Global Engagement Plans Virtual International Education Celebrations

The Office of Global Engagement will be celebrating International Education Month virtually this November. There will be a mix of live and pre-recorded events throughout the month. NC State’s celebration is an expanded version of International Education Week, which is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education.“The global pandemic has shown and continues to show us how important it is for all of us to be globally aware and engaged right now,” said David Hawley, the manager of global programming. “NC State is the most globally diverse university in North Carolina, with more than 6,000 students from 129 different countries. So, it’s a key opportunity for us as a campus to celebrate this global diversity.”

Hawley is working with departments and offices around campus to offer virtual programming to highlight their unit’s global connections and engagement. Global Engagement will also present a variety of events, including its signature global storytelling competition: Think and Do in 2. The event will include pre-recorded student videos as well as a live virtual awards ceremony on Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. The winner and first runner-up will win $50 and $25 Amazon gift cards.

“Instead of presenting live on stage, students will record their global stories beforehand and the campus will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite ones during the first ten days of November,” Hawley explained.

Other events include the Global Film Series presentation of the Japanese film After the Storm. OGE’s student Global Ambassadors will also present a global trivia night and set up live virtual campus tours for students who could not make it to the NC State campus this semester. NC State Prague staff will also host live Instagram tours of their campus.

Academic departments and campus units are encouraged to submit their globally-themed events to be listed on the International Education Month calendar.