2015 International Education Week at UW-Madison Events, November 16-19

IEW_2015_logos_outlined_Dark_BlueInternational Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, designed to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States. The International Education Week celebration at UW-Madison is led by The International Division.

Monday, November 16

International Education Week Celebration and Reception, 4:00 – 6:30 pm, Gordon Dining & Event Center, Concerto & Overture Rooms. Learn about Peace Corps, Fulbright programs, study abroad, international internships, and other international education opportunities. There will be food, music, and networking with remarks by Guido Podestá, Vice Provost & Dean of the International Division, and Robert Neus, U.S. Department of State Diplomat-in-Residence for the Midwest region. Hosted by The International Division

Study Abroad Info Session: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, 6:00 – 7:30 pm, Study Abroad Resource Center, 106 Red Gym. STEM majors can learn how to make study abroad part of their UW-Madison experience, while earning credit and staying on track for graduation. STEM majors will talk about their experiences and offer advice on how to find programs, and fulfill breadth and depth requirements.  Free pizza will be served. Sponsored by International Academic Programs

Tuesday, November 17

Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies Program (LACIS) Lunchtime Lecture Series (Topic / Speaker TBD), noon – 1:00 pm, 206 Ingraham

International STEM Research Internship Info Session, 4:00 5:00 pm, 336 Ingraham Hall. Learn about international research opportunities for undergraduates in the STEM field! We will answer questions about how to get started, visas, insurance, etc. Hosted by the International Internship Program

John Bates: “The wonders & tribulations of Africa’s Albertine Rift: biodiversity, science,”  7:00 – 8:00 pm, H.F. DeLuca Forum, Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery (WID). The Albertine Rift in central Africa possesses some of the richest biodiversity on the continent. John Bates and his Field Museum colleagues have worked with Congolese scientists to increase knowledge and understanding of biodiversity in the region. Bates will introduce the region and the people along with some of his discoveries. Sponsored by the Nelson Institute and Madison Audubon Society

Peace Corps Story Slam! 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Argus Bar and Grille, 123 E. Main St., Madison. The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of WI-Madison and Peace Corps UW-Madison are hosting a night of storytelling, food and fun! Returned Peace Corps Volunteers will share stories of facing taboo during their time abroad ­Open to the public, $5 admission or two non-perishable food items; students with ID free.

Wednesday, November 18

Tips for Women Travelers, 1:30 – 3:30 pm, Red Gym. Attend this informative session for advice on travel planning, travel health, and solo travel for women abroad. Sponsored by International Academic Programs

Biology Careers with the Peace Corps, 4:30 – 5:30 pm, Steenbock Library, Biocommons Room 110.  A panel of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers will share how they  turned their interest in biology into community development work and offer insights into how others can apply their passion for biology in a variety of ways, including implementing water sanitation projects, working in protected areas management, teaching biology in high schools, or promoting biological conservation initiatives and sustainable resources use. Sponsored by the Peace Corps@UW-Madison

Global Health Field Course Fair, 5:00 – 7:00 pm, Union South, TITU. This event invites all undergrads to explore field course options for the global health certificate. Students will have the chance to meet and talk with leaders and student alums of many of the field courses. Sponsored by the Global Health Institute

“Looking Back: UW–Madison Archives and the Vietnam War,” 5:00 – 6:00 pm, Union South, Varsity Hall II. A presentation by UW–Archives staff, with videos and photos, will look at the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and campus history during those tumultuous years, followed by a panel discussion with community and campus members Mayor Paul Soglin, Rev. David Couper, Jane Brotman-Austin, and Michael Zaleski, moderated by Jim Fleming.

Global Cafe, 5:00 – 6:30 pm, Ed Gordon Suite, Gordon Dining & Events Center. Global Cafe is a monthly informal gathering of students over drinks and snacks. Drop by any time during cafe hours for casual conversation. Bring a friend, make a new friend. Practice a language. Build connections around the world. sponsored by International Academic Programs, International Student Services, and the Wisconsin School of Business.

Language for Life: Alumni Career Mentoring, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Union South. Meet with alumni who applied their language studies in a broad range of career areas, from business to education, healthcare to social change. Current students can learn about the paths former students took and get advice on what steps they can take. Sponsored by the Language Institute Refreshments will be provided.

European Horizons with Prof. Nils Ringe, “The State of the European Union,”  6:00 – 8:00 pm, location TBD. European Horizons UW-Madison Chapter is an American-based European Union think-tank. Students from all around the country design and present policy papers to top European policy-makers and diplomats. Nils Ringe, professor of political science will launch European Horizons’ kick-off event with a presentation on the EU with particular attention to the refugee crisis and the Eurozone debt crisis.

Madison Committee on Foreign Relations: “Diplomacy on the Front Lines: the Case for Saving Yemen,” Dr. Nabeel Khoury, 6:00 – 7:00 pm, The University Club, 803 State Street. Dr. Khoury, a 25-year Foreign Service veteran in the U.S. Department of State, is a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, where he writes on the Arab transition countries, the rise of Islamist forces in the Middle East and North Africa, and US foreign policy in the region. Registration required.

Thursday, November 19

Center for South Asia Lecture Series: “Rewards & Challenges of a Foreign Services Officer: Managing U.S. Government Assistance,” noon – 1:00 pm, 206 Ingraham. Speaker Jatinda Cheema is founder of A Place To Be, a conversation salon for discussion of progressive issues and a forum for networking and creative ideas. She has served as the Mission Director for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Armenia, West Africa Regional Mission in Ghana and in Eritrea and as Senior Policy Advisor and Deputy Mission Director for USAID in Afghanistan. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.

Study Abroad Resource Center Open House, 3:00-5:00 pm, 106 Red Gym. Visit the Study Abroad Resource Center to start planning your study abroad adventure! International Academic Programs (IAP) offers 200+ programs in over 60 countries for students of all majors. Learn in English or a foreign language, and receive in-residence credit for all classes taken abroad. Plus, you can study abroad from freshman to senior year. Stop by to meet returned student Peer Advisors, learn about all your program options, get info on scholarships, and enjoy free pizza. Sponsored by International Academic Programs

 Network your way to an International Experience! 4:00 – 6:00 pm, Union South, TITU.  Network with research students from around the world. A panel of Fulbright scholars will give short presentations about their home country, their research, and why they came to Madison. Other international students will join the Fulbrighters at different tables for speed networking. Open to all students interested in fostering international connections for graduate and post-graduate projects abroad.

Friday, November 20

Global Hot Spots Lecture: “Market Reforms & Water Wars–The Case of Cochabamba, Bolivia,” 1:30 – 2:30 pm, Fluno Center, Howard Auditorium. Erica Simmons, Lyons Family Faculty Scholar, assistant professor, political science and international studies, will present her current work which explores the intersection of market reforms and political resistance in Bolivia. Registration requested. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Alumni Association, PLATO, and UW-Madison International Division

Boren Scholarship Information Session, 1:30 – 2:30 pm, Study Abroad Resource Center, 106 Red Gym. The Boren Scholarship provides up to $20,000 for U.S. students planning to study abroad in world regions critical to U.S. interests, including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Attend this session to learn about this scholarship program. The campus application deadline for the 2016-17 Boren scholarship program is Friday, December 4, 2015.

Ongoing

Exhibit: “Xu Bing, Background Story: A new approach to landscape painting,” Chazen Museum of Art, Main Gallery, October 16, 2015 – January 10, 2016. An interactive exhibit focused on the work of contemporary Beijing-based artist Xu Bing. What appears to be a traditional Chinese ink painting on 80 feet of rice paper is revealed to be a light box.

Language Conversation Tables

These informal gatherings offer opportunities to practice the language with other speakers. Language tables are often held in a casual location, such as a coffee shop or the Union, and may include community members as well as university students and instructors.  Click here for information about meeting times, locations, and contact information.