International Education Week draws 300 Miami students with series of intercultural activities and events

Written by Chi Pham, CAS communications intern

International Education Week (IEW), which took place November 18-22, celebrated its sixth and largest year at Miami, with a total of 26 different events that attracted over 300 students.

The events included lectures, a study abroad showcase, a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), a Global Lunch Series, and much more. As an initiative of the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education, IEW celebrates international connections and raises global awareness in one concentrated week to demonstrate the value of international education.

“We hope that IEW can help international students feel a sense of home,” said Kristin Magyari, assistant director of marketing and communications at Miami’s Global Initiatives. “We want to make international students feel welcomed and show the community the positive impact that they make on campus.”

Magyari added that IEW aligns with the vision of Miami 2020 to “promote a diverse culture of inclusion, integrity, and collaboration that deepens understanding and embraces intercultural and global experiences” and is celebrated annually with a wide range of activities, international food, and events.

This year’s IEW had a great turnout of domestic and international students, as well as faculty members, staff and community members. Roughly 300 people attended the Thanksgiving dinner by ISSS. The study abroad showcase had 80 attendees and 50 people participated in a global dance party.

During the Thanksgiving dinner event, President Greg Crawford received the The Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization. Miami has been recognized as one of the five leading institutions for innovative internationalization.