USM focuses on international education

Diversity plays a large role at the University of Southern Mississippi; the campus is home to students from more than 60 different countries, and at least 150 new international students enrolled in the university this year.

International cuisine, contests and numerous activities will be featured on campus to celebrate International Education Week, which began yesterday and will end Friday.

International Education Week was first held in 2000 as a program of the U.S. Departments of State and Education and has flourished over the past 12 years. The event is described as an ideal opportunity to encourage students to become globally competent and globally successful through international education and international engagement, according to the departments’ websites.

Jessica Lamb, coordinator of International Studies, has organized the event since she began working at USM four years ago.

“It started with the photo contest, and it’s just been building every year,” Lamb said. “We hope to see more student organizations and different departments on campus get involved.”

The events listed above have been planned throughout the week. Informational meetings will also be given on study abroad programs offered at USM.

“I wish every student could study abroad,” Lamb said. “This can at least satisfy some curiosity.”

The Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures and the Spanish Club will host Spanish dancing and tapas, and students can learn to play Jouons Pétanque, a French sport.

An International Fair in the Thad Cochran Center will be held on Thursday. Fresh Food Company will serve meals from around the world for lunch. Students can vote on photo contest entries, read the winning essay and discover who won the video contest. Later, Peace Corps volunteer Rick Enkoji will talk about his travels to Swaziland, where he taught math from 1977 to 1980. The fair will end with a talent show hosted by the Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures, and the only rule is no English allowed to be spoken.

International Education Week provides opportunities to give students a taste of other cultures and meet international students and faculty who attend USM alongside American students.

For more information, visit usm.edu/study-abroad/international-education-week.