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 towards earning a North Carolina Global Education Digital Badge (GEDB).

You can access Highlights from Past Professional Development Events by clicking on the icon below.

2025 International Education Week Professional Development Day

Theme: "Shaping the Future: Climate, Science, and Social Movements in a Changing World"
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 5 Professional Development Hours or 0.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for their participation in this in-person workshop.
Location of IEW Professional Development: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Registration: https://go.ncdpi.gov/IEWPD2025

TIME	DESCRIPTION/DETAILS	LOCATION
9:30 am-10:00 am	Registration, Networking, and an Opportunity for All to Explore the International Education Week Partners’ Tables	Howell Hall
10:05 am-10:25 am	Opening Session: Welcome And Introductions Phylisha Sanders, NCDPI K-12 Social Studies Consultant and NC International Education Week Planning Coordinator Dr. Laura Cox, UNC African Studies Center Outreach Manager and Area Studies Member	Howell Hall Room 115
10:30 am-11:30 am	Concurrent Sessions: Part I Participants can choose to attend one of the following workshops during this time: Option 1. Center for Slavic, Eurasian, and East European Studies “Culture, Science, and Social Movements: Insights from Ukraine.” Drawing from Ukraine’s experience, this session discusses how culture, science, and civic participation intersect during times of change. Participants will explore examples that illustrate the role of creativity and collective effort in addressing social and environmental challenges. Option 2. Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies “Morocco’s Energy Strategy: Energy Transition as a Path to Sovereignty.” Relying on imports for over 90 percent of its energy, Morocco is reshaping its future through massive solar and renewable investments, including the world’s largest solar complex at Ouarzazate. This presentation will explore this path toward energy independence and national sovereignty.	Howell Hall Room 115 Howell Hall Room 205
12:00 pm-1:00 pm	Whole Group Session: Part II Southern Skies/Cielos del Sur Program with Morehead Planetarium and Science Center (Institute for the Study of the Americas) Southern Skies/Cielos del Sur (Southern Skies) is an educational program of the Institute for the Study of the Americas and the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center (MPSC) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This annual program shares the important contributions of Latin American Indigenous communities’ astronomy, planetary science, and cosmology with public audiences and K-12 educators in North Carolina. Southern Skies collaborates across disciplines and international borders with astronomers, anthropologists, teachers, artists, and historians throughout the Americas.	Morehead Planetarium and Science Center
1:00 pm-2:00 pm	Lunch	Howell Hall
2:00 pm-3:00 pm	Concurrent Sessions: Part III Participants can choose to attend one of the following workshops during this time: Option 1. African Studies Center “Beyond a Single Story: Exploring Africa’s Complexity and Dynamism.” Drawing on over a decade of experience working across Africa with governments, NGOs, and communities to strengthen health systems and improve community well-being, Rebecca Fitziger highlights the continent’s extraordinary social, cultural, and geographic complexity. Through real-world stories and classroom-ready examples that showcase innovation, creativity, and leadership across the subcontinent, participants will discover new ways to move beyond stereotypes–sparking curiosity, connection, and critical thinking in their students. Ms. Fertziger recently culminated a 15-year career with USAID and brings over two decades of experience in global public health and international development. Option 2. Carolina Asia Center “Understanding Climate Futures in South Asia: Stories of Rivers and Dams,” UNC doctoral candidate in Anthropology Parag Jyoti Saikia will share his research about how local communities in northeast India are navigating a changing relationship to water. This includes changes in climate, changes in rivers, and changes in how human beings are managing those rivers through dams and hydropower projects. Speaking to both social studies curriculum and earth science standards, the session will focus on how to use this case study in North Carolina classrooms.	Howell Hall Room 115 Howell Hall Room 205
3:05 pm-3:45 pm	Whole Group Session Participants will convene for a group reflection on the day’s activities, ideas for classroom implementation, and closing remarks (facilitated by Phylisha Sanders and Laura Cox)	Howell Hall 115
3:45 pm-4:00 pm	Program Evaluation	Howell Hall 115

During International Education Week and throughout the year, be sure to use the hashtags:

#NCIEW, #NCisGlobal, and #SettingtheStandard

QUICK LINKS

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

International Education Week: Professional Learning- Link Button

International Education Week: Global Recognitions & Earners- Link Button

International Education Week: Showcasing Global Understandings- Link Button

International Education Week: Day of Celebration- Link Button

International Education Week Home Page Link Button

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