NSU is celebrating its third annual International Education Week from Nov. 18 to Nov. 22 with various events and presentations, hosted by the Office of International Students and Scholars in collaboration with students, staff and faculty, to highlight the university’s commitment to community and diversity.
International Education Week was started in 2000 by the U.S. State Department and Education Department to emphasize the importance of increasing knowledge and awareness of the world’s cultures, people and languages.
Alejandra Parra, associate director of International Affairs, said that NSU is committed to promoting international education and studies. Since its original celebration of International Education Week in 2011, her office has developed programs to make this year’s celebration the biggest yet.
Parra said, “I went to a conference in 2011 and I brought the idea to NSU because I thought it was something that would put our office, international education and study abroad out there for people to know that NSU does a lot with [international education].”
This is the first year that NSU’s International Education Week has been organized by a committee. The committee consists of student and staff representatives who were chosen by either the dean or an official from each of NSU’s schools and the Nova International Student Association (NISA). They have been meeting for the past six months to plan the week of events.
The festivity has transcended from a single event called NSU Global Village, an exhibit that highlights NSU’s cultural diversity, to a week of campus-wide events that features Global Village and celebrates various cultures on campus.
Throughout the week, there will be an ongoing international art exhibit in the middle school lobby of the University School and a historical exhibit about Hélène Berr — a young Jewish woman who died at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945 and is widely considered the “French Anne Frank” — in the Cotilla Gallery of the Alvin Sherman Library. There will also be workshops, forums, concerts and other events throughout the week.
The week will end with an early Thanksgiving dinner open to all students, faculty, staff and their guests. The festive meal will feature performances from Maasti, NSU’s Indian dance team, along with belly dancing and piano pieces.
NISA President Audra Betty, senior psychology major, has previously attended the Global Village and looks forward to attending more events this year.
“I really hope a lot of students on campus will get more engaged and learn more about culture.” Betty said, “These events are there for [the students] and it’s important to be aware. Just take a little time to go and observe. There’s a lot of information out there.”
Director of International Medicine Robin Jacobs, said, “You learn a lot about yourself when you travel and you take yourself out of your comfort zone. You begin to really look at who you are. As a student and as a learner, it’s as important to learn about oneself as it’s important to learn what’s in a book.”
Marco Baez, senior international studies major, went on a study abroad trip to the American University of Rome this past summer and said, “Opening your mind is an important thing. Learning about other countries and other situations in the world will make you a better person.”
He plans on going to some of the events this year and said, “I think [the students] should attempt to improve their knowledge about the opportunities the campus offers.”
NSU offers students the opportunity to be involved in international organizations, international-based majors, travel studies and study abroad programs.
For more information on International Education, week email Betty at ab1594@nova.edu or Parra at aleparra@nova.edu. To RSVP to the Thanksgiving dinner, email Betty. Registration is not required for any other International Educational events.
