International undergraduate and graduate students attend Babson from 77 and 48 countries, respectively, and currently represent 29 and 38 percent of the student population.
Though the community will have the opportunity to get a taste of its many cultures at Trim Dining Hall on Monday as part of International Education Week, Babson Dining regularly serves international fare across campus.
Catering to All Students
While salads and sandwiches remain student staples, trends indicate international foods have risen in popularity, said Caitlin Cooney, Babson Dining Services director of marketing.
“When [students] come to college, for most of them, its their first time away from home,” Cooney said. “They could be experiencing international foods for the first time.”
Cuisine rotates daily for both the lunch and dinner menus at Trim, and includes everything from Moroccan beef to Caribbean beans and rice and Korean-style spinach.
International fare isn’t just limited to Trim. For the early part of the fall semester, traditional Indian cuisine was served under the name Chaat House in Reynolds Campus Center. Noodle bowls and stir fry will be served in the space under the name Pho U during the second half of the semester.
Cooney said fare rotations are based on trends, functionality, and seasons. “We provide a diverse menu because we want to provide education of cultures out there.”
Monday’s international Trim lunch menu will feature native Egyptian, Haitian, Colombian, and Brazilian recipes created by Babson Dining associates, in addition to dessert.
“Anytime we really have that student-associate interaction the feedback we receive is great,” Cooney said.
International Education Week
International Education Week promotes international understanding and support for international education and exchange programs, and prepares students to contribute to a global environment. It’s the 13th year Babson has celebrated International Education Week, which also is celebrated in more than 100 countries.
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