Penn State Global presents another year of International Education Week (IEW) programming during the week of Nov. 15-19. IEW is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education with the stated goal of promoting programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences.

Penn State Global and many of the University’s Colleges and Campuses have a long tradition of hosting events throughout IEW so that students can participate in multicultural activities and learn more about opportunities for global education at Penn State. Penn State hosts students from more than 140 different countries and has thousands of domestic students participating in study abroad all over the world. Penn State is nationally ranked for students studying abroad and number one in Pennsylvania with international students.

“Global learning and engagement are central to Penn State’s identity as a leading global institution, and are central to the University’s Strategic Plan,” said Brian Brubaker, Assistant Vice Provost for Global Learning. “While we strive to offer impactful programming throughout the year, IEW is a fantastic annual tradition that gives us an opportunity to appreciate the diverse global talents and aspirations of our Penn State communities.”

Last year, IEW events were held virtually due to the pandemic — 32 events were held, 379 total participants attended, and the website was viewed over 2000 times. Participation from the campuses increased tremendously.

This year, IEW will follow a hybrid model, with events available both in-person and virtually. Penn State Global will once again be joined by partners from across the University, including colleges, campuses, and student organizations who will be hosting sessions. Topics of focus include taking care of mental health abroad; information about international internships; steps for studying abroad as a STEM major; information on Fulbright programs; and much, much more. Penn State Erie (The Behrend College) is even holding a game of Kahoot in German, both in-person and virtually, on the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 17, and both Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Abington have a multitude of events planned.

“As we all know too well, the COVID-era brought higher education many challenges. International Education Week and the newfound collaboration across the University system is just one example of a positive change that happened as a result of COVID,” said Riki Hay, global education coordinator at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. “It’s brought a whole new level of shared celebration and togetherness across the international and globally focused work being done at all of the Penn State campuses. What a treat it is to be able to share in the work and expertise that we have across the state.”

“We are always extremely excited to celebrate International Education Week in the southeast region at Penn State Abington and Brandywine to highlight the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. It is always great to connect with others to learn more about global opportunities offered on campuses and the multicultural diversity we have right here in our Penn State community,” added Olga Moskaleva, global education coordinator at Abington.

Visit here for the full schedule of events.

In addition to the events, Penn State Global will once again host its Study Abroad Photo Contest. Submissions are open through Wednesday, Nov. 17, and winners will be announced on Friday, Nov. 19. There are multiple prizes for the photo contest, including a $75 book store gift card for the first-place winner.

“In the past, IEWs have been delightful weeks for me. The events, the seminars, and the new people that I had the opportunity to meet with always left me with fresh ideas and perspectives,” said Jeet Maniktala, global education assistant within Penn State Global who spearheaded organizing IEW events. “This year, I truly got to experience the ins and outs of the planning and logistics that go into executing IEW. The team has done an incredible job in putting together a variety of events and I hope that it can result in the cultural enrichment of the broader Penn State community.”

For more information about International Education Week at Penn State, contact Jeet at jeet@psu.edu.