OJC welcomes Global UGRAD students

August 29, 2014

By OJC Staff
Posted Aug. 26, 2014 @ 1:00 pm

Otero Junior College is pleased to welcome two new international students on campus as part of the U.S. Department of State's Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Eurasia and Central Asia (Global UGRAD). Joining the Otero Junior College family are Aizhamal Sydykova from Kyrgyzstan and Cristian Popa from Moldova.

Otero Junior College is pleased to welcome two new international students on campus as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Eurasia and Central Asia (Global UGRAD). Joining the Otero Junior College family are Aizhamal Sydykova from Kyrgyzstan and Cristian Popa from Moldova.

Aizhamal Sydykova is from Kyrgyzstan and studies International and Comparative Politics at the American University of Central Asia in her country’s capital, Bishkek. She also has a strong interest in communications and journalism. Aizhamal will be studying at OJC for both the fall and spring terms.

Cristian Popa is from Moldova and is studying at Universitatea Libera to enter the field of translation and interpretation. At OJC, he is focusing on American Studies. He speaks English, Russian and Romanian and is looking forward to exploring the field of interpretation and translation while studying at OJC this fall.

The Global UGRAD Program aims to advance youth leadership and promote mutual understanding by providing either one semester or one year of non-degree U.S. study to undergraduates from 12 countries of the former Soviet Union. In addition to their academic studies, Global UGRAD students perform community service, explore American traditions through the unique Cultural Passport to America program, and engage in professional development activities.

The Global UGRAD program is highly competitive, averaging over 2,500 applications per year with an acceptance rate of less than three percent. The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Eurasia and Central Asia is a program sponsored by the U.S. Departments of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), supported by the people of the United States, and is implemented by the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX). Since 1992, nearly 4,000 participants have completed the program, increasing diversity on hundreds of campuses throughout the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) works to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange that assist in the development of peaceful relations. As mandated by the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) works to build friendly, peaceful relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through academic, cultural, sports, and professional exchanges, as well as public -private partnerships.

For more information about ECA exchanges, visit http://exchanges.state.gov.

IREX (International Research & Exchanges Board) is an international nonprofit organization providing thought leadership and innovative programs to promote positive lasting change globally. We enable local individuals and institutions to build key elements of a vibrant society: quality education, independent media, and strong communities. To strengthen these sectors, our program activities also include conflict resolution, technology for development, gender, and youth. Founded in 1968, IREX has an annual portfolio of over $70 million and a staff of over 400 professionals worldwide. IREX employs field-tested methods and innovative uses of technologies to develop practical and locally-driven solutions with our partners in more than 125 countries. For more information about IREX, visit www.irex.org.

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