Aiken speaks at honor society induction

Fifty-five selected students, faculty and administrators took the pledge Monday afternoon to become members of Phi Beta Delta, the Honor Society of International Scholars. Louise Shoemaker, president of the society and a professor in the School of Social Work, welcomed the inductees, encouraging them "to educate others on becoming a world citizen." Provost Michael Aiken, after being inducted into the society as an honorary member, addressed the group about the importance of internationalizing the University. "This is built into the very fabric of the institution," Aiken said. "We are at the dawn of a new age of internationalization at the University." Aiken stressed the need for immediate action as a result of the globalization of world economies and the diversification of the labor force. Aiken outlined the University's plan for future internationalization, calling for more language study, especially of non-European languages. He said his other objectives include the strengthening of programs such as Asian studies by bringing in more speakers and increasing efforts to incorporate more international content in the social sciences. Aiken cited increasing opportunities for undergraduates to study abroad and for faculty and graduate students to participate in international research as key elements for the internationalization of the University. In recognition of international students, who comprise 10 percent of the undergraduate and 20 percent of the graduate populations at the University, Aiken acknowledged the need to make these students more comfortable at the University. "We think international education is very important and we know that Penn now has a wonderful opportunity to be known as the 'international Ivy'," he said. The inductees included 46 undergraduates, seven graduate students and two members of the faculty and administration. Phi Beta Delta, founded at the University in October 1990, is a society devoted to international education through recognizing achievement in international educational interchange and by involving American students in the international experience.

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