College Union shares worldly ideas
A demonstration on Chinese culture and characters, a presentation on Nepal and a lesson on the global economy are just a few of the learning opportunities being offered at OCCC during International Education Week in November, said Jon Horinek, Student Life coordinator.
OCCC will celebrate International Education Week Nov. 6 through 10.
Planned activities include presentations by OCCC faculty members as well as tentatively scheduled appearances by outside performers, he said.
The International Student Association also has tentative plans for an international food booth, said club sponsor Haifeng Ji, computer science professor.
Ji will present a lesson on Chinese culture and characters Nov. 6 at noon in room CU1, he said.
Business and Economics Professor Gyanendra Baral said he will speak on various aspects of Nepal on Nov. 8. Baral’s presentation is scheduled for 2 p.m. in room CU2.
“I will introduce Nepal and show pictures that show the economy and lifestyle, the topography and the culture of Nepal,” he said.
Vijayan Ramachandran, business professor, will give a presentation on the global economy at 12:30 p.m., Nov. 9, in CU2, Horinek said.
Performances of arts and music from Japan, Scotland and Africa are planned but have not been confirmed, he said.
International Education Week is co-sponsored by the U.S. Departments of Education and State, according to www.iew.state.gov.
Though IEW is officially observed the week of Nov. 13, Horinek said, OCCC is celebrating the event one week early due to considerations of time and space.
“We don’t like to schedule events the week before Thanksgiving,” he said.
The goal of IEW is to promote academic exchange between the United States and other nations, according to the website.
The theme for IEW 2006 is “International Education: Engaging in Global Partnerships and Opportunities.”
In a press release published on the site, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings stressed the increasing importance of education in the developing global economy.
“More than ever, success in the world depends on what you know, not where you live,” she said.
“Technology has illustrated the importance of foreign languages in communicating and forming partnerships with citizens from other cultures and countries.”
For more information, contact Horinek at 405-682-1611, ext 7697.
Students can also find more information or test their global trivia knowledge at www.iew.state.gov.
Staff Writer Amanda Bittle can be reached at StaffWriter3@occc.edu.
