By Kelsey Kendall
All week, the Office of Intercultural Relations is celebrating International Education Week, hosting a series of events that highlight the global population at Old Dominion University.
International Education Week, which runs through Nov. 22, is a U.S. Department of State and Department of Education joint initiative aimed at recognizing the benefits of international education. This year’s theme is “Explore,” which inspired “the world awaits” kinds of events and programs at the University, Sofia Calicchio, assistant director for international initiatives, said.
At Old Dominion, various student organizations, departments and classes are hosting activities on campus that encourage connections and cultural exchanges between international and domestic students.
The week kicked off with an event in Webb Student Center and presentation from visiting Fulbright Scholar, Inga Kotlo, who will speak about her home country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Monday event also introduced a special exhibit, “A Picture-Perfect Bosnia and Herzegovina,” which features photos from Bosnian photographers as well as from Kotlo’s personal collection. It will be on view in the Mane Hub all week.
There will also be student gatherings on Tuesday, offering European and West African students the opportunity to meet up and connect. Monarch Dining will serve Sri Lankan food Wednesday, and on Thursday the University community will be welcomed to participate in the “Plant Your Peace” event where lavender seeds will be planted to promote inner peace. To finish up the week, the Indian Students Association will host its annual Diwali celebration.
A full list of events can be found on the Office of Intercultural Relations’ website.
Old Dominion serves students from all over the world. Last year, more than 750 international students were enrolled at the University each semester, making up about 35% of undergraduate students and 65% of graduate students.
“The goal that we try to achieve with International Education Week is to really emphasize the importance of international education,” Calicchio said.
She said it promotes cultural exchange, global mindsets and intercultural competency. Domestic students are often the target audience for the activities that give them the chance to interact with others from outside their communities and learn about ways they can be more involved — whether by studying abroad or seeking out local opportunities.
Cheikh Faye, a master’s student in computer science from Senegal, said the University offers many resources to support international students like him as they move forward with their studies. This is his first semester at Old Dominion, and he has found ways to get involved on campus, whether as a graduate assistant in the Office of Intercultural Relations or through student organizations like the Graduate Student Government Association and the Global Monarch Club.
“One of the important things we are able to achieve through this is to make sure all communities, whether it’s the international or the domestic, are able to feel a sense of belonging,” Faye said.
There are many resources available to international students through the Office of Intercultural Affairs. More information can be found on the website.