6 November 2018
Quinita Thomas
From Nov. 13 to the 17, there will be a week filled with events and activities for students to celebrate international education, called International Education Week (IEW), which has been celebrated for the past four years.
According to Mandy Hansen, director of UCCS International Affairs, this is a joint initiative between the United States Department of State and the United States Department of Education.
“It’s also the week that the governor released a proclamation in support of internationalization goals for Colorado’s Higher Education institutions,” said Hansen.
According to the celebration’s official government website, iew.state.gov, International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of exchanging international education worldwide. It is a part of Colorado’s efforts to promote programs that will prepare Americans for a global environment. This will also attract people in the future to come study, learn and exchange experiences.
International Education Week is not just celebrated on college campuses. According to the IEW website, local passport offices across the country will host events including passport drives, where U.S. students can learn more about studying abroad and begin the process to study outside of the United States. Drives like this take part in what is known as “Passport to the World.”
“This event is coordinated through the office, but it’s a collaborative project through a variety of offices and student groups on campus,” said Hansen. “On November 13, the Asian Pacific Islander Student Union will be hosting their 11 annual cultural event. There will also be a study abroad table, and a faculty member will be speaking about Cuban diaspora. Dining Services will also be featuring special cuisines.” Through this interdepartmental collaboration, IEW will draw from multiple groups’ experiences across campus and students will learn about various cultures through food, music, art and more.
Hansen also states that this is the first time International Education Week has started and ended with student activities, officially ending with events hosted by the African Student Association. “They will have a presentation called ‘Journey to Africa,’” she said.
According to Hansen, there are many levels of campus involvement. For example, the Multi-Cultural Office for student Access and Inclusive Community (MOSAIC) will host a Cultural Karaoke Night. Events like this will allow students to experience cultures through fun activities, highlighting those cultures’ particularities.
“There will also be a panel of study abroad alumni who will talk about their experiences,” said Hansen. “In support of the designated week that happens every year, the focus is to foster a variety of experiences that can lead to global citizenship and understanding.” The panelists will discuss various aspects about their experiences, both good and bad, including the differences between their home cultures and host cultures.
If you have been thinking about studying abroad, but are wary because of financial or language reasons, UCCS will offer plenty of opportunities to learn about education abroad during International Education Week.
To learn more, you can always pay a visit to the office of International Affairs or your department faculty to learn more about expanding your studies to foreign countries.