Global education main focus of week

While many people associate tea with a distinct Asian culture, Dr. Jiyoung Daniel said coffee is Koreans' most beloved daily drink.

The associate professor of Korean in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at the University of North Georgia (UNG) plans to share insights about the Korean culture during her "Taste of Korean Coffee" event from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 15.

"This event will provide me with an innovative and interactive way to introduce a unique part of Korean culture to students outside of the classroom," Daniel said. "Exposing students to other cultures will create an opportunity to open their minds for understanding and perspective building. Understanding other cultures will expand students' horizons, acknowledge cultural differences, and lead to a globally competitive citizen."

Exposing students to a global society through cultural events is one objective of UNG's Center for Global Engagement (CGE). Activities during International Education Week is one way CGE accomplishes the task. Scheduled for Nov. 15-19, the weeklong celebration is an opportunity for academic departments and student groups to provide an array of cultural events that promote global learning.

"International Education Week connects students to different languages and cultures at UNG," Sheila Schulte, associate vice president of international programs, said. "It also shows them how to gain a global perspective while remaining on campus."

Events include the annual photo contest and education abroad workshops. Schulte said if a student is interested in an education abroad experience, he or she should contact CGE to get further details including how the experience will fit into their plan of study and how to pay for it. Many scholarships are available for international education opportunities.

"During an education abroad experience, students take the information they learned in a classroom and put it to practical use," Schulte said. "By living in another culture, they learn resilience, flexibility, problem-solving, patience, and empathy. Those soft skills can translate into any future career."

Education abroad experiences available to students include, study abroad, research, service learning and internships.  . Programs range from one week to one academic year and are available around the world.

"All of these are enhanced experiential learning opportunities," Schulte said. "And it's a learning experience that can't be matched."

For a complete list of International Education Week activities as well as times, dates and places, visit the CGE website. The week is a collaboration among UNG's Center for Global Engagement, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education.