The first Tennessee International Education Conference sponsored by the Tennessee Consortium for International Studies is set for February 6-7 in Knoxville, and the registration deadline for it is Jan. 16.

“This conference is significant to people with careers like mine because it represents an emphasis on the importance of all aspects of international education,” says Charles Wilkerson, international student affairs director here.

The conference theme is “Expanding Horizons for Tennessee’s Students,” and it will provide a forum for faculty, administrators and international education practitioners at Tennessee colleges and universities to exchange ideas and seek opportunities for collaboration.

At the same time, it will give them a platform to discuss the role of the newly created TNCIS.

TNCIS represents a group of colleges, universities and other organizations devoted to making international education and cultural understanding a central goal of higher education throughout the state.

In addition to working in cooperation with its members’ existing programs and seeking to support, promote and expand them, the purpose of the TNCIS is also to develop new international opportunities and programs.

The conference will consist of six panels of professionals sharing knowledge and best practices in the broad areas of internationalizing the experience of students on individual campuses, fostering faculty exchange opportunities and expanding study abroad opportunities.

Among the specific topic titles are:
• “In Their Own Words: Our Students Share the Value of Study Abroad,”
• “Pesos, Paise, Dollars and Cents: Funding Study Abroad Opportunities,”
• “The Value to Faculty of Overseas Experience” and
• “Internationalizing our Campuses: Tools and Approaches.”

The keynote speaker of the conference will be Charles Manning, chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents.

The cost per person to attend the conference is $100, and that fee is due with the registration. Cancellations will be subject to a $20 fee, and must also be requested by Jan. 16. No refunds will be given for cancellations after that date.

For more information or to register for the conference, visit the TNCIS web site at www.tncis.org.