08/20/2024
The 60th anniversary conference at Vermont’s School for International Training (SIT) was a dynamic exploration of international education and its impact on local and global scales. With a focus on enhancing global education, increasing internationalization, and promoting rural development, the event underscored the importance of experiential learning and intercultural exchange.
SIT welcomed Senator Patrick Leahy and his wife, Marcelle to their Brattleboro campus to discuss strategies for growing an expanding Vermont’s global future. The event celebrated Sen. Leahy’s decades-long experience in the United States senate and highlighted his commitment to fostering peaceful cross-cultural relationships throughout his career.
The event also featured two panels of speakers who discussed the challenges and opportunities for sustainable rural development. The panel on rural development from local to global featured our Engagement Initiatives Coordinator, Emma Spett.
Of rural development at home and abroad, Emma noted that “deep listening skills, the ability to observe and not come to conclusions, making sure you’re conferring with the people that have lived experiences, knowledge, skills, and insights that you need—these are all critical elements in rural development in Vermont and across the world.”