From basket weaving to bhangra dancing, International Focus Week at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) will celebrate multiculturalism through art, culture and education with a series of public events.
Each year, universities in over 100 countries around the world commemorate International Focus Week – known widely as International Education Week (IEW). Held November 16-20, IEW showcases the impact of international education, and at KPU, a variety of activities will highlight how international learning creates global citizens ready to thrive in and contribute to increasingly multicultural communities.
“International Focus Week is a chance for KPU to showcase our multiculturalism and diversity in a very positive light. In today’s increasingly competitive workforce, employers are looking for graduates with cross-cultural sensitivity and globally focused leadership skills," said Stuart McIlmoyle, KPU's associate vice-president international.
"KPU has recently developed an internationalization plan which successfully maps out our direction as an institution within a global context. We invite anyone who is interested in understanding more about KPU to come and participate in this year’s International Focus Week."
Events will be hosted at KPU’s Richmond, Surrey and Langley campuses, and include Tai Chi demonstrations, a Chinese cultural showcase, Henna tattoo art, a Middle Eastern café, student presentations on their Amazon field school experiences and much, much more.
An opening ceremony on November 16 at 11 a.m. will kick off the week with a speech from McIlmoyle. Other guest speakers include Dr. Salvador Ferreras, KPU’s provost and vice-president academic; Acting Mayor for Richmond Linda McPhail; Tanya Grand, director of operations and programs at the B.C. Council for International Education, and; KPU student Joseph Watson-Mackay, who spent a semester abroad at a partner university in Japan.
A full schedule of events is available at kpu.ca/ifw. For more information, contact internationalprograms@kpu.ca.
