International Education Week (IEW) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) returns Nov. 5 with several events honoring the positive impact of international education in the community.
The celebration will be comprised of numerous educational, cultural, and recreational events hosted by International Student and Scholar Services, International Education, as well as other student groups, centers, colleges, units, and local partners.
For example, the International Potluck welcomes in IEW starting at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 5 at the Asian American Cultural Center/International Education building.
There, guests can contribute a dish that highlights their culture or a family tradition. Guests are not required to bring something, but anyone is welcome, and the event is free to attend.
Taste of Language is another event happening during IEW that gives participants a chance to sample 10 different languages in under an hour. That starts at 6 p.m. on Nov. 7 via zoom. Registration is at https://go.illinois.edu/TOL23.
Other events include:
The 26th annual Indoor World Cup, which kicks off Nov. 4.
Registration is $100 per team, and each team should consist of six to 10 platers.
Additionally, at least four players from each team must be from the country that they are representing.
The competition is open to both men and women.
Register at https://go.illinois.edu/IWC26 to secure a spot before the Nov. 1 deadline.
Travel Around the World returns for its 11th year on Nov. 6.
This annual cultural fair is part of International Education Week at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and features tables from various countries so that attendees can learn more about the home countries of our international students.
The fair will also feature live performances throughout its duration.
Travel Around the World will be from 4-6 p.m. inside the Illini Union, Rooms A-C.
The International Cook-Off is back this year with three categories and three days of competition during International Education Week (IEW).
The first night of competition is Monday, Nov. 6; the second night is Wednesday, Nov. 8; and the final night is Thursday, Nov. 9.
All three competition nights will be held from 5-7 p.m. at Table 1867 inside ISR.
Each night of the competition is a different category, and during those nights, contestants, which can include teams of up to three people, will prepare their recipes in the demonstration kitchen at Table 1867 under a designated time restraint. Once time is up, dishes will be judged by three professional staff members from across campus and a winning team or country will be announced.
People not participating in the competition can still attend, but they will have to use a meal swipe to enter the facility. The first 30 people in attendance will get a free sample of each dish.
Food for Thought: Celebrating Diwali: The Festival of Lights will be from 12-1 p.m. Nov. 7 inside the Asian American Cultural Center (AACC)/International Education (IE) offices.
This event is part of the AACC’s weekly lunchtime discussion series.
Participants can join a presentation by the Indian Graduate Student’s Association that details Diwali.
Anyone can attend and no registration is required.
Then on Nov. 11, the Indian Graduate Students Association in collaboration with the AACC will be hosting Diwali on the Quad from 5:30-10:30 p.m. in the Main Quad.
The celebration will feature home-cooked food, music, and the lighting of the Quad.
This is a free event, but food will be available for purchase.
Overall, IEW not only celebrates the broad impact of international education, but it also honors the cultural exchange and scholarship uniquely experienced at UIUC and the local community.
IEW at UIUC is inspired by the nationwide effort to recognize and appreciate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.
The nationwide celebration, which is a joint initiative between the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, takes place Nov. 13-17 and follows an annual theme.
This year’s theme, “The Future Is…” explores ways international education is driving the world into the future, according to the official iew.state.gov website.
For more information on IEW at UIUC or for a full calendar of events visit https://international.illinois.edu/global-impact/international-week.html.