InteRDom Forms Connections Throughout Latin America at AAPLAC Conference

On Saturday, February 19th, the 22nd Annual Conference of the Association of Academic Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean (AAPLAC) came to a close after three days of informative presentations and discussions revolving around the conference theme, “Perspectives on Reciprocity in International Education” at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia.

InteRDom representatives were added to the agenda to make a presentation to
an audience of over 50 educators, study abroad professionals and on-site program coordinators about the ways in which the student participants and the program itself contribute to the enhancement of the Dominican professional sector.  They stressed the importance of InteRDom’s training program—Internship Supervisor Certification—as well as the direct impact of student internships and projects in affiliated organizations.

This was the
first AAPLAC conference in which InteRDom had the opportunity to participate, and its participation was enriching to the conference due the unique structure of the program and its staff as both pre-departure study abroad recruiters and preparers and on-site hosts.  InteRDom representatives formed valuable connections with staff and faculty from a variety of universities in the United States, as well as with other on-site research, study and internship program coordinators
throughout Latin America.  Many doors for future collaboration between InteRDom and other programs were opened.

Other universities and organizations represented at the conference included: Yale University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Connecticut, St. Olaf College, SIT Semester Abroad in Managua, Nicaragua, The Forum on Education Abroad, ProWorld, Instituto de Docencia e Investigacion Etnologica de Zacatecas (Mexico), La Salle
University (Colombia), Central College, Instituto de Lenguas de Jovel (San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico),Saint Xavier University, Fundacion CEDEI (Cuenca, Ecuador), and various departments including the Institute of Global Initiatives at Kennesaw State University.

AAPLAC alternates its conference sites between U.S. and Latin American locations every year.  In 2012, the 23rd Annual Conference will be held in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas,
Mexico.