Navigation

International Education Week 2017 Features New Festival

Each November, Meredith’s Office of International Programs participates in International Education Week.

This weeklong celebration is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to celebrate the benefits of international education.

Meredith’s observation of the week included an information session to help advisors learn more about study abroad, a United Nations dinner focused on the meaning of feminism, and fun events for students such as a trivia night and a Zumba class sponsored by the Meredith International Association (MIA).

New this year was an International Festival, which was held on Friday, Nov. 17 in the Cate Center. This culminating event was sponsored by the Office of International Programs, MIA, and the Meredith College Diversity Council.

The Office of International Programs organized the festival, but it was run by student volunteers who chose which countries they wanted to feature. Some students represented their home countries and others represented countries where they had studied abroad. Student at display table for Vietnamese culture Twenty different countries, including Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Morocco, Bangladesh, China, and the United Kingdom, were represented by 30 students. Displays included food, clothing, music, art, photos and facts from each country.

“This was a way of celebrating international students and international study at Meredith,” said Assistant Director of International Programs Leila Ghannad. “Students had the opportunity to represent their countries in the way they wanted.”

Thanks to the positive response to the International Festival, Ghannad is planning to expand the event next year.

Ghannad invites academic programs or student organizations to become involved in International Education Week next year. Departmental events can be promoted as part of the overall commemoration. For example, this year, the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures hosted a lecture on migrants and refugees in Francophone, Italian and Spanish cinema and literature during International Education Week.

“The purpose of International Education Week is to focus on global education across the curriculum,” said Ghannad. “We would love for other departments to host programs during the week.”

Learn more about International Programs at Meredith

Melyssa Allen

News Director
316 Johnson Hall
(919) 760-8087
Fax: (919) 760-8330

allenme@meredith.edu