International Education Week Brought 80 Global Events to UT Austin Nov. 15-19
- Nov 15, 2021
- Ellen Stader and Sophia Aitken
Texas Global and The University of Texas at Austin celebrated International Education Week (IEW) Nov. 15-19, 2021, with some 80 events happening on campus and online. UT Austin invited the community to attend this annual, weeklong celebration, during which universities nationwide presented a diverse roster of events to highlight the benefits of engaging with global cultures, programs and opportunities.
A joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, IEW each year illuminates the importance of global experiences, allowing participants to explore international programs, enjoy cultural activities and learn more about the myriad ways to engage with the world today.
The listings on Texas Global’s IEW Events page offered something for everyone, as colleges, schools and organizations across campus hosted virtual and in-person events that included career panels, cultural performances, roundtable discussions among experts, language practices, social activities for international students, education abroad info sessions, art exhibits and more.
Details about the dozens of activities open to Longhorns and the larger community were collected in an IEW Events calendar, and several featured events for this week are described below.
International Open Mic Night
Monday, Nov. 15, 7:00-10:00 p.m.
Cactus Café in the Union Building (UNB)
To kick off the week, Texas Global took over the Cactus Café for International Open Mic Night. Hosted by Austin singer-songwriter Kacy Crowley, the evening of entertainment showcased songwriters and performers from UT’s international student, scholar, faculty and staff populations. Participants shared songs and poems from their native countries or world travels in celebration of UT’s global community.
Global Health: Challenges, Breakthroughs and a Way Forward for UT Austin
Wednesday, Nov. 17, 8:00-9:15 a.m.
In the age of COVID-19, medical professionals have been confronting some of the most pressing questions of our modern time: How do we work together to improve worldwide health security, reduce health disparities, and protect the world’s vulnerable populations? Experts from the World Health Organization and Dell Medical School explored global health policies during this engaging virtual panel discussion for the Texas Global Dialogues series, presented by Texas Global and the Texas Exes.
President's Award for Global Learning 2021 Team Presentations
Wednesday, Nov. 17, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
The 2021 President's Award for Global Learning student teams returned from abroad and presented the results from their past year of collaboration with international partners. Project topics include research on STEM education in Jamaica, social networks and academic stress in Mexico, green entrepreneurialism in Jordan, environmental conservation on South Padre Island, and educating young people about skin cancer in Singapore.
Mariachi Paredes
Thursday, Nov. 18, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public
Mariachi Paredes de Tejastitlán was founded in 1977 by anthropology students and named in honor of its sponsor, Dr. Américo Paredes, a seminal figure in Mexican American studies and anthropological research at the border. Currently operating from the Butler School of Music, UT Austin’s official mariachi ensemble welcomed the public to enjoy this free performance at Bates Recital Hall or online via livestream.
