CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — International Education Week (IEW) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign launches Saturday, Nov. 16 with the 27th annual Indoor World Cup.
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is partnering with Campus Recreation to host the annual tournament, which starts at 10 a.m. on Nov. 16 at Campus Recreation Center East in Urbana.
There are 10 teams representing a specific country or region participating in the tournament this year. Teams will compete in soccer matches throughout the day, with the initial rounds, the knockout stage, and the final match all taking place the same day. Prizes and medals will be awarded to the winning teams.
IEW is a five-day celebration organized by ISSS and its partners.
Each day will be comprised of numerous educational, cultural, and recreational events hosted by student groups, centers, colleges, units, and other local partners.
Events include Travel Around the World, which returns for its 13th year from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the Illini Union (Rooms A-C).
This cultural fair will feature different booths representing countries from around the globe. Participants can interact with students from diverse national and cultural backgrounds.
There will be live performances, snacks, crafts, games, and other activities.
For more information on IEW visit: https://isss.illinois.edu/training-programs/iew.html.
Other IEW Events:
- Chinese Names Training will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18. The session is open to all students, scholars, faculty and staff who would like to receive proper training on the native pronunciation of Chinese names as well as be culturally informed on the background and significance of these names. Registration is required at: https://go.illinois.edu/ChineseNamesFall2024.
- The Career Center will be hosting Career Coaching Embedded Hours from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18 at La Casa Cultural Latina. This drop-in session gives students an opportunity to quickly learn about career services and meet a career coach for a personal appointment. Look for the entire list of "embedded hours" dates on The Career Center calendar here: https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/embedded-coaching-drop-services.
- There will be two Time Management Workshops for International Students from 4-5 p.m. on Nov. 19 and Nov. 20 inside Room 106 at the Main Library. The workshops are hosted by the Counseling Center International Student Outreach Committee and will help students learn techniques on how to prioritize tasks, eliminate procrastination, and make the most of every minute.
- Building a Strong Foundation: Identity-Centered Career Planning is an hour-long workshop sponsored by the Career Center and starts at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 20 at the Women’s Resources Center. It is being offered as part of the Identity-Centered Career Development (ICD) Workshops Series and is tailored for first-generation college students from diverse backgrounds. Participants will explore the importance of inclusivity in the workplace and will be equipped with the tools to identify and contribute to inclusive work environments. There will be group discussion to collectively define the key elements of an inclusive workplace and share personal insights, and an interactive activity to assess their own workplace values and identify what is important to them in a workplace environment. For additional information, please reach out to Dr. Pankaj Desai, Senior Assistant Director for Inclusion Initiatives at The Career Center at pankaj1@illinois.edu.
- International Karaoke is an IEW special this year and will be from 7-9 p.m. at the Illini Union’s Courtyard Café. This free event is sponsored by the Illini Union, International Education (IE) and ISSS and will feature music from all over the world that students can sing along to. IE will provide snacks and giveaways. All are welcome to attend.
- The inaugural International Young Humanitarian Speaker Series kicks off at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 21. The event will feature Annie Jones, a 2017 Illinois graduate and a quality assurance specialist at No Means No Worldwide, an international non-governmental organization dedicated to ending sexual and gender-based violence against women and children globally. Jones is the recipient of the 2024 Charles C. Stewart International Young Humanitarian Award, and will share how her deep level of involvement on campus helped uniquely position her for the mission-driven career she has today. To register for the event visit https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/1051799788. The event is sponsored by Illinois International, Women's Resources Center, and the Department of Political Science.
- Career Programs for International Students is an hour-long, virtual information session starting at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 21. The session will outline the career development programs designed specifically for international students. Participants will get the skills needed to stand out and become a competeive candidate for jobs and internships. Register at https://illinois.joinhandshake.com/login.
Information about IEW events will also be shared on the ISSS Instagram (@ISSSIllinois) and Facebook accounts.
Analicia Haynes is the storyteller and social media specialist for Illinois International and can be reached at ahayn2@illinois.edu.