Welcome to The John Belk International Program website.

	Dr. Eric Lien

Welcome to the webpage for what may be the most exciting and unique program on the Queens University of Charlotte campus.  The goal of the John Belk International Program is to provide our students with the opportunity to learn first-hand about another culture—whether through our very popular Study Tours, our Language and Cultural Immersion Programs, our Special Programs in Strasbourg and Micronesia, our exchange programs in Hong Kong, Northern Ireland and Australia, or in conjunction with the Career and Internship Office. 

To hear students talk about their JBIP experience, Click Play

The John Belk International Program offers eligible Queens students this incredible opportunity to have an international experience as a part of their regular educational program.  For a majority of the programs, the university covers the basic costs (air and ground transportation, accommodations, breakfasts, some lunches and dinners, guides' fees, and admissions to galleries and museums) so that students may participate at relatively slight additional costs to themselves.  The generosity of the Belk Foundation has allowed our continued success and development--what a wonderful gift to the university!

My thanks must also go out here to the wonderful faculty who take on much work and worry in order to make the program succeed.  Simply put, the program works because of their dedication and fearlessness in taking on the challenge year after year! 

Every year, we organize and implement programs for between 180 student and faculty participants.  We have a GREAT selection of options for our students with Study Tours going to Greece, China, Australia, Spain, Italy, and to Central & Alpine Europe.  Our tours to South Africa and Vietnam last year were both very successful and we hope to offer both of those again in the near future as well as open up new options around the world.  Our annual Pacific Islands Environmental Studies program in Micronesia is entering its seventh year.  Language students will head to France, Spain and Costa Rica for intensive instruction and home-stays with local families.  Of course we have the most adventurous of our students going abroad for a year or semester of study: in Hong Kong, in Northern Ireland and at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia—you can read their blogs on our website as well. 

For more information on eligibility or any of these opportunities, explore the John Belk International Program homepage or stop by the office to talk with me or Mac.

— Dr. Eric J. Lien
Director, John Belk International Program