This week marks International Education Week, an initiative started by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education to promote international awareness. While there is no national theme, Elon University is currently celebrating by hosting almost two dozen events relating to India.

"It's a public diplomacy initiative," said Bill Burress, international programs adviser at the Isabella Cannon International Centre. "It's sort of a soft power initiative building the United States' reputation around the world and also helping U.S. citizens engage with other cultures and other nations around the world. It's kind of the idea that by interacting with one another and by people seeing the real kindness and generosity of people in the U.S. and people from other places then we're more likely to live in a peaceful world."

The Isabella Cannon International Centre started planning this week's events more than a year ago and has been working with numerous groups and individuals across campus, including Periclean Scholars and Indian faculty, staff and students.

This week features many cultural events like cooking classes, an Indian dance performance and demonstration and traditional food being served in Colonnades dining hall. College Coffee was also "hijacked," according to Burress, and temporarily renamed College Chai to offer students a small taste of Indian culture.

"I think we're really excited to offer this programming to the campus community," Burress said. "We hope that students, faculty and staff will at least be able to get out to some stuff and see some of the stuff we're putting on."

Elon picks a different country or regional concentration each year, with previous focuses in the Middle East and Mexico. Planning for the week begins more than a year in advance and it has already been decided next year's theme will be West Africa.

Thursday events:

  • College Chapel: 9:50 a.m., Whitley Auditorium
  • Beef Vindaloo lunch: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Colonnades Dining Hall
  • Yoga and Meditation Seminar, Art of Living Foundation: 4:15 p.m., Belk Pavilion 208
  • Indian dinner: 4:30 to 9 p.m., McEwen Dining Hall
  • SUB Presents Devdas: 7 p.m., McEwen Dining Hall
Friday events:
  • Taste of the World: 12:30 p.m., Hearth Lounge in Mosley Center
  • Salmon curry dinner: 4 to 9 p.m., Colonnades Dining Hall
A full schedule of events and more details can be found here.