This year’s International Education Week (IEW) includes daily events for students to learn about other cultures.
The International Education Week (Nov. 15 to Nov. 20) is celebrated by universities across the country. This year, the UW Global Engagement Office and the International Student Association (ISA) have worked with other organizations around campus to plan daily events for all students to participate in.
“Here on campus, we talk a lot about globalization, and that falls within that international education,” Abby Lozano, coordinator at the International Students and Scholars office said. “We’re looking at the benefits of globalization here on our campus, and how that impacts our students.”
The goal of the week is to expand the experiences of students on campus who may not have had the opportunity to be exposed to other cultures yet.
“I came from small-town Wyoming, and I got here and I had known one person in my entire life that came from a different country,” Lozano said. “I think the broader range of international education week is to expose the campus to the opportunities that we have here.”
“There’s a lot of different areas across campus. We really tried to broaden the scope of IEW beyond the global engagement office this year,” Erika Saunders, an education abroad advisor at the global engagement office said.
A portion of this year’s events is done in tandem with organizations across campus. This includes a Peace Corp Prep information session by ACES and Peace Corps Prep Alumni on Nov. 16 and a film screening of “Minari” hosted by 7220 Entertainment on Nov. 17.
The International Student Association also joins in the events, with IEW being the largest single event they participate in.
“It’s building a new family, finding new friends that are in the same boat as you.” Adlynn Jamaludin, president of the ISA said in reference to what this event and the association as a whole offers to international students.
“That’s what the international students association is all about. Being with ‘family’ here when you’re far away from family.” Jamaludin said.
IEW culminates in an etiquette dinner on Saturday, Nov. 20, which invites students to learn about etiquette and cultures from around the world. In previous years the event has focused on a single location or culture, but this year it has been expanded to cover multiple cultures.
“It’s like having to travel, but only to the Union Ballroom,” Jamaludin said. “It’s an opportunity for [students] to be more cultured; get to know new cultures, get to know new friends.”
Each day this week will feature multiple events, as well as themed meals at Washakie.
Other notable events include a career panel with international & Uwyo Abroad alumni on Nov. 16, the IEW photo contest reception on Nov. 18, and an international game hour on Nov. 19.
Multiple events will be hosted each day until Nov 20. For more information on all the events associated with IEW, visit http://www.uwyo.edu/iew/.
