AMANDA DEDIE
Special to The Leader
International Education Week is a celebration of Fredonia’s international community within the university, and will be held Nov. 17-20. This week aims to increase awareness amongst the student population of global education and highlight opportunities available.
The U.S. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs began celebrating International Education Week 15 years ago to providing insight into the lives and cultures of their fellow international students, faculty and staff.
“International Education Week is a way for universities in general to promote internationalism on their campus through study abroad and international students, by ways of film showings, workshops about incorporating your study abroad experience in your resumes and interviews,” said William Webber, student assistant to the Office of International Education. “It’s to show students and faculty and the campus community that there are other cultures out there, and that they’re here.”
The theme for 2014 is “gratitude and storytelling.” During the week, the Office of International Education will be collecting stories from Fredonians about gratitude and global citizenship. These stories will then be shared during a luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. in the Horizon Room in the Williams Center.
“The goal of the week is really to promote diversity, international and global citizenship, and global opportunities,” said Erin Willis, assistant director of study abroad and exchange programs. “In many ways it’s strictly about study abroad, but our goal here is to reach out to as many people as possible and celebrate international students and students from under-represented backgrounds.”
Some of the other events during the week, held with the Center for Multicultural Affairs, include Culture Fest and Zumba night. Culture Fest will have clubs on campus that have a primary focus on diversity and globalization, followed by three Zumba sessions (one joined by President Horvath), starting at 5 p.m. in the Williams Center Multipurpose Room.
On Tuesday, the Office of International Education held a combined study abroad photo contest, international photobooth and part Passport Day event. Former study abroad students were able to feature their art photos with the chance to win prizes. Campus members were also able to take part in the “Global Blue Devils” photo series, in which they were able to have their pictures put onto photos of places they’ve been, or places they wish to go to.
There will also be study abroad informational sessions, international film screenings, a global coffee hour and international career and opportunity workshops.
In regards to the study abroad programs, Janeil Rey, assistant professor for the College of Education and faculty leader of the Belize Service Learning Project, explains why traveling abroad is an important component to international education.
“When you travel, you realize how much people know about the United States, and how little we know about other countries. There are lots of ways to connect with people around the globe, but there’s nothing that can substitute for going to that place and meeting and working with people side-by-side,” said Rey. “You can be a tourist, but you can’t have the opportunities you have in a study abroad program. You’re really becoming part of the community, and that really changes your perspective.”
The Office of International Education is working with Campus Life, the Career Development Office, the Center for Multicultural Affairs, the Educational Development Program, Residence Life, and other on-campus offices, to get together and host various programs throughout the week.
To learn more, or to get involved, contact Willis at willis@fredonia.edu. To see a complete listing of the International Education Week events, visit http://www.fredonia.edu/internationaleducation/.