Nov 30, 2017
From staff reports
Ohio University celebrated International Education Week (IEW) earlier this month with outstanding speakers, entertaining performances, special events and a symposium honoring the anniversary of a key international partnership.
As part of the national initiative to recognize and honor the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide, Ohio University’s IEW was held during the week of Nov. 13-17 with numerous events on the Athens and Zanesville campuses.
One highlight of the week was the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Ohio University’s partnership with Leipzig University in Germany. Leipzig University President Prof. Dr. med. Beate A. Schücking led a delegation that visited Ohio University to take part in a series of meetings and special events during the week.
The special events included a Welcome Reception with Ohio University faculty, staff and students, and special remarks from Ohio University President M. Duane Nellis, President Schücking and German Consul General Herbert Quelle, whose office is based in Chicago.
A delegation from Leipzig University poses for a group photo with representatives from Ohio University during the Nov. 16 Welcome Reception. Photo by Kaitlin Owens
Ohio University also hosted the OHIO-Leipzig Symposium during the week. The Symposium examined the past, present and future of the partnership and included:
Additional information about the OHIO-Leipzig Symposium can be found in this Compass article.
Another feature event of the week was the Keynote Speech, “The Geography of Genius: How Place Shapes and Defines Us,” by Eric Weiner, author of The New York Times best-seller, “The Geography of Bliss,” as well as two other popular books, “The Geography of Genius” and “Man Seeks God.”
Eric Weiner delivers this year’s International Education Week Keynote Speech the evening of Nov. 16. Photo by Emily Matthews
A longtime foreign correspondent for National Public Radio, Weiner has reported from more than 30 nations, covering some of the major international events of recent years. He spoke to a crowd of 300 in the Baker University Center Ballroom and gave an entertaining and thought-provoking speech, while also answering questions from the audience.
Additional information about the Keynote Speech can be found in this Compass article.
The annual Global Engagement Awards Gala, which honors faculty, staff and alumni for their commitment to international education and cross-cultural learning, provided additional memorable moments for IEW.
This year, the IEW Committee also presented its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Awards to President Emeritus Charles J. Ping and former Center for International Studies Associate Director Mary Anne Flournoy.
Ping, Flournoy and all of the winners gave their remarks in front of the packed Baker University Center Ballroom. The winners included:
The evening was emotional and inspiring, as the audience members heard the passion that the speakers have for international education and the work they are doing around the globe. Also during the evening, the Leipzig University delegation was honored, the Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) was recognized in honor of its 50th anniversary and the winners of the annual Global Health Case Competition were announced.
Chubu University Professor Dr. Yuji Iwahori was also honored during the evening, as he was awarded the third-ever Tanaka-OHIO Award for Excellence in Global Engagement. He also lectured at Ohio University during the week and took part in several IEW activities.
Ohio University President M. Duane Nellis, Interim Executive Vice President and Provost David Descutner and Vice Provost for Global Affairs and International Studies Lorna Jean Edmonds pose for a photo with this year’s Global Engagement Awards honorees and the individuals who nominated them as well as the students who won this year’s Global Health Case Competition. Photo by Evan Leonard
Audience members at the Gala also had time to socialize and take photos, while also enjoying the music from the Oho University Jazz Combo.
Additional information about the Gala can be found in this Compass article.
All throughout the week a wide variety of activities were held on the Athens Campus in honor of IEW, including:
The Ohio University Zanesville Campus also held a wide range of IEW events, including:
Additional information on the events on the Ohio University Zanesville Campus can be found here.
To see photos from IEW 2017, please see this photo album.
For additional information on International Education Week at Ohio University, please call the Office of Global Affairs at 740-593-1840 or email globalaffairs@ohio.edu.
This article was provided by the Office of Global Affairs and International Studies.