International Education Week to offer activities on, off campus
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University will celebrate International Education Week from Nov. 13-17 with outreach efforts to local schools as well as a host of on-campus events.International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. departments of State and Education designed to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and to attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences in the United States.
"The week serves to benefit both the Purdue students who participate as well as the students in the community who get a real cultural education," said Michael Brzezinski, director of the Office of International Students and Scholars. "Students gain exposure to different cultures through innovative presentations, games, music and dance, and it helps them realize that the world is bigger than just their school."
At 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday (Nov. 15) at Burnett Creek Elementary School, Purdue President Martin C. Jischke will be joined by representatives of Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski and West Lafayette Mayor Jan Mills. Proclamations will be read declaring International Education Week in both cities.
Following the brief ceremony, Purdue students from five different countries, many in their native country's costume, will make presentations at the elementary school. In addition to presentations, students from Belgium, India, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan will demonstrate crafts, games, dances and more to rotating groups of elementary students.
On Friday (Nov. 17), Purdue international students will spend the day at Central Catholic Jr.-Sr. High School. Students from Ghana, China, India, Germany and Central America will visit classes to discuss topics related to their home countries. For example, students from Germany will visit a German language class, students from China will do a presentation on Chinese medicine during a health class, and students from India will discuss and demonstrate the game of cricket during a physical education class.
The Office of Study Abroad, in conjunction with various organizations across campus, is presenting activities as well.
The winners of an essay contest, "The Most Important Thing I Learned from Study Abroad," will be announced on Friday (Nov. 17). The contest was open to those who are, or have been, involved in study abroad at Purdue.
An information table on study abroad will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 14) in the Purdue Memorial Union across from Freshens.
Study Abroad 101, which the office organizes throughout the year, will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday (Nov. 15 and 16) in the study abroad office, located in Young Hall, Room 105. Study abroad staff will be on hand to discuss opportunities for study, internships and application procedures and will answer questions.
In addition, Purdue study abroad staff are taking International Education Week as an opportunity to emphasize that a wide range of globally-themed events are happening in the community year round.
Next week, a Russian film will be shown at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 in Stanley Coulter Hall, Room 239; a historical German film will be shown at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at the West Lafayette Public Library; and there will be conversation hours throughout the week for people interested in various languages. More information on these and other international events is available online at http://www.studyabroad.purdue.edu/"
The students' visits to area schools are part of the Global Outreach Purdue! program, referred to as GO Purdue! About 80 international students from approximately 30 countries are involved in the program, which provides cultural, educational, service and social opportunities for students while they are living in the United States. There are more than 5,000 international students and scholars at Purdue.
International Awareness Week in the spring, the International Friendship Program and the Educational Exchange Program also are part of GO Purdue!
Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu
Sources: Michael Brzezinski, (765) 494-5770, mbrzezinski@purdue.edu
Nancy Montague, immigration counselor for International Students and Scholars, (765) 496-2306, nancym@purdue.edu
Christopher Klein, marketing coordinator for study abroad, (765) 494-9866, cbklein@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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