International Education Week (IEW) is a special time for students and educators to come together and celebrate the advantages of education and cultural exchange around the world. This collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of State seeks to promote programs and opportunities that can equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in a global environment.

History: International Education Week Professional Development for K-12 Educators

Since 2019, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and the Area Studies Centers at UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University have partnered to develop professional learning opportunities to celebrate International Education Week (IEW) and enhance the global competence, global perspectives, and cultural and global awareness of North Carolina K-12 educators. Each year, expert speakers and educators are invited to share their knowledge and explore various captivating topics and case studies from Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Educators in attendance have an opportunity to not only become more globally aware but also have the chance to network with fellow global educators from across the state, access valuable instructional materials, and actively engage in their professional growth. Educators in attendance can earn professional development hours or Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Additionally, they can use the experience to earn a North Carolina Global Education Digital Badge (GEDB).

Use these links to see past the professional learning opportunities offered for IEW PD 2021, IEW PD 2022, IEW PD 2023, and IEW PD 2024.

Details about the 2024 International Education Week Professional Development Day

Theme: Engage, Educate, Empower: Elevating K-12 Learning through Global Perspectives
Who Can Attend: ALL K-12 educators across the state, regardless of content area or grade level, could have come to engage in global learning.
CEUs: Teachers and educators with a current educator's license from North Carolina received 6 Professional Development Hours or 0.6 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for their participation in this in-person workshop.
Location of IEW Professional Development:

FedEx Global Education Center

301 Pittsboro Street

Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Everyone left inspired and empowered to bring global perspectives into their classrooms!

View Highlights from the 2024 International Education Week Development

Photo Slideshow of the Day

Lunch Performance: Singers from Eastern Europe

2024 Agenda

Time	Details/Description
9:30 am-10:00 am	Registration and Exploring the IEW Partners' Tables
10:00 am-10:10 am	Opening Session in the Nelson Mandela Auditorium Registration and coffee will be available in the lobby of the FedEx Global Education Center
10:10 am-11:10 am Session 1 Workshops	*Participants can choose to attend one of the workshops during this time:* Center for European Studies \| High School \| Room 1005 This presentation is for educators who want to discuss with students several urgent and fascinating concerns, including the difference between citizenship (civil) rights and human rights, the declaration of new human rights after World War II and the Holocaust, colonial and imperial histories of Europe in the 19th century, sociopolitical crises during the interwar years, and global institutions of human rights (the ICC, the ICJ). Consortium in Latin American & Caribbean Studies at UNC and Duke University \| Middle School\| Room 1009 “The Power of Engaging in Experiential Learning”. The session will guide educators on strategies for teaching students to keep an open mind and become more culturally competent when participating in intercultural contexts. Drawing on the experience of leading the Duke in Costa Rica program, the presenter will share some ideas for engaging students in experiential learning to make the best of their international educational experience.
11:10 am-11:55 pm	LUNCH
11:55 pm-12:55 pm Session 2 Workshops	*Participants can choose to attend one of the workshops during this time:* African Studies Center \| Middle School \| Room 1005 “Exploring Culture through Music”—Opera seems to be an elitist form, and due to its history, this has become a dominant narrative. Yet hidden in the shadows, opera has flourished in Black communities from Europe to the US to South Africa. This session will offer a context for thinking about opera in diverse spaces and examine scenes from specific operas. Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies \| K-12 \| Room 1009 Intercultural Competence in the Newcomer Classroom. This session examines how school or classroom environments can incorporate students' cultures—including their customs, characteristics, experiences, and perspectives—to enhance instruction, particularly for immigrants, refugees, and new arrivals. Though the presentation highlights best practices for supporting newcomers at the secondary level, the concepts are applicable to any educator working with emerging multilinguals across all levels, from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.
1:00-2:00 pm	Center for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies \| All Grades \| Room 1005 Explore the captivating works and empowering personal stories of Ukrainian Naїve artists in this engaging workshop. Educators will discover how to incorporate their colorful, easy-to-engage art styles into lessons that foster creativity, cultural awareness, and global perspectives. Perfect for elementary and middle school students, these Naїve art examples are accessible and inspiring. The session provides resources and strategies for integrating their works into art, social studies, and language curricula, leaving participants with materials and ideas to bring these influential female figures to life in the classroom. Carolina Asia Center \| Elementary and Middle School \| Room 1009 “Introducing India.” Parag Jyoti Saikia, a PhD candidate in Anthropology at UNC, and Dr. Kevin Fogg, Associate Director of the Carolina Asia Center, will share resources with teachers to introduce India to elementary and middle school students. Now that India is the most populous country in the world, and the second-most-common country of origin for North Carolinians not born in the USA, it is more important than ever for us to be teaching about India to students from all backgrounds. Resources will include books for young readers, the updated culture kit on India, and lesson plans.
2:05 pm -3:15 pm Session 3 Workshop	Teaching the World Through Arts \| K-12 \| Nelson Mandela Auditorium \| Whole Group Jenny Marvel, Head of School & Community Programs at the Ackland Art Museum will present a session on arts integration for world cultures in K-12 classrooms.
3:15 pm- 3:30 pm	Closing Remarks and Evaluation

Video Highlights of Past IEW Professional Development Events

2023

2019

To register for future International Education Week Professional Development opportunities, please visit this page in the fall of next year!

International Education Week Hashtags: #NCIEW, #NCisGlobal, #IEW2024 and #SettingtheStandard

QUICK LINKS

Access the International Education Week Information Hub content by clicking on the respective content buttons below.

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