UF to host a celebration of global education

November 13, 2014

International Education Week (IEW), an annual joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education runs from Nov. 17-21. The University of Florida will take an active part in this year’s event that celebrates the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.

Echoing the new 5-year Quality Enhancement Plan approved in the spring, the UF theme for International Education Week this year will be: “Learning without Borders: Internationalizing the Gator Nation.” Activities planned for IEW include ceremonies to recognize the winners of the Global Photo Competition, the International Students Awards and the Faculty and Staff International Educator Awards. A special event will serve to launch a new Fulbright Lecture Series. UF will once again have its own Peace Corps recruiter on campus, and prospective volunteers are welcome to attend an information session.

Other events range from a multimedia event called “Nowhere to Go” to a final night trivia game with groups competing for the World Championship Cup.

Each year, UF is home to more than 6,000 international students from more than 130 countries. More than 1,100 scholars visit UF annually, including Fulbright Scholars who participate in numerous research and outreach programs on and off campus. About 2,000 UF students travel to more than 50 countries every year, on study abroad and related programs. On any given day, year-round, UF faculty and staff from all parts of the university can be found across the globe, carrying out research, participating in conferences and workshops, or teaching. Some 2,000 UF faculty and staff have international roots or background themselves, including many who are foreign born and educated, and who bring international dimensions to their job and into our classrooms and laboratories.

All colleges, departments and centers are encouraged to organize related international education activities of their own for IEW. For help with this, and for additional information about International Education Week, please contact Mabel Cardec at mcardec@ufic.ufl.edu or 352-273-1515.