WKU News

The Office of Global Learning & International Affairs at WKU will host 2020 International Education Week (IEW) during the week of Nov. 9-14.

IEW will be in collaboration with international offices at Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, and the University of Kentucky to celebrate International Education Week – Kentucky. Each campus will contribute to a series of virtual programs that highlight global learning and cultures from around the world. 

The IEW keynote speaker will be Juju Chang, Emmy-award-winning co-anchor of ABC’s News Nightline. The Confucius Institute at the University of Kentucky is hosting the keynote speaker and Chang is sponsored by each of the Kentucky collaborating schools as a Kentucky-wide shared presentation. Chang will speak on the “Unconscious Bias: Anti-Asian Bashing in the age of COVID.”

Featured Sessions 

• The Importance of International Education to Kentucky: COVID has had a powerful impact on changes that were already occurring in international education. John Sunnygard, Associate Provost of GLIA at WKU, and WKU Pathways students will give one perspective on how international education will play a role in Kentucky ‘s future and how it will positively impact Kentucky and the United States. Nov. 9 from 4-5 p.m. (CST).
• Window to the World: This will be the inaugural session of Window to the World. This series gives WKU international students an opportunity to showcase and celebrate their culture through presentations and conversations. This session will feature students from the Bahamas, Burkina Faso, the Congo and Jamaica. Join us on a journey across the world as we open a Window to the World. Nov. 9 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Unconscious Bias: Anti-Asian Bashing in the Age of COVID: Juju Chang shares how seemingly harmless perceptions of Asian Americans as “foreigners” can be weaponized by racialized statements like “Chinese virus” or “Wuhan flu.” Chang investigates the increase in reports of these types of incendiary comments and thousands of racial abuse acts against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) within weeks of the outbreak. She shares why we all have unconscious bias, how to detect it and why it matters. Nov. 10 from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
• The Politics of Uniting Africa: Africa, known by many as the cradle of humanity, is still underdeveloped despite the abundance of its natural resources and the reforms it has experienced since independence. Some founding fathers of the Organization of African Unity (the current African Union) have fought for a unified continent under one government for its rapid economic development. Most of the political leaders have lacked vision for the continent as a whole. As a result, African countries have failed to unite. Corruption is widespread across the continent. There is still extreme poverty striking at the face of millions of people. This session will discuss this topic in regard to politics, biases, and opportunities. Nov. 10 from 5-6 p.m.
• International Fly Fishing Film Festival: The International Fly Fishing Film Festival consists of short films produced by professional filmmakers from all corners of the globe, showcasing the passion, lifestyle and culture of fly-fishing. This inspiring collection of family-friendly films contains exclusive content, only available through these screenings. This event sponsored is by Cabela’s and hosted by School of Kinesiology, Recreation & Sport. Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m.
• Culture Collaboration: Arabic Coffee: Join WKU Arabic students as they learn how to make Arabic coffee live. Nov. 12 at 3 p.m.
• WKU International Graduate Alumni Virtual Gathering: The WKU Alumni Association will host a virtual gathering of our international alumni in celebration of IEW. Nov. 14 at 8 a.m.

Check out the schedule and register now at https://www.wku.edu/international/iew/

Contact: Diana Howard, diana.howard@wku.edu