By Peggy McInerny, Director of Communications

UCLA International Institute, November 12, 2019 — For the fourth year in a row, the UCLA International Institute will lead a large-scale UCLA celebration of International Education Week (IEW) this fall.

An initiative of the U.S. Departments of State and Education dedicated to international education and exchange, IEW runs from November 18 through November 22, 2019.

At UCLA, IEW 2019 is supported by over 25 sponsors and will feature the largest number of events ever organized on campus for International Education Week. The week will offer Bruins a multitude of opportunities to:

• learn about international educational programs, research and scholarships;
• discover a wide range of global volunteer and career opportunities;
• interact with alumni working in the international sphere;
• enjoy performances and activities reflecting the diversity of global cultures at UCLA; and
• participate in discussions with international students, faculty and university leaders.

The institute and its trusted organizing partners — the Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars, UCLA Residential Life, UCLA Library and UCLA Study Abroad — are currently putting the final touches on an array of featured events for the week. 

Departments and centers throughout the UCLA College and our professional schools will also host a number of internationally focused events specific to their units. A full calendar of events, together with videos, articles and additional campus resources, can be found on the IEW 2019 website at: global.ucla.edu/iew.

An ecosystem for global citizens

Work, research and culture in the world are increasingly global in nature — a reality clearly apparent on our campus. UCLA is not only remarkable for the diversity of its faculty and student body, but for the breadth of its scope and impact.

Bruins pursue undergraduate and graduate international studies in a broad swathe of disciplines, one out of four UCLA undergraduates studies abroad, a large percentage of faculty and students conduct research on global issues, and international students and visiting scholars bring unique perspectives to our classrooms. UCLA Alumni Association chapters, moreover, are active in countries all over the globe.

The International Institute and its IEW organizing partners support an ecosystem for educating global citizens at UCLA. The institute offers a broad range of undergraduate degree programs in international studies (global studies, global health, international and area studies, international development, international migration), plus three M.A. programs (African, East Asian and Latin American studies). It also hosts over 25 individual centers and programs dedicated to education and research on specific world regions and global issues, which regularly offer free public events.

The Dashew Center supports international students and scholars to make vital contributions to UCLA life, offering a broad range of services that include visa assistance, cultural programming and many volunteer opportunities. The Office of Residential Life and Academics on the Hill support students in their day-to-day lives in UCLA residential halls, where many Bruins first meet peers from other countries.

The UCLA Library supports our students via extensive collections, expert reference librarians, programs that encourage and improve student research skills, and facilities where student teams can meet and work — to name just a few of its services.

And UCLA Study Abroad and the International Education Office make it possible for UCLA students to study in other countries. UCLA Study Abroad staff decipher the ins-and-outs of how to apply to (and pay for!) study abroad programs, introduce prospective participants to students who have returned from those programs and provide long-distance support to Bruins while they are studying in other countries.

One of the major goals of UCLA Vice Provost for International Studies and Global Engagement Cindy Fan is to enable as many UCLA students as possible — regardless of discipline or major — to gain international experience via campus classes, study abroad programs and international research, internships and/or work opportunities.

Those experiences change students’ lives, give them a broader perspective on the world and prepare them, as future leaders, to address the many global problems that require collaborative solutions.

All of these goals, together with the campus units that support them, are celebrated during International Education Week. Come and explore what is has to offer!

Download information about International Education Week 2019:
Featured Events Flyer
Lost in Translation: International Students & IEW 2019
Career-Related Events
Fellowship Information Sessions
Free Martial Arts Classes

For more information, visit the IEW 2019 website: global.ucla.edu/iew