UC San Diego to Hold Series of Events Marking International Education Week
Nov. 16-20, 2009

November 5, 2009

By Pat JaCoby

The University of California, San Diego will celebrate the benefits of international education and worldwide exchange with a weeklong series of events marking the fifth annual UCSD International Education Week (IEW) Nov. 16-20. Programs include lectures, internationally-themed meals, cultural presentations, workshops and an international student festival.

A colorful Parade of Flags featuring students, faculty and staff carrying flags representing countries throughout the world will begin the week at 10:45 Nov. 16 at the corner of Gilman and Myers. The parade will wind through the campus, ending at International House for a tapas lunch.

An equally colorful closing ceremony will include demonstrations of an Argentine tango, Cuban salsa and Hawaiian dance at noon Nov. 20 following an International Café lunch. Chancellor Marye Anne Fox will join in the festivities marking the end of IEW week.

Among the more than 25 other events planned for the week are:

• An International Affairs Group  talk on “Careers in International Law and Development—Spotlight on Africa” at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Great Hall by Ed Spriggs, UC San Diego associate vice chancellor, who formerly served as director of East African Affairs for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

• Robert J. Sanchez, a 1982 UC San Diego graduate, CEO and president of Globaltel Media, Inc., a technology-enabling software firm, will give the celebration’s keynote speech at 3 p.m. Nov. 17 in the International Center Pavilion. Sanchez received his bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego and his master’s degree from USC, and has served in leadership positions at General Dynamics Electronics, TRW/MEAD, Qualcomm and InCode Wireless.

• The UC San Diego Student Festival from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 18 will bring together students from throughout the world and provide a forum to celebrate and showcase their culture and talents to the UC San Diego community through artistic displays, music, ethnic clothing, dance and food. Colorful table exhibits will be mounted on Library Walk, and vibrant dance and music performances will be presented at the Price Center Plaza by groups such as the Chinese Music Ensemble, Tango Concepts and the UC San Diego Hawaii Club.

• UC San Diego’s student Slow Food chapter--member of an international organization founded in opposition to fast food--will sponsor an “All Local Thanksgiving Dinner” featuring turkeys from a Julian turkey farm and produce grown locally. The dinner will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Great Hall.

Initiated in 2000 by the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Education, International Education Week emphasizes the importance of increasing student knowledge and awareness of the world’s cultures, peoples and languages, and affirms the critical role that international education and exchange programs play in fostering world peace.

UC San Diego’s International Education Week activities and videos are frequently featured on the Department of State’s website as examples of campus events.

For more information about UC San Diego’s IEW celebration and a full calendar of events, please visit http://iew.ucsd.edu.

Media Contact: Pat JaCoby, 858-534-7404 or pjacoby@ucsd.edu