Wright State to celebrate International Education Week

Wright State students Alexandra Zelles (left) and Brittney Mitchell practice field research in a Suriname rainforest.

A study-abroad fair, an international potluck and other activities promoting the benefits of global education and exchange are planned at Wright State as part of International Education Week.

The campus events run from Nov. 18 through Nov. 22.

“International Education Week is an opportunity both to prepare interested American students for a global experience and to attract talented international students to Wright State,” said Michelle Streeter-Ferrari, director of the university’s Center for International Education. “It’s also a lot of fun.”

The number of international students at colleges and universities in the United States increased by 7 percent to a record high of 819,644 in the 2012-13 academic year. The number of new international students at Wright State increased by 42 percent this fall to 1,477.

Foreign students help build bridges of understanding and goodwill between nations, foster partnerships with foreign institutions, serve as models for the study of foreign languages, help internationalize U.S. students and curricula and provide universities with a source of revenue and prestige abroad.

International Education Week at Wright State will include a fair that details opportunities to study abroad, a panel discussion by international students who attend Wright State, several receptions, a photo contest and a potluck meal featuring international dishes.

The event is a joint initiative of UCIE, the State Department and the U.S. Department of Education.

For a detailed schedule of the week’s activities, visit: http://www.wright.edu/ucie/news/iew.html