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A joyful processional of international flags carried by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville international student representatives brightened the Stratton Quadrangle on the SIUE campus on Monday, Nov. 13. SIUE has joined the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of State in celebrating International Education Week (IEW).

The SIUE Flag Ceremony, the official opening event of the week, began in the Goshen Lounge of the Morris University Center (MUC) and featured remarks from Lauren Bartshe, SIUE chief of staff, and Elza Ibroscheva, PhD, associate provost and professor of journalism in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Participating international students were invited to stand by or carry the flag of their native nation in a processional out of the building and around the Quad.

“SIUE takes great pride in promoting diverse education,” Bartshe said. She recalled her personal experience studying in Germany and in Poland as an undergraduate German literature student, which helped her develop real-world skills.

Representing 68 different countries, SIUE hosts 879 international students enrolled in every academic unit. The students account for eight percent of the student population.

“As we embark on this week-long celebration of international education, let us embrace the spirit of unity, understanding and global citizenship,” Ibroscheva remarked. “I hope this week inspires us to continue fostering an interconnected community that values and celebrates the richness of every culture.”

Led by the American flag, the processional burst with enthusiasm from the participating students, their cohorts and supporters from the campus community. IEW is hosted by the Office of International Affairs and will run through Friday, Nov. 17. The week promises a variety of activities that mirror the State Department’s IEW theme, “International Education Is the Future.”

Tuesday, Nov. 14 will open with a West African Yoruba drum presentation and an Indian dance performance at 11 a.m. in the Goshen Lounge. Immediately following will be Talk Around the World, an interactive event celebrating language through games, immersion and cultural displays.

On Wednesday, Nov. 15, festivities open with a performance of Taiko drumming, a Japanese art discipline, followed by two performances from The SIUE World Music Ensemble. They will present a Finnish folk song and a Ghanaian song, joined by SIUE students from Ghana.

Continuing in the spirit of SIUE’s Lifelong Learning Speaker Program, the Wednesday schedule also includes a lecture about the fall international student cohort and how local residents can foster an inclusive environment in “It Takes a Village.” The talk will be in the International Room of the MUC at 10:30 a.m. Registration for this event is required on the Office Online Services and Educational Outreach registration website.

Wednesday evening’s highlight is a celebratory observation of Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, in the Meridian Ballroom from 5-10 p.m. Organized by the Indian Student Association, Diwali Night will offer Indian entertainment and cuisine. The event is free, but $10 tickets must be purchased for dinner at the MUC Event Tickets website.

Thursday, Nov. 16 will start with a mashup dance by Suprina Khadka at 11:15 a.m. Immediately following will be the Festival of Cultures, an event to celebrate where SIUE students, faculty and staff call home through interactive activities and information booths.

IEW comes to a close with the massive International Student Thanksgiving Social, Friday, Nov. 17 at 12 p.m. The American Thanksgiving holiday, complete with pie, games and crafts, will be shared with the International Community in the Cougar Den of the MUC.

Amy Nusser, lead immigration specialist, was most enthusiastic about the SIUE Flag Ceremony.

“I was excited for students to have an opportunity to represent their home countries by participating in the procession, and the powerful visual representation of diversity and unity the flags provide,” Nusser said. “IEW is a perfect opportunity to showcase SIUE’s commitment to international exchange, the cultural contributions of our diverse international student and scholar populations and the transformative experiences of education abroad participants. Not only will we celebrate with performances, ceremonies and student fairs, but also educate with events like the Global Zone International Student Ally Training and a workshop for potential faculty-led program facilitators.”

The Office of International Affairs is proud to host IEW as an avenue to continue international collaboration. IEW reinforces the ethos from SIUE’s International Student and Scholar Services mission statement: Providing all Cougars with the opportunity to expand global perspective.

For a full list of the IEW event schedule, visit the International Student and Scholar Services website.

PHOTO: International students at SIUE in the Stratton Quad