"International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences."
iew.state.gov

International Education Week (IEW) is typically held during the third week in November. Rice University has participated for many years in IEW as a way to celebrate our international students and scholars who come from all around the globe, and many other globalization initiatives across the university, helping to make Rice an internationally diverse and culturally rich campus. As Rice's IEW celebrations continue to evolve and cross-campus participation continues to increase, OISS strongly encourages departments across campus to find ways to commemorate internationalization efforts in their areas.

Please check back often for changes and updates to our IEW activities taking place in November!

This year's IEW will take place November 18-22, 2024. Please see below for a full schedule, and make sure to check back often as events will continue to be added.

Throughout International Education Week

Plant a Tree!

During this year's International Education Week, for each entry submitted to the virtual IEW events of Photo Competition, Recommended Reading, or International Recipes, OISS will plant a tree via American Forests!

American Forests, one of the oldest conservation organizations in the U.S., works to reverse trends in deforestation. They have been restoring forests for more than 140 years. Today these efforts are more important than ever and OISS is excited to contribute. Please consider submitting an entry to the photo competition, a recommended book or a favorite recipe (you can even do all three!).

By participating in the Photo Competition, Recommended Reading, or International Recipes, you will get to share a piece of your culture and help OISS plant trees!

OISS has hosted Plant a Tree campaigns as part of IEW since 2019. As a result a total of 186 trees have been donated through American Forests in celebration of International Education Week at Rice University so far.

International Recipes

We all know that food brings people together. Therefore, to celebrate International Education, OISS is collecting a list of International Recipes to be shared among the Rice community. To submit your favorite international recipe, please visit http://bit.ly/IEWrecipe. To see the recipes submitted so far, please visit the IEW Recipes webpage.

For each International Recipe submission during IEW 2024, OISS will donate one tree through American Forests!

International Recommended Reading

To celebrate International Education, OISS is creating a list of International Recommended Reading. These are books that somehow represent what is special and amazing about the culture they are from. To submit a book to be included, please visit http://bit.ly/IEWreading. To see the list of recommended reading, please visit the IEW Recommended Reading webpage.

For each Recommended Reading submission during IEW 2024, OISS will donate one tree through American Forests!

OISS Photo Competition

To celebrate this year's International Education Week (IEW), OISS is once again hosting a mini photo competition open to all members of the Rice international community. The person who submits the winning photo will win lunch for 2 at the Rice Faculty Club. The deadline for this competition is 11:59 p.m. CST on Sunday, November 17, 2024. To submit an entry, please visit https://bit.ly/IEWphoto.

Competition Rules

• All aspects of the Rice Honor Code will be enforced
• To participate, you must be a member of the current Rice international population
• Photos submitted must be taken by the person submitting the photo
• No more than 2 photos per person may be submitted
• Photos must be submitted as a JPG or PNG file (HEIC files are not accepted)
• Photos must be submitted by 11:59pm Houston time (CST) on Sunday, November 17, 2024

The international community will be invited to vote on the photos during International Education Week (voting instructions to be posted on Monday, November 18th). The person who submits the winning photo will win lunch for 2 at the Rice Faculty Club.

OISS reserves the right to edit, publish, or otherwise duplicate any photo entered into the competition. All photos will be posted on the OISS website, and the winning photo will be featured in OISS materials. In addition, each photo submission will count towards our Plant a Tree campaign!

For any questions on this competition, please contact Andy at thm1@rice.edu.

Please also take a look at our past Photo Competitions at https://oiss.rice.edu/past-photo-competition.

To submit an entry to the OISS IEW 2024 Photo Competition, please visit https://bit.ly/IEWphoto!

Saturday, November 16, 2024

Mini World Cup Soccer Tournament – 12:00 - 5:00pm

Our most beloved IEW event will return as Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe compete for our legendary soccer trophy!

The tournament will take place on Saturday, November 16, 12:00 - 5:00pm at the Rec Center Field #3 (across the loop from the Shepherd School of Music). This event is co-sponsored by OISS and the Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center.

Sign-up information coming soon!

Thursday, November 21, 2024

OISS/GSA Coffee Break – 3:30 - 5:00pm

Celebrate with us Rice's diversity and growing international community with coffee (hot & cold), lemonade, and treats from different countries! The event is co-hosted by OISS and GSA (Graduate Student Association). Presidents and leaders of international graduate student clubs will be happy to meet you and introduce you to what they do and their country. Share your culture and learn about others.

This event will take place at the Brochstein Plaza (outside courtyard next to Lovett Hall, in front of Sewall Hall/Welcome Center, not to be confused with Brochstein Pavilion), 3:30 - 5:00pm.

Employment Panel – 6:00 - 7:15pm

Join us for an International Student Employment Panel, co-hosted by OISS and the Center for Career Development (CCD). More information coming soon!

Friday, November 22, 2024

Thanksgiving Lunch – 11:45am - 1:00pm

Come celebrate a uniquely American holiday by joining the OISS staff for a traditional seated Thanksgiving meal. More information coming soon!

Monday, November 25, 2024

Presidents' Lunch (by invitation only)

This lunch is held every year by OISS to celebrate the student leaders that we have across campus in international clubs. This is a great opportunity for us to give thanks for all the hard work that the club presidents do over the year while celebrating the diversity that we have on this campus.

Special thanks to all the IEW participants:

• Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center
• Center for Career Development
• Graduate Student Association (GSA)

Please also see https://oiss.rice.edu/essay-competition for the winning essays of the IEW 2019 Essay Competition.