International Education Week a Chance to Celebrate Diversity at BU
Dozens of events: dinners, lectures, election-related discussions, more
Follow along with International Education Week on Instagram at @buglobalprograms using the hashtag #BUIEW16.
Globally speaking, it’s been a good year for BU: students from 153 countries applied for admission to the class of 2020, the University now offers more than 90 study abroad programs, and it was ranked 32nd among the top 1,000 universities worldwide.
These are just some of the hallmarks that will be celebrated during International Education Week, a joint initiative of the US Departments of State and of Education that seeks to highlight the importance of international education. The University first participated in the program in 2012, and this year is hosting 70 events, planned by 38 schools, departments, and campus organizations, with a focus on global education and exchange activities. The weeklong program, organized by BU Global Programs, starts today.
Among this year’s events are career workshops, celebratory dinners, Study Abroad information sessions, and even tango lessons. Amanda Miller, Global Programs managing director of strategy and communications, says there are almost 30 more events than last year, and credits her office’s outreach efforts for the expanded offerings.
She also says the week holds special significance in light of the recent election. “We are a global campus,” she says. “The week celebrates diversity, shares opportunities for domestic students to go abroad, and is a chance for international students, scholars, and faculty to see the diversity and the opportunities that are here for them. It’s a great opportunity to have a wonderful exchange of ideas and perspectives.”
Miller is especially excited about several events that are likely to be affected by last Tuesday’s presidential election. These include a discussion about the place and influence of physical walls, such as the Berlin Wall, the Great Wall of China, (and possibly, Donald Trump’s Mexican border wall), in history; live Skype interviews with BU students studying abroad who will discuss how their host countries are responding to the election; and the Global Health Symposium, which will focus on the latest technologies in health care innovation and global health care access issues.
International Education Week begins today, November 14, and runs through Friday, November 18, on the Charles River Campus and the Medical Campus. See the full list of activities here.
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