I believe the International Students’ Association is one of the most important organizations to be found at UCU.  Not because they are more special than any other group, but because the very nature of a university depends upon encompassing a wide spectrum of diverse views, backgrounds, and perspectives.  

The word “university” is derived from the Latin universitas, which originally meant “whole” (as in the “whole” range of human knowledge accessible in one place).  Some have said a university is like having the whole universe in one small city.  

While UCU may never be truly universal in scope, it has had, since its inception, a considerable international flavour, both in its staff and student population.  A university with no vision beyond its national borders is critically limited in its perspective, much like a local man or woman who has never travelled beyond the next village.

For this reason, international students are a vital component to the life a university.  Although their numbers may be relatively small, the influence of international staff and students goes far beyond the numerical.  

If Christians are the “salt and light” of the world, international students are the “salt and light” of an academic institution, giving it flavour, new ideas, vitality, and diversity, challenging people to see beyond their provinciality to the “bigger picture”.  

As a former international student myself, and now an international lecturer, I can say that the best experiences of my life have often been outside my own culture and country.  I even found my wife in another country – and my children are “international” as well.

In my case, the countries I’ve lived in have all been very welcoming, and I find Ugandans to be among the most warm, jovial, and hospitable people anywhere in the world.  But not all international students’ experiences are as positive.  Some are refugees, some struggle with loneliness, language barriers, lack of fitting in, or difficulty in making friends.  

The motto of the International Students’ Association is: One Gobal Family Under God.  I would urge all those reading this message to take a moment to think what it must be like to be an international student here at UCU.  

God always made special provision for the “alien” living in Israel.  Is there some small thing you could do to help make an international student’s experience here a positive and memorable one?  If as Christians we are indeed “one global family”, then why not go the extra mile to treat them as brothers and sisters.  

I guarantee your life will be enriched more than you can imagine just by taking a step of friendship with an international student.  

May God bless you,

Rev. Daniel Button, Patron