Fall semester may be coming to a close, but International Education Week is only just beginning. Today, the Office of International Services, Graduate Student Government and the International Student Assembly (ISA) kicked off the week-long celebration with an opening ceremony. Starting at 11:30 a.m., McCarthy Quad was filled with music, cultural performances, free international food stands and games.
USC’s student body, comprised of 26.6% international students, is joining universities across the country in the annual celebration of International Education Week. This joint initiative from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education recognizes and pays homage to the many cultures that make up college campuses nationwide.
According to data released by the Institute of International Education, California universities host the most international students out of any other state. USC has the most international students of any California university with 17,469, followed by UC Berkeley with 12,441 and UC San Diego with 10,467, as reported by the L.A. Times. In addition to hosting the most international students in California, USC also has the fifth-most international students nationwide.
“I think these events are really cool,” Mia Alonso, a freshman architecture major from Mexico City said. “To be able to try foods from and celebrate different cultures is pretty great.”
With over 400 students and faculty in attendance, McCarthy Quad was packed with energy, and groups of students playfully tossed inflatable globes.
Nicole Yeh, the assistant director of ISA and a senior business administration major from Taipei, Taiwan, explained that the event features six food vendors from each continent, “hoping to bring people together with food.” The gathering also featured a collaborative whiteboard where attendees could write messages to their friends and families back home.
The event also featured spin-the-wheel games and a lineup of performances sponsored by the Office of International Services, including a performance of rhythmic traditional Japanese drumming by the USC Kazan Taiko Drummers. There were also a variety of dance performances, including a traditional Chinese folk ensemble by the TC Dance team, a K-pop performance by Spade A Dance and an Afro-Brazilian martial arts presentation by Capoeira SC.
International Education Week continues until Friday, November 22 with events each day, including cultural performances and ceremonies, student panels and more. The full schedule of events for the week is listed below.
Tuesday – November 19, 2024
Applying to USC as an Prospective International Student: International Admission Overview
Virtual | 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
International Career Collective Virtual Career Expo
Virtual | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program Group Presentation Session*
STU B-3 (basement level) | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Center on Public Diplomacy Open House
ASC 232 | 1 p.m. -2 p.m.
American Language Institute Conversation Group
PSD 106 | 50-minute sessions at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m.
Wednesday – November 20, 2024
East Asian Studies Center Open House
CAS 100 | 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Annenberg International Affairs Graduate Student Mixer*
ASC West Lobby | 3 p.m.
American Language Institute Conversation Group
TCC 320B | 50-minute sessions at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m.
Thursday – November 21, 2024
DML 240 | 12:30 p.m.
American Language Institute Conversation Group
TCC 320B | 50-minute sessions at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m.
Dornsife Overseas Studies Social Hour
THH 341 | 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Viterbi International Student Career Panel & Mixer*
EEB 132 | 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
East Asian Studies Center Guest Speaker Series*
Virtual | 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health Student Mixer (invite only)*
SSB 103-E (Health Sciences Campus) | 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Friday – November 22, 2024
Around the World in 60-Minutes (closed to the public)
Outreach Event | 10 a.m.
Immigration Transitions: Work Visas and Green Cards for International Students (USC Marshall Event)
Virtual | 10 a.m.
Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme Info Session
THH 309K | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
American Language Institute Conversation Group
PSD 106 | 50-minute sessions at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m.
Board Games with Faculty – Viterbi Mentorship Program
THH 214, 215 | 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Gerontology Prospective Student Open House*
GERO Building | 3:30 p.m.