International Education Week

VALDOSTA -- Valdosta State University’s more than 300 international students from 65 countries invite the public to celebrate the benefits of worldwide education and exchange during International Education Week Sunday, Nov. 14 - Wednesday, Nov. 17. The Center for International Programs and Society for International Students will host a series of events throughout the week to inform the public about various countries, cultures and ethnic perspectives.

International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of State. It celebrates the importance and benefits of international education in the United States and around the world. U.S. Secretary of State Arne Duncan said this year’s theme -- International Education: Striving for a Sustainable Future -- highlights the importance of global collaboration.

“We are reminded that the challenges we face today are increasingly borderless. Climate change, the environment, and the economy are but some of the issues that affect our daily lives and demand our attention on a global scale,” Duncan stated in a press release. “Finding sustainable solutions is imperative and will require an unprecedented level of international cooperation.”

VSU is dedicated to global partnerships. Nearly 200 students participated in study abroad programs this past summer, and seven students are studying either a semester or yearlong program in China, France, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom. Of the 26 faculty members who facilitated study abroad programs this past summer, 24 of them received assistance from the Faculty Internationalization Fund. Dr. Ivan Nikolov, director of the Center for International Programs at VSU, said inviting international educators and students into the educational experience adds a dynamic richness for all involved.

International Education Week Events, include:

Diwali, or festival of lights

Sunday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. at the Center for International Programs, located at 204 Georgia Avenue

The Center for International Programs will host a Diwali, or festival of lights, which is a popular festival in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, occurring between mid-October and mid-November. Traditionally, families share sweets, perform traditional activities, and light candles or lamps to signify the triumph of good over evil.

Blazers Speak Out: Global Influence of USA

Monday, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. in Powell Hall Auditorium

International students will give presentations about their countries’ global influence. The public is encouraged to speak with students about the history, traditions, politics and cuisine of their respective homelands.

Imperialism of the USA: A Debate

Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 8:30 p.m. in Powell Hall Auditorium

Faculty and students from a variety of disciplines and countries will debate the positives and negatives of the United State’s foreign policies and economic influences throughout the world. The audience will be encouraged to enter the debate and ask questions of panelists.

International Movie Night: “BABIES”

Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 8:30 p.m. in Odum Library Auditorium

Take in the 2010 documentary that chronicles the first year of four babies from around the world -- Mongolia, Namibia, San Francisco and Tokyo. Writer and Director Thomas Balmes concurrently shares the tales of these individuals to show how basic skills and experiences seemingly common to all people are filtered by different cultures and life styles. Read more about “BABIES” at http://www.filminfocus.com/babies .

Go to http://iew.state.gov/ to learn more about International Education Week and ways you can get involved in the global movement. Call VSU’s Center for International Programs at (229) 333-7410 for more information about the week’s events as well as study abroad opportunities.