“Boldly Global” is the theme for this year’s International Education Week, Monday through Friday, November 17-21, on the campus of Northern Illinois University.
Sponsored by the Division of International Affairs, the goal of the week of special activities is to draw attention to NIU’s increasing global profile, said Deborah Pierce, associate vice president for International Affairs. “With our theme we wanted to highlight the significance of the global effort to the bold future of Northern Illinois University.”
NIU is actively pursuing opportunities for more students and faculty to engage in international study through study abroad opportunities as well as programs such as the federally funded Fulbright awards and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies. In addition, international student enrollment grew by more than 200 students, comparing fall 2014 to fall 2013.
Highlights of the week include a lecture by NIU alumnus Matt Thompson, Executive Vice President of Adobe Systems Inc. on Wednesday, November 19.
“With his talk the College of Business continues their tradition of inviting prominent NIU alumni to keynote the college’s celebration of this special week,” said Pierce. The division will focus on achievements in international education with the announcement of winners of campus international education awards, including outstanding students as well as the outstanding international department and outstanding international educator awards. International menus are being offered in the residence halls and Blackhawk food court all week long, and international displays are up in Holmes Student Center and Founders Memorial Library.
There are also a number of campus activities open to all. These include:
- Monday, Nov. 17. Cookie giveaway in MLK Commons, Holmes Student Center, DuSable and Barsema Hall, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., and Study Abroad 101 at 7:30 p.m. in DuSable 130.
- Tuesday, Nov. 18. The International Recognition Reception, at 11:30 a.m. in the Sky Room of the Holmes Student Center; also a facilitated screening of “Crossing Borders Morocco,” a documentary about students travelling together in Morocco, at 7 p.m. in DuSable 212.
- Wednesday, Nov. 19. International Career Panel in the University Suite of the Holmes Student Center from 4 to 6 p.m. and College of Business keynote speaker Matt Thompson, Executive Vice President for world field operations of Adobe Systems Inc., at 7:00 p.m. in Barsema Hall Auditorium.
- Thursday, Nov. 20. Fulbright Specialist Award workshop for NIU faculty and research associates from 10-11:30 a.m. in the Sky Room, Holmes Student Center. Student Fulbright workshop from 1-2:30 p.m. in the Sky Room, Holmes Student Center. Amy Levin, chair of the Department of English, will discuss how best to apply for, and experience, this short-term Fulbright appointment to spend two to six weeks at universities abroad. In the afternoon, Pierce will facilitate the workshop for US students interested in the Student Fulbright Fellowship for graduate study, research or teaching abroad.
- Friday Nov. 21. The week’s capstone lecture, “Ghost Writing the State: Rights, Practices and Religion in Metropolitan Manila (1984-2014)”, will be given by Dr.Philip Parnell of Indiana University at noon in the Sky Room of the Holmes Student Center. A light lunch buffet will precede Dr. Parnell’s talk, which is being co-sponsored by the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, the Division of International Affairs and Graduate Colloquium. A few hours later, International Education Week will conclude with the third annual International Global Village Potluck & Dance from 6 to 10:00 p.m. in the Barsema Hall atrium, sponsored by the Division of International Affairs, International House, the Foreign Language Residence Program, the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures and the ELS Language Center. There will be dance performances, cultural displays and an international food tasting followed by a DJ-hosted dance.
In addition to public activities, the Division of International Affairs is also hosting a number of invitation-only events during the week, including reception for study abroad program directors and alumni. And on November 20, Phi Beta Delta, the international honor society, will induct new members including NIU President Douglas D. Baker, “the primary leader of NIU’s global effort,” according to Pierce.
For further details, contact International Affairs at (815) 753-9526 or slindell@niu.edu
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