BU Celebrates International Education Week
Among on-campus events: free food, fashion shows, TED talk
Call it a worldwide bash. This week, universities, embassies, and businesses in more than 100 countries are participating in International Education Week, a joint initiative of the US Departments of State and of Education that will highlight the importance of international education. Starting yesterday, Boston University is hosting more than 40 events celebrating global education and exchange activities. The weeklong program has been organized by BU Global Programs, part of the Office of the Provost.
Amanda Miller, managing director of strategy and communications at Global Programs, says the week is an opportunity to draw attention to BU’s international diversity. For starters, BU has an estimated 33,000 students and 10,000 faculty and staff, and they hail from more than 130 countries.
“Every single day at BU, students, faculty, and staff are involved in international education and activities,” Miller says. That includes “traveling abroad for research, course work, internships, externships, service, conferences,” attending a “distinguished panel discussion or a symposium at the Pardee School of Global Studies, or participating in the thousands of conversations and exchanges of ideas” occurring at the University.
BU kicked off its International Education Week programming just weeks after being named 32nd of 750 “Best Global Universities” in a new U.S. News and World Report ranking. The rankings compare the academic research and reputation of 750 institutions in 57 countries.
This year, nearly 30 BU schools, departments, and campus organizations are hosting International Education Week events, which include study abroad information sessions led by alumni of those programs, sponsored by Study Abroad; a celebration honoring the Center for English Language & Orientation Program’s (CELOP) 40th anniversary; a sampling of American Thanksgiving food, hosted by Metropolitan College; a pizza party to meet BU’s new assistant director for International Student Initiatives, Callie Sopper; and a concert of Russian Christmas music, hosted by the BU Wind Ensemble.
Among other highlights are panel discussions, being billed as Global Conversations, sponsored by Santander Bank. The series is intended to spark new conversations around “big picture” global themes: regional perspectives on nuclear proliferation, student experiences working and living abroad in countries such as Greece, Morocco, and India, and a discussion by Medical Campus students, faculty, and staff who have conducted research abroad. Each discussion includes lunch, followed by a one-hour conversation. Preregistration is required.
This year, International Education Week is going digital. Follow along as Study Abroad students share their experiences on Instagram (@buglobalprograms) and the International Education Week website. Germany Through My Eyes will have photos and posts about BU’s program in Dresden, and Ireland: A Student’s Perspective will highlight the Dublin program with digital photos. Anyone who posts about an International Education Week event is asked to use the hashtag #BUIEW15.
International Education Week began November 16 and runs through Saturday, November 21, on the Charles River Campus and the Medical Campus. See the full list of activities here. All events are open to the BU community.
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