International Education Week, a campus-wide celebration of global education and cultural diversity, will be celebrated on Gannon University’s campus Nov. 16-20.
This week-long cultural celebration is a joint initiative between the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education.
According to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the main purpose of International Education Week is to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences in the United States.
International Education Week is celebrated in high schools and universities around the nation and in more than 100 counties worldwide.
At Gannon, nine different events will be taking place on campus in recognition of International Education Week.
The International Education Week committee, composed of numerous university faculty and staff from various departments, collaborated to plan these events.
One of the main events of the week will be the Second Annual Photo Contest Reception held in the Schuster Gallery from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 18.
During this time, refreshments will be provided and the winners of the “The World Through Your Eyes” photo contest will be announced.
Another main event taking place at Gannon for International Education Week will be the Celebration of Cultures event held at Club LaRiccia from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday.
This celebration includes a night of music, dancing, food and culture and will include representatives from various student organizations.
Barbara Zarnick, international student adviser and member of the International Education Week committee, said that she thinks this event will be a great addition to International Education Week.
“This event was held last year in the spring with great success but we thought it would be an ideal event to bring students together during International Education Week,” she said.
When it comes to International Education Week as a whole, Zarnick hopes to spark an interest in educational exchange, allow for further cross-cultural understanding between individuals and create an open dialogue about topics that are relevant to the Gannon campus.
“Overall, we hope the week will bring people together through educational and social programming to gain a better understanding and appreciation for the diversity on campus and in the world of international education,” she said.
For more information about International Education Week individuals are encouraged to visit http://eca.state.gov/programs-initiatives/international-education-week or contact the International Student Office.

OLIVIA BURGER
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