typically looser. According to the vast majority of internship coordinators, the deciding factor is often an applicant's attitude. Organizations want interns who are fired-up and who will accept all assignments or ask for more during slow periods. Counterbalancing the "go-getter" attitude, applicants must also show they realize that as interns, they will be temporary observers, oftentimes in a sensitive, hierarchical institution. Consequently, coordinators highly prize interns who display diplomacy and discretion. "

The complete article can be found at http://encarta.msn.com. Follow the link to "How to land an internship."

KEI offers Summer Internship Programs at the following locations:

  • New York City, USA

  • Brussels, Belgium

  • Barcelona, Spain

  • Dublin, Ireland

  • Bangkok, Thailand

  • Nairobi, Kenya

  • Mexico City, Mexico

International Trivia Question
KEI's monthly on-line newsletter features a trivia question related to international issues.

QUESTION:  What is the most sacred part of the body believed to be in Thailand?

[The first 2 people who e-mail KEI with the correct answer will win a money belt. When submitting your answer, please include your mailing address, email and telephone number. Hint: The answer can be found on KEI's website...]

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