The University of Vermont will join 85 countries around the world to celebrate International Education Week (IEW) Nov. 14-18 as part of its commitment to increasing diversity on campus. This year’s theme is “International Education: Inspiring Students Locally to Succeed Globally.” The annual event will focus on celebrating and raising awareness of the growing international population on campus that includes more than 500 international students, researchers, faculty and staff from 67 countries.

Approximately 273 international students are pursuing undergraduate, graduate and medical degrees at UVM, in addition to the 70 exchange and non-degree students that come here from all over the world each year. Jane Knodell, provost and senior vice president, said the university continues to seek innovative ways of adding to the record number of international students enrolled this fall from more than 50 countries including the fledgling U.S.-Sino Pathway Program that added 39 students from China.

Nearly 37 percent of UVM undergraduates study abroad in more than 80 countries with many of them participating in Faculty-Led Programs Abroad taught by UVM faculty. “International Education Week is an opportunity to highlight the benefits of international education and exchange and express appreciation for students and scholars who study and teach here as well as organize and participate in exchange programs,” said Knodell.

In addition to the year-round international programming organized by Global Village, the Office of International Education among others, there are many events planned during International Education Week and throughout the month of November, such as Diwali Night and a community Thanksgiving dinner provided by Apartments and Family Housing at Fort Ethan Allen on Friday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m.

The Department of Community Development and Applied Economics and the Vermont Council on World Affairs will sponsor “Careers in International Development: From Vermont to the World” on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. in the University Heights North Multipurpose Room). The purpose of the panel is to expose undergraduate and graduate students to the field of international development and to connect them with local businesses and organizations who are currently engaged in this work on every continent in the world; all of them based right here in Vermont. Students will have an opportunity to pose questions and network with the panelists.

Learn more and see the complete schedule.