Rice hosts International Education Week Nov. 17-21
Intercultural, interscholastic, interdepartmental activities celebrate diversity on campus

BY JESSICA STARK
Rice News staff

To celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide, Rice University will host International Education Week (IEW) Nov. 17-21, with events and activities set up throughout campus. A joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, IEW promotes programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences in the United States.

This year at Rice University the number of international students for the first time has passed 1,000, with a total enrollment of 1,051 students from 88 countries/regions. International students account for nearly 19 percent of Rice’s total student population and 13 percent of the undergraduate population, compared with less than 3 percent five years ago.

“We want to celebrate the internationalization that’s happening here,” said Adria Baker, executive director of the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS). “Rice is becoming an even more international campus, which is so important as our world becomes a global marketplace. It’s so important to have international students and scholars on our campus to increase understanding among people of different cultures.”

An international Wii party will kick off activities for the week in the OISS office from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 17. The next day, people will have the chance to enact those virtual skills in the physical world with the International Sports and Activities Sampler in the Central Quad near Brochstein Pavilion from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

International Education Week
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Office of International Students & Scholars
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“It will be fun because you can learn special skills and celebrate with our international athletes and other athletes,” Baker said.

International students will also have a chance during the week to reflect on the work their consuls have done in Houston. In an effort to reach out to the about 80 consulate generals in Houston, OISS will provide cards for international students to sign and write notes of appreciation.

“We thought this would be an easy and fun way for international students and scholars to create a relationship with their countries’ consular offices,” said Cory Owen, an OISS adviser. “They can pose a collaborative project or just show their gratitude.”

Owen said the idea for the project was sparked by the city of Houston’s first Citizenship Week, which coincides with IEW. Citizenship Week will focus on the privileges, rights, responsibilities and obligations of all citizens from the native born to the adoptive Houstonians.

The “Mini Soccer World Cup” will cap IEW at Rice Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Intramural Fields 2 and 3, near the Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center. Members of the Rice community can play on a team of their choice — Asia, Europe, Africa or America — regardless of their nationality. Students, faculty and staff can register by contacting Yiming Wang at Yiming.Wang@rice.edu or Adrien Wang at adrienis350@gmail.com and listing their name, e-mail address, phone number, country of origin, and team and position preferences.

For more information on International Education and a list of activities, visit http://oiss.rice.edu/content.aspx?id=678.

For questions on activities for International Education Week, or if your department wishes to participate, contact Vanessa Pena, principal leader for the Rice program at dvp1@rice.edu or 713-348-6095.