Global Campus, a division within the College of Professional and Global Education (CPGE), celebrated the 2025 International Education Week (IEW) at Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½. The week-long event featured a series of events that highlighted the benefits of international education and exchange, showcased global programs, and brought the campus community together in a spirit of cultural appreciation.
The celebration began informally on Monday, November 17, when Centerpointe dining hall welcomed lunch-goers with six international costumed mannequins near the entrance. The colorful displays represented attire from Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, China, India, and the Philippines. Along with the international ambience, the dining hall also featured an array of international-themed menus, including dumplings, sushi, German bratwurst, and Korean-Mexican fusion dishes.
On Tuesday, November 18, the official kickoff event took place at the International Center, attended by about 60 students, faculty, and staff. The event started with an international lunch, followed by a lively program that included cultural performances, personal testimonials from CPP’s international students and scholars, the Outstanding Staff Award presentation, and an overview of international programs by the Global Campus team. They shared that CPP is currently hosting 960 international students from 83 countries, representing undergraduate, graduate, and visiting scholar populations during the fall 2025 semester.
On Wednesday, November 19, IEW continued with a Faculty/Scholars round table event at the International Center. Speakers and participants engaged in thoughtful conversations about the importance of international education, global collaboration, and the role of academic communities in fostering cross-cultural understanding.
The festivities carried into Thursday, November 20, with the Study Abroad Fair and Language Café at University Park during U-hour, an event that was well attended by the campus community. The Study Abroad Office and nearly 10 partner organizations answered questions about study abroad opportunities for CPP students. At the Language Café, seven native speakers from different countries taught students and event attendees simple phrases in their languages.
The week concluded on Friday, November 21, with the Taste of International Culture. The event featured delicious dishes from seven countries, followed by short presentations from international students about their countries. It was the perfect ending to a week-long celebration showcasing the value of international education, cultural exchange, and global engagement.
Thank you for everyone who participated in this year's International Education Week. See you next year!