In collaboration with students, staff and faculty, the Office of International Affairs will host its fourth annual International Education Week from Nov. 17 to Nov. 21 with various events and presentations to highlight the university’s commitment to community and diversity.
Alejandra Parra, associate director of the Office of International Affairs, said International Education Week is an opportunity to reach out to people in every nation and to develop a broader understanding of world cultures and languages.
“The campus-wide events throughout International Education Week will highlight NSU’s international initiatives that support our mission and core values,” she said.
The U.S. State Department and Education Department started International Education Week in 2000 to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s cultures, people and languages.
Parra said this week is observed across the U.S. and in more than 100 countries overseas.
“The main goal consists of uniting different countries and institutions by showing their cultural heritage through personal experiences, workshops, seminars and expositions,” she said.
International student Marco Baez, senior criminal justice, history and international studies major, said this week makes him feel recognized, and he loves that NSU is hosting these events.
“Some students may feel depressed because they are very far away from home, so it can be comforting for them to feel like someone cares,” he said.
Baez said it’s important for NSU to celebrate international students because a university without diversity is incomplete.
“We live in a global era; the more exposed to different cultures you are, the better — international students provide a great learning atmosphere for the university,” he said.
NSU has increased International Education Week from a single event called Global Village, an exhibit that highlighted NSU’s cultural diversity, to a week of campus-wide events that features the Big Cultural Marketplace Event, an event featuring samples of cultural foods provided by students, faculty, staff and local restaurants, the Hunger Banquet, several discussions, study abroad opportunities and more events to celebrate the various cultures on campus.
Andrew Jones, senior political science and legal studies major and vice president of NSU’s International Relations Association, said through the opportunities NSU offers, he has been able to travel to more than 22 countries while accumulating credits for both of his bachelor’s degrees.
“International Education Week gives students who are interested in doing what I have done the opportunity to do so,” Jones said. “The workshops throughout the week not only present information on opportunities to travel, but also the fantastic programs NSU offers.”
Jones’ role in International Education Week is to be an advocate for travel abroad programs and the benefits they present for undergraduate students.
“My role in International Education Week makes me feel appreciated because it gives me the opportunity to give back to my university,” Jones said. “Having the chance to talk and reflect on my travels with an audience who is interested in my experiences gives me an overwhelming sense of confidence.”
“Talking about my experiences allows me to prove to the community that NSU is home to students who are intelligent, cultured and aware of the world around them, also that my time spent here at NSU has inspired me to make a change in the world,” he said.
International student Vanessa Duboulay, junior political science major, said this week promotes diversity on our campus and makes international students feel welcomed and appreciated.
“International Education week creates a safe and comforting environment and provides international students with information about the services and programs NSU offers,” she said.
Duboulay said international students bring diversity to our campus and provide opportunities for other students to open their minds and get to learn about different cultures and traditions.
“We give the student body the opportunity to work on tolerance communication skills as understanding one another becomes crucial when people coming from different backgrounds interact,” she said.
For a full list International Education Week events, visit nova.edu/internationalstudents/edweek or contact Parra at parrapar@nova.edu.
