International Education Week

International Education Week (IEW) is recognized and celebrated worldwide every third week in November.

To celebrate, we have a full week of in-person and online events across both Waterloo and Brantford campuses to highlight opportunities for global engagement and begin planning for a future exchange term.

Monday, Nov. 18

International Eats 

Noon to 4 p.m. | Waterloo Fresh Food Company, Waterloo Campus

Stop by the Fresh Food Company for a delicious international lunch! On Monday, the feature is Curry goat with rice, coleslaw, fried plantains and Christmas cake. This Caribbean recipe was provided by Dr. Kathy Hogarth, Associate VP Global Strategy. Come by at 12 if you can to join us as Dr. Hogart officially kicks off International Education Week!

Global Engagement Booths 

11:30 to 2 p.m. | Student Commons, One Market, Brantford Campus

Stop by the Student Commons to learn about the different ways you can internationalize your degree at Laurier and for a chance to learn about different clubs on campus!

Aging In and Out of Place: Lived experience of forced migration across the life course

5:30 p.m. | In person (Brantford Campus) and virtual

• In person: Senate and Board Chambers, One Market Building OM206-10, 1 Market Street, Brantford campus
• Virtual: Zoom link will be sent to registered participants.

Come hear Dr. Christina Clark-Kazak, a research leader on forced migration and refugee studies, discuss her book. Discussion and Q&A to follow. Register here.

 

Tuesday, Nov. 19

International Eats 

Noon to 4 p.m. | Waterloo Fresh Food Company, Waterloo Campus

Stop by the Fresh Food Company for a delicious international lunch! On Tuesday, the feature is Plov. This recipe from Uzbekistan was provided by Kanat, a student currently here at Laurier on exchange!

Translingual Writing: Your Language, Your Writing, Your Voice

Noon to 2 p.m. | The Hawk’s Nest, Waterloo campus

Join our Lunch and Learn "Translingual Writing: Your Language, Your Writing, Your Voice" to explore how you can bring your language and cultural background into your academic writing. This session will highlight strategies for blending your unique voice with English writing standards, showing how your multilingual background is a strength in academic spaces. Perfect for international students aiming to enhance their writing, the session will cover practical tips and resources to support your writing journey.

Register for the event on the Event Brite page. Spots are limited to the first 35 students who register.

Summer Leadership Experience in China Information Session

1 p.m. | Virtual on Zoom: wilfrid-laurier.zoom.us/j/99984198134 

Concord College of Sino Canada (CCSC) Summer Leadership Experience in China. Embark on a Summer Leadership Experience in China in 2025. Attend the information session or apply today.

International Experience Canada Information Session

3 p.m. | Virtual 

Join us to learn about International Experience Canada (IEC), a Government of Canada travel and work mobility program for Canadian and foreign youth, aged 18 to 35. A representative of the program will be sharing details on how you can participate and how to get a work permit to work and travel abroad. Register in Navigator to receive the link!

Hosted by the Career Centre and Laurier International.

Wednesday, Nov. 20

International Opportunities Fair

10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Concourse, Waterloo campus

Curious about international exchange opportunities and if they might be right for you? Come meet some Student Exchange Alumni and Laurier staff to learn about our exchange partners around the world. Find out where your opportunity is and how to get started.

You can also learn about other Global Engagement programming opportunities and connect with campus partners like the Career Centre, WUSC, Youth Challenge International and more.

International Eats 

Noon to 4 p.m. | Waterloo Fresh Food Company, Waterloo Campus

Stop by the Fresh Food Company for a delicious international lunch! On Wednesday, the feature is Tteok-bokki. This recipe from Korea was provided by Boyan Seo, a student currently here at Laurier on exchange!

International Faculty-led Course Toolkit: Resources to support the safety and logistical aspects of an international field trip within the context of Laurier's Indigenous Student course to Aotearoa (New Zealand)

12 - 1 p.m. | Virtual

Faculty Led Courses Abroad are wonderful way to bring curriculum to life by transporting the course into its physical context and facilitating an immersive experiential learning experience BUT leading a course can be a lot of work!

Join the Global Engagement Unit, Indigenous Student Support; and SHERM for an online workshop to learn about the resources  available to run a successful  “international field course” and the procedures to follow to ensure a smooth implementation.

Please register here and we will send you the link for the workshop by Monday, November 18.

If you have questions or would like to know more, please contact Phyllis Power, Manager, Global Engagement Programming at ppower@wlu.ca.

Student Exchange Program Information Session

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. | Laurier International Board Room, One Market Building room OM310, Brantford campus

Enhance your Laurier degree by participating in the Student Exchange Program, which allows you to study abroad at one of our 70+ partner institutions around the globe.

This information session is appropriate for students in first, second, third and fourth year. Presented by Laurier International staff.

Visit the Outbound Exchanges page for more information.

Youth Challenge International Information Session

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. | DAWB 1-101B

Hear from our partners at Youth Challenge International and learn all about the HerStart Fellowship and other internship/volunteer opportunities! 

Read about Ljiljana's experience with Youth Challenge International!

Thursday, Nov. 21

WUSC Annual Celebration

11 a.m. to noon | Laurier International, One Market Building room OM310, Brantford campus

In honour of International Education Week, please come join the Brantford WUSC Local Committee to celebrate their achievements from the past year and look ahead to next year's participation in the Student Refugee Program (WUSC SRP).

Laurier's students are generous in providing funding for sponsorship of a WUSC student each year to study on the Brantford campus – come out and learn how you can get more engaged in the welcome, adaptation and integration of new WUSC SRP students to Laurier.

Event will include musical performance, a panel discussion on the five pillars of support, with an extra presentation about Financial Thriving by Sarah Rich. Hosted by Stellah Nikuze who invites you to participate in networking and connection by staying for the lunch following.

Changemaking at Laurier: Food Festival

11 a.m. - 3p.m. | Lazaridis Hall atrium, Waterloo Campus

Come celebrate diverse cuisines from regions impacted by climate change and learn about unique flavours and traditiona at risk of disappearing. Hosted by Enactus Laurier. Eligible for the Laurier Experience Record!

International Eats 

Noon to 4 p.m. | Waterloo Fresh Food Company, Waterloo Campus

Stop by the Fresh Food Company for a delicious international lunch! On Thursday, the feature is Beef Suqaar. This recipe from Somalia was provided by Laurier's WUSC Student Refugee Program.

Drop-in lunch

Noon to 2 p.m. | Laurier International, One Market Building room OM310, Brantford campus

Drop by and enjoy great food, company and board games! Hosted by Brantford Laurier International. Reserve a free ticket on the Event Brite page.

Board Game Reveal / Play testing

12:30 to 2 p.m. | Laurier International, One Market Building room OM310, Brantford campus

Recent graduate Stefaniia Kunilova returns to Laurier International to share an update about "World's Collide," a board game based loosely on her experience of the WUSC five pillars of support, which she co-developed with Game Design and Development Student Association (GDDSA) President Gobina Mathyaparana during her final year at Laurier.

In early 2024, the Worlds Collide team presented a video entry for the Academic, Creative and Engaged Research Showcase (ACERS) and received honorable mention and a cash award. Now, co-founding Aspire Arc Studio, the pair are embarking on an exciting Game Design and Development journey. Join us to preview and play test their board game and help celebrate their achievement.

Student Exchange Program Information Session

1 to 2 p.m. | Virtual on Zoom

Enhance your Laurier degree by participating in the Student Exchange Program, which allows you to study abroad at one of our 70+ partner institutions around the globe.

This information session is appropriate for students in first, second, third and fourth year. Presented by Laurier International staff.

Visit the Outbound Exchanges page for more information.

Film: Bridging Divides

7 to 8:30 p.m. | RCW-002, Brantford campus

A powerful documentary featuring voices from diverse backgrounds. Discover new insights on homelessness and explore solutions to build safer, more inclusive communities.

Supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, this event is part of a collaborative project between University of Guelph, Wilfrid Laurier University and York University.

Register here.

Tandem Karaoke

8:30 p.m. | Wilf’s, Waterloo campus

Hosted by the Tandem Language Program and the Languages and Literatures program, sing your heart out in your favourite language at this Karaoke/open mic night at Wilfs. There will be some free appetizers provided, so come early!

Friday, Nov 22

Story Circles for Staff and launch of Intercultural Community of Practice

Noon to 1 p.m. | P119, Waterloo campus

Join Laurier International for Story Circles, a 60-minute facilitated exercise during which you will meet and share your experiences of cultural difference, together with Laurier colleagues. Created by UNESCO, Story Circles is a tool for developing and practicing intercultural competencies that you can practice and benefit from in your work and daily life. No preparation is required. Participants will be invited to share their personal experiences. Register here, please note that seating is limited to 20 people.

International Eats 

Noon to 4 p.m. | Waterloo Fresh Food Company, Waterloo Campus

Stop by the Fresh Food Company for a delicious international lunch! On Friday, the feature is Dhokla. This recipe from India was provided by Bhaskar Vora, and International Student Leader at Laurier International!

Other Ways to Get Involved 

International at Home Programming

International at Home programming focuses on bringing global learning and engagement opportunities to you. The programs allow the Laurier community to connect with each other, as well as partner institutions around the world, to build intercultural knowledge and skills, make new connections and foster new friendships. All without leaving the comfort of home!

Tandem Language Program

Through the Tandem Language Program, you’ll share and learn language and culture with a peer. Partnerships are based on language proficiency and interest, giving you the opportunity to develop skills in a new language while learning in a social way.

Intercultural Certificate

Expand your intercultural knowledge and skills by completing the Intercultural Certificate. Modules in the certificate cover topics including concepts of culture, exploring your own culture, intercultural communication, cultural adaptation, and more. And all students who complete the Intercultural Certificate will receive credit on their Laurier Experience Record.