International Education Week at Utah State University

 International Education: The Role of International Relationships and Cooperation is the theme of the fifth annual observance of International Education Week, to be held Nov. 14-20 at Utah State University. Activities on campus include an array of exhibits, lectures, film and entertainment, all of which are open to the general public.

 

According to a statement issued by Secretary of State Colin Powell, the U.S. Department of State jointly sponsors the annual observance with the U.S. Department of Education to provide an opportunity to highlight the benefits of international education.

 

“The professional partnerships and lifelong friendships that result from international education and exchange help build a foundation of understanding and lasting partnerships,” said Powell in the statement.

 

Utah State’s observance opens with a weeklong international film festival that begins Sunday, Nov. 14. All foreign language films feature English subtitles, admission to all festival films is free and refreshments will be served at each showing.

 

On Nov. 14, the Korean film Too Beautiful to Lie will be shown in the Aggie Friendship Room in Aggie Village, and the Chinese film The Great Wall will be shown in the Lundstrom Hall student conference room. Both films will be shown from 7-9 p.m.

 

The film festival continues Monday, Nov. 15, with a viewing of the French film, Bon Voyage, from 7-9 p.m., a showing of the Nepalese film Himalaya on Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 7-9 p.m. and the French film The Last Metro on Wednesday, Nov. 17, from 7-9 p.m. Each of these three films will be shown in the TSC Colony Room.

 

On Saturday, Nov. 20, the Indian film Lagaan will be shown in the Widtsoe building room 007 from 7-9 p.m.

 

Media consultant Nkosinathi Biko of Johannesburg, South Africa will present the lecture Cry Freedom: Media’s Role in Advancement of Human Rights Monday, Nov. 15, from noon-1:30 p.m. in the TSC auditorium. Biko is the son of Steve Biko, a renowned leader in South Africa’s struggle against apartheid who was murdered in 1977 while in police custody. Nkosinathi Biko is executive chair of the Steve Biko Foundation.

 

Following Biko’s lecture, Cry Freedom, the 1987 movie inspired by Steve Biko’s life, will be shown at 2 p.m. in the TSC Colony Room.

 

Live entertainment offered during the week includes the concert Rendezvous with Prasanna, featuring internationally acclaimed Indian guitarist Prasanna on Monday, Nov. 15, from 7-9 p.m. in the Eccles Conference Center auditorium on the Utah State campus. Admission is free for Utah State students with a valid I.D. and $10 for general admission. Tickets are available at the Smith Spectrum ticket office and at the door.

 

Utah State student Shyam Kumar, who leads an Indian music ensemble, joins the Edith Bowen School Children’s Choir for a concert Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 11-11:30 a.m. in the TSC Stevenson Ballroom.

 

The Ms. and Mr. International Pageant will be held Friday, Nov. 19, from 7-9 p.m. in the TSC Stevenson Ballroom. Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for general admission.

 

An array of international kiosks will brighten the TSC Stevenson ballroom and Sunburst Lounge Tuesday, Nov. 16. Utah State University international advisor Maribeth Evensen-Hengge explains that a kiosk is literally a “a place where merchants sell their wares.”

 

“We are selling knowledge of international culture through interactive educational displays,” said Evensen-Hengge.

 

Kiosks, open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., will feature international headwraps presented by Utah State’s African Student Association; information about the dowry system in India; a presentation about the Neve Shalom community in Israel where Arab and Israeli families live, work and study together; a panel of Muslim women who will discuss their choice of wearing head coverings; international fables for children; international peace parks; as well as video presentations on Iran, Kuala Lumpur, Norway and Bangladesh.

 

In addition, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the TSC ballroom, guest speaker Susan Schram of the nonprofit, Washington D.C.-based Agricultural Cooperative Development International/Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI/VOCA), will discuss that organization’s efforts to provide technical, agricultural and social support to developing countries.

 

Throughout the week, the following information sessions and panel discussions, held in TSC room 335 and open to all, will be offered:

 

Tuesday, Nov. 16

Information Session on Study Abroad, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

“How can Students have an International Experience at Utah State?”

Part one of panel discussion, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

 

Wednesday, Nov. 17

Tales from Study Abroad, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

“How can Students have an International Experience at Utah State?”

Part two of panel discussion, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

 

Thursday, Nov. 18

Internationalizing the Campus: The Challenge of Engaging Utah State Students and Faculty Internationally, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

 

A Study Abroad photo exhibition and contest will be held Nov. 15 -19, in the TSC Stevenson ballroom. All visitors may vote for their favorite photo and winners will be announced Friday, Nov. 19.

 

For more information about International Education Week activities at Utah State, contact the International Student Council office at 435-797-2764 or visit the group’s Web site.

 

Contact:  Maribeth Evensen-Hengge, 435-797-8322; mevensen@cc.usu.edu