Jessica Cherng got her first taste of the United States and NIU yesterday thanks to the only international business organization on campus.

AIESEC is the French acronym for the International Association of Students in Economics and Commerce. It is designed to train future business leaders through the exchange of individuals and ideas among 70 countries worldwide.

Cherng is from Taipei, China, and will be working at Chicago Trust and Title for one year through AISEC’s traineeship exchange program. She will be working with the assistant vice president on a special project of some kind.

The company put in a special request for an English-speaking student. In exchange, NIU’s AIESEC chapter receives one credit which allows the chapter to send an NIU student overseas.

AISEC President Chris Johnson said the chapter probably will not send anyone until November. She said Colleen Larson, an NIU accounting student, left for Ghana, Africa, two weeks ago and is planning to stay for four months. AIESEC has not been in contact with her yet because the mail system is so slow, Johnson said.

The students fill out paperwork with the assistance of the local AIESEC and the forms are sent to AIESEC international headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. They match the students up with companies through computers and fax machines, taking into consideration any special requests the student or company might have.

Most companies participate again after they have been involved with the organization for the first time. The marketing department then usually remarkets to these companies or starts cold calling.

John Rackauskas, AIESEC reception director, is responsible for finding housing for the trainees and getting them acquainted with American culture. He said he also keeps in contact with the trainees once they are settled in their jobs.

He said it is a common misconception that only business students are eligible to be involved in AIESEC. “AIESEC is open to all NIU students,” he said. “You don’t have to be a business major to be involved.”

ackauskas said AIESEC is not simply a recruiting program. “Companies can hire a qualified person and add international flavor into their business,” he said. Some companies are internationally minded and are interested in hiring a foreign trainee, where others feel that hiring an American would suit them better.