International Education Week (IEW), November 11-17, 2018, is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences.
This year, Wesleyan Univeristy chose to focus IEW on the theme of “Transcending Borders” in order to explore the complexities of “belonging” and how our sense of belongs transcends borders. A border, in this case, can be physical or mental, internal or external, visible or invisible. We asked student groups to submit event ideas that aligned with this theme and matched funding to support their event.
Click the drop-down menus to view events listed by dates.
- Sunday, November 11th
5:00 PM / I-House (151 Church Street)The International Student Mixer at I-House will include food from multiple countries. The event is intended to create dialogue and connections among International Students of different countries and class years. Come hear upperclassmen from all different continents briefly share their experience at Wesleyan. There will be small-group discussion questions prepared that will expand to a larger group conversation about how Wesleyan can better support the International Student population.Co-sponsored by International Program House, Pangea, Resource Center, and Fries Center for Global Studies
- Monday, November 12th
4:30 PM / Adzenyah Rehearsal Hall 003Speaker: Saida Daukeyeva (Candidate of Sciences [PhD] in Musicology, Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory; PhD in Ethnomusicology, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 2010)Rituals for the dead, transnational mobility, and the changing soundspace of Islam among Mongolian Kazakhs and the changing soundspace of Islam among Mongolian Kazakhs: This presentation explores the role of sound in the negotiation of Islam among the Kazakhs of Mongolia, a Turkic-speaking, Muslim community that forms the majority population in the west of the country.Sponored by the Wesleyan University Music DepartmentThe Killing Fields (1984) Film Screening8:00 PM / Goldsmith Family Cinema
This film screening of The Killing Fields (1984) is an extension of the “Cambodia Reawakening – One Year After the Khmer Rouge” photo exhibit hosted in the Fries Center for Global Studies. Please check out the gallery of photos by the former Washington Post journalist, John Burgess in Fisk Hall.
Co-sponsored by Writing Through, Center for Film Studies, Center for the Arts, University Relations, and Fries Center for Global Studies
- Tuesday, November 13th
5:00 PM / Olson Commons, Gordon Career Center
Students who were working with organizations that support refugees in Chicago, California, Greece, and Jordan this past summer will share their experiences and give an overview of the organizations they were working with.
Co-sponsored by the Wesleyan Refugee Project, Gordon Career Center, and Fries Center for Global Studies
5:30 PM / Daniel Family Commons (DFC)We want to strengthen our international community here at Wes and give students the opportunity to connect with international faculty.
Co-sponsored by Pangea, Office of International Student Affairs, and Fries Center for Global Studies
5:30 – 7:30 PM / PAC 001The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provides policy makers with assessments of the science behind climate change, its impacts and risks, and solutions for adaptation and mitigation. Last month, the IPCC released an update on the World’s current standing and near future of 1.5°C warming. Join students from Climate Action Group, Wesleyan Professor of Economics Gary Yohe, and Marshall Islander Selina Leem for a discussion about the state of our climate. After a brief presentation on the IPCC report, we will open the room for students to voice their perspectives, questions, or comments about the effects of climate change. All are welcome to join in the discussion. Dinner will be provided.
Co-sponsored by Climate Action Group, College of the Environment, and Fries Center for Global Studies
I Am Not A Witch (2018) Film Screening8 PM / Goldsmith Family CinemaI am Not a Witch is Zambian-Welsh Rungano Nyoni's debut feature film, currently on circuit in independent theaters across the US. Written and directed by Nyoni, she tells the story of a young girl accused of witchcraft through satire and magical surrealism. Deemed the rise of a significant new screen voice in African cinema, Nyoni's film is a must-see!
Co-sponsored by African Student Association, African Studies, and Center for Film Studies
- Wednesday, November 14th
12 PM / FCGS Commons, Fisk 201
This food, arts, and crafts event will be focused on conversing in the target languages of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, French, Italian, and Spanish. Our 10 Foreign Language Teaching Assistants (FLTAs) from China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy, Spain, and Colombia will be facilitating this event. The event is open to all Wesleyan students and staff, but we especially want to target language learners.
Sponsored by the Fries Center for Global Studies
5:30 PM / Olson Commons, Gordon Career CenterStaff from the Gordon Career Center and the Office of International Student Affairs will offer an introduction to the job and internship process. Topics will include:
- Career decision making for international students
- How to find employers that hire international applicants for jobs and internships
- How to request CPT and OPT
- How to enroll in CSPL 493 for internship credit
Dinner Provided.
Co-sponsored by Office of International Student Affairs and Gordon Career Center
- Thursday, November 15th
12:15 PM / FCGS Commons, Fisk 201
The event is specifically aimed at First Year and Sophomore students. Are you thinking about studying abroad during your time at Wesleyan? Come to this info-session to find out more about the study abroad options available to you! Study abroad staff together with a panel of returned study abroad student will be happy to answer all your questions.
Co-sponsored by Office of Study Abroad and Class Deans
12 PM / Olson Commons, Gordon Career CenterCome listen to international upperclassmen talk about their work experience in the U.S. and globally. Lunch provided.
Panelist:
- Aditi Guha, Economics major
- Pi Songkuntham, Computer Science major
- Wenxuan Xue, Theater major and CEAS minor
- Suyang Yang, Economics and Theatre double major
Co-sponsored by Pangea, Gordon Career Center, Office of International Student Affairs
5:00 PM / Usdan 108Join us and speakers from the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees (MFA) for an overview of the humanitarian crisis in Syria and what you can do to help. MFA is a New York City based NGO that mobilizes the interfaith community to deliver humanitarian aid and to advocate for sensible and humane refugee policies.
The speakers will include Ahed Festuk, a Syrian refugee from Aleppo who organized peaceful demonstrations in 2011 before working at a front-line field hospital and aid organizations in Syria, and Bennett Gross, Executive Director of MFA.This event is free and open to the public. Dinner from Typhoon will be served.
Co-sponsored by the Albritton Center, Government Department, Middle Eastern Students Union, Interfaith Council, Resource Center and Fries Center for Global Studies10 PM / Ubuntu House (34 Lawn)The African Student Association (ASA) will prepare traditional African dishes from the continent and sell them to students and faculty for a low fee per plate.
Co-sponsored by African Student Association, Resource Center, Student Activities and Leaders Development, Office of International Student Affairs, College of Social Studies, and Fries Center for Global Studies
- Saturday, November 17th
10 AM – 2 PM / Russell House
This year’s Indaba theme is 'African Changemakers' and panel topics include being African in the STEM field, a panel of women who will be discussing their work and some feminist issues, as well as a panel on student social entrepreneurship.
Dinner catered from Sidibe (a West African restaurant in East Hartford).
Co-sponsored by African Student Association, Resource Center, African Studies, Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship, Office of International Student Affairs, and Fries Center for Global Studies
9-11 PM / Crowell Concert HallGet excited for this year’s Ariya where you can enjoy a great show that will feature dance, music, spoken words, fashion, and artistic talent from around the African continent. Get your tickets for $4 at the box office!
Sponsored by African Student Association