International Education Week

A joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education, International Education Week (IEW) is an opportunity for campuses to celebrate international education in all its forms. The Center for Global Engagement encourages in the UMBC community to get involved. We invite all to celebrate our international community, support international initiatives on campus, and share intercultural experiences with our fellow Retrievers.

Bring the world to UMBC this November by joining us at these IEW events: 

International Education Week Expo

Wednesday, November 19, 11AM – 2PM
University Center Ballroom

Save the date!

Explore all things global at UMBC in one place, including:

  • Opportunities to study, volunteer, and work abroad
  • UMBC intercultural & language majors/programs
  • “Celebrate Your Culture” Poster Fair presented by UMBC international students
  • World culture performances and games
  • International snacks and drinks provided

Plus, stamp your IEW passport at the Expo to get a free IEW tote bag!

“Brief Tender Light” Film Screening & UMBC International Student Panel

Wednesday, November 19, 4PM – 7PM
AOK Library Gallery

Save the date!

A SHARED STORY OF DISTANCE (2023)
by Giovanna Orfali (Visual Arts, ‘26)

“A hybrid short film that captures the connection between a Brazilian mother and daughter living nearly 5,000 miles apart. Blending real voice messages with intimate point-of-view visuals, the film gently explores love, memory, and the quiet ways we remain close across distance.”

BRIEF TENDER LIGHT (2024)
by Arthur Musah and Brook Sitgraves Turner

“Ukrainian-born Ghanaian filmmaker Arthur Musah follows four African undergraduates through MIT, America’s premier technological university and his alma mater. The students embark on their MIT education with individual ambitions –  to engineer infrastructure in Tanzania; to secure a better life for family in Nigeria; to contribute to post-genocide reconstruction in Rwanda; to advance democracy in Zimbabwe. Their missions are distinct, but fueled by a common goal: to become agents of positive change back home.

While their dreams are anchored in the societies they have left, their daily realities are defined by America – by the immediate challenges in their MIT classrooms, and by the larger social issues confronting the world beyond those classrooms. Their new environment demands they adapt. Over an intimate, decade-long journey spanning two continents, students and filmmaker alike are forced to decide how much of America to absorb, how much of Africa to hold on to, and how to reconcile teenage ideals with the truths they discover about the world and themselves.”

 

After the film, hear directly from UMBC international students about their experiences as Retrievers.
This event is a collaboration with POV, PBS’ award-winning nonfiction film series.  https://www.pbs.org/pov/

 

Global Engagement Brown Bag Series

Various times & locations

Passport to Possibility: Demystifying Study Abroad

Monday, Nov 17 – 12PM – Virtual

Discover how UMBC students can take their learning global. This myth-busting brown bag session will clarify the study abroad process, highlight key resources, and explore how faculty and staff can get involved in supporting global learning.

RSVP here!

 

Getting Involved in International Student Recruitment

Tuesday, Nov 18 – 12PM – UC 310

Join the International Student Recruitment team to learn about existing projects to connect with prospective international students around the world and how your program or department can connect with our team to support outreach to prospective undergraduate, masters, or doctoral international students.

RSVP here!

 

F-1, J-1, and H1-B Crash Course

Thursday, Nov 20 – 12PM – UC 310

This session will provide staff and faculty with a basic understanding of the F-1, J-1, and H-1B visa categories. We will cover the key characteristics of each visa type, focusing on employment options available to international students and scholars. This will be a fast-paced and high level discussion. Our Office of International Students and Scholars team is always available for questions about more nuanced cases upon request.

RSVP here!

Global Grant Application and Fellowship Support

Thursday, Nov 20 – 12PM – UC 204

The Special Programs team of CGE is your go-to place for assistance planning international fellowship, visitor, or training programs. We can help you in preparation, logistics, and implementation of grants or contracts that involve bringing visitors to the area or to campus. If there’s a project you’re interested in but haven’t had the bandwidth to arrange the details or don’t have the community connections to fill out the program- come to our session and learn how we can collaborate.

RSVP here!

 

Intercultural Connection Games

Friday, Nov 21 – 12PM- UC 204

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to expand their intercultural communication and connection skills through simulations and games with a global lens. Led by Dr. David Di Maria, Vice Provost for Global Engagement, this session will push attendees to examine the role they play in an increasingly globalized world— all without leaving UMBC’s campus.
RSVP here!

 

Campus Partner Events

Thank you to our campus partners and advocates for hosting these global events!

Celebrate Global Student Athletes

Sunday, Nov 16 – CEI Arena

Support our international student Retrievers and pick up a free IEW clear tote for game day!

  • UMBC Men’s Basketball vs. Wagner – 12PM
  • UMBC Women’s Basketball vs. Brown – 4PM

Our international cultures- Our Identities: a Culture-giving celebration

Monday, Nov 17 – 7:30PM – 9PM – Harbor Hall Multipurpose Room

Join ILE in their annual celebration of global culture and identity.
The Intercultural Living Exchange, a UMBC’s living and learning community, is an innovative academic living exchange program that incorporates linguistic and cultural components while promoting values of diversity, and sustainability by student-faculty interaction and service learning, three vital elements in the fostering of student success at UMBC.

Explore Global Internship Opportunities with AIFS

Wednesday, Nov 19 – 12 – 1PM – UC310

Curious about interning abroad? Join AIFS on Wednesday, November 19, in UC310 from 12–1 PM to discover exciting global internship opportunities! Learn how you can gain hands-on international experience, build your global network, and develop career skills that will set you apart after graduation. Don’t miss this chance to explore the world while advancing your professional goals.

Multilingual Tallinn: people and languages in the urban space

Thursday, Nov 20 – 1-1:50PM – FA 459

Multilingualism in Post-Soviet countries where as a result of the Soviet time migration and Russification, Russian speakers still constitute a significant part of population, presents an interesting case for analysis. Estonia, being officially a monolingual country with quite strict language policy, is extremely linguistically diverse in terms of actual everyday communication, with both Russian and English playing a significant role. Moreover, as Estonia attracts many foreign visitors, expats and refugees, other languages, including Ukrainian, also become more and more noticeable in both visual and acoustic form in public spaces. However, spatial distribution of different languages in urban landscapes vary significantly, and by analysing it one can reveal not only the patterns of language use but also power relations between different linguistic, ethnic, and social groups. The paper reports on the results of the study conducted in Tallinn in 2021-2023 and focused on collecting and comparing data on both linguistic landscapes and soundscapes in several locations in the city (two shopping centers in different districts, concert halls, theatres and cinemas, and at and around Tallinn University’s premises). The study shows a mismatch between visual linguistic representation and actual linguistic diversity and suggests methodological procedures that can be employed in further research on multilingualism and language policy.
RSVP here!

 

EPIK Panel: Former vs. Current Teacher Insights

Friday, Nov 21 – 5PM-6PM – Virtual (Registration required)

Presented by the UMBC Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Program:

Think about teaching English in South Korea? Since 1995, EPIK (English Program in Korea) has been the gateway for passionate native English speakers to make a meaningful impact in English education at Korean public schools. UMBC is now partnering with EPIK for teaching opportunities!

Join our virtual info panel featuring two UMBC alumni who will share
their firsthand experiences teaching in Korea. Panelist will discuss the
application process, day-to-day teaching responsibilities, and challenges and rewards of living and teaching in Korea.

Format: Live Zoom session
Registration: Pre-registration is required

Featured panelists:

Lauren Fawcett earned a master’s degree in TESOL from UMBC in 2022 and currently teaches ESL courses to adult learners at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California. She taught at three public middle schools in Gwangju, South Korea between 2016-2020, and at an elementary school in Jinju during the 2023-2024 school year, applying through EPIK both times.

Aksha Matharu recently received her Masters in TESOL at UMBC. While completing her Masters, she taught ESL to adults at Frederick Community College. In August 2025, she joined the EPIK program where she has been teaching English at two schools, Bullo Middle School and Sangyeok Middle School.

Register here!