A Celebration of International Education

Adelphi is truly a microcosm of the world, with students from 58 countries learning, interacting, making new lives and planning big futures for themselves on our campuses.

With busy class and study schedules, it’s easy to take all of our cross-cultural pollination for granted. Aren’t we just reflecting the world we live in? But, in fact, Adelphi was recently one of only four private colleges in New York state to receive a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award in recognition of its commitment to diversity and inclusion. And, for a week in November, we take time to appreciate and celebrate the cultural influences that make our campus an international home.

From Monday, November 12, to Friday, November 16, Adelphi’s Garden City campus will enjoy activities, events and a smorgasbord of delicacies as we celebrate International Education Week. Meals, movies, games and learning sessions will be free and open to Adelphi students, faculty and administration, as well as their invited guests.

“It’s about celebrating how we’re all different and how we’re all the same at the same time,” said Wendy Badala, director of International Student Services and the Interfaith Center, who oversees the planning for Adelphi’s International Education Week. “If you can’t find something, I’d be surprised. It’s all-encompassing.”

International Education Week, a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, is designed to encourage programs that prepare U.S. students for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences. But—at least at Adelphi—it’s also an opportunity for international students to experience a bit of their homeland while they’re away and to share it with their fellow students.

In fact, according to Badala, one of the most popular annual International Education Week events is East Meets West, an evening of food and activities planned and organized entirely by students. This year’s East Meets West includes China and India and offers calligraphy lessons, henna painting, candy sushi, origami and dance—and, of course, food.

“It’s all just students,” she said. “They pick the countries and choose the related events. Then they’re able to take their shoes off and relax and they don’t have to do anything.”

International Education Week officially opens with the Global Exhibition, showcasing Adelphi’s international experiences through research, art, performance and the annual study abroad photo contest. Other events include a dinner in Manhattan’s Little Italy (the only event with a fee during the week), an afternoon tea, a Thanksgiving feast, information sessions on Fulbright scholarships, and panel discussions on international relations and on LGBTQ+ rights and issues around the world. New to this year’s schedule are a World Games Night and Introduction to Cricket.

Also new this year is the International Immigration Film Festival, running from November 12 to November 16, which will feature films and documentaries depicting the lives of people in or from Argentina, China, Mali, Mexico and Syria.

“The film festival highlights some of the pressing issues for immigrants from around the world in ways that we hope will both inspire and educate the community,” said School of Social Work Director CarolAnn L. Daniel, Ph.D., who oversaw the planning of the festival.

While there’s a breadth of activities and opportunities in store, the week is about everyone being under the same umbrella. Badala underlines, “International education is really about everyone coming together.”