Kent State University will celebrate the 16th annual
International Education Week from Nov. 15-20. The
weeklong celebration will feature numerous internationally
oriented events, including films, dances, cultural festivals,
academic lectures, presentations and exhibits presented
by student groups, faculty and distinguished guests.

Kent State University will celebrate the 16th annual International Education Week from Sunday, Nov. 15, to Friday, Nov. 20. The weeklong celebration will feature numerous internationally oriented events, including films, dances, cultural festivals, academic lectures, presentations and exhibits presented by student groups, faculty and distinguished guests. From the serious to the sublime, everyone should find an activity of interest. For a complete list of the scheduled activities, view the online Calendar of Events.

“To foster diversity and present a shared global learning experience, all members of the Kent State community are encouraged to attend and participate in the numerous events scheduled during the week,” suggests Desnee Stevens, assistant director of International Student and Scholar Services in Kent State’s Office of Global Education. “Various student organizations, colleges and individual students and faculty have planned to stage a multitude of events – ranging from a drum and dance workshop to a country spotlight on China, as well as several presentations on the current refugee crisis.”

The highlight of the week is the always popular International Cook-Off, a cooking competition that features food from around the world prepared by student teams. Hosted by the Office of Global Education and Kent State’s Dining Services, the cook-off takes place on Thursday, Nov. 19, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. This year, the judges include Douglas Steidl, dean of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design; Cathy Dubois, associate dean for the College of Business Administration; and Stephen Thomas, head of the doctoral program in the Higher Education Administration program. The returning master of ceremonies for the event will be Bob Hall, director of learning and organizational development for Kent State’s Division of Human Resources. Each year, the competition has grown, with about 500 people attending last year’s event. Countries being represented in this year’s competition include Vietnam, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Oman, China and India.

One of the objectives of International Education Week is to encourage domestic students to study abroad and learn about globalization. As a global perspective has become increasingly important to multinational corporations seeking to hire recent college graduates, International Education Week enables domestic students to learn the advantages of and opportunities for education abroad and to open themselves up to new cultural experiences.

International Education Week also presents the opportunity for Kent State to celebrate its international community. As the university continues to grow, so does its international population with a record enrollment of 3,002 international students this fall.

“The university takes great pride in its international students and its overall international presence,” says Sarah Malcolm, director of international partnerships, marketing and communications at the Office of Global Education. “As Kent State celebrates its more than 3,000 international students and almost 1,000 students who studied abroad last year, International Education Week is a time for the campus community to come together to embrace and appreciate global diversity.”

International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Departments of State and Education. The week was created in 2000 and is now celebrated in more than 100 countries worldwide. The objective is to promote educational programs that prepare Americans, as well as foreign students, to succeed in a world that is becoming increasingly globalized. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs describes International Education Week as “an opportunity to celebrate diversity and the many opportunities and benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.” It also encourages the active participation of all individuals and institutions interested in international education and exchange programs.

To learn more about International Education Week, visit http://eca.state.gov/programs-initiatives/international-education-week.

For more information about Kent State’s Office of Global Education, visit www.kent.edu/globaleducation.