November 17 - 21, 2025
Join the national celebration of international education & exchange.
PLU International Student Services and the Wang Center for Global and Community Engaged Education invite you to a week of global events and opportunities. International Education Week is an opportunity for the PLU community to learn together and celebrate international education. This national event is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to promote programs that prepare U.S students for a global environment and encourage future leaders from other cultures to study and learn in the United States.
At the beginning of this week, applications to study away in 2026-2027 will open. To get the most out of IEW, connect with us on social media and follow our Instagram Stories throughout the week to learn about student experiences, participate in trivia, and more – @wang.center and @pluintl
Explore Events
Throughout International Education Week
The Commons
Check out the Commons’ dinner menu this week for dishes inspired by PLU’s Gateway Program locations. Experience faithful (and tasty) renditions of local cuisines, all from the comfort of campus!
Monday, November 17th
Semester long study away applications for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 open online the first day of International Education Week! Wang Grant and Peace Scholar applications for 26-27 also open.
Explore Language Teaching as a Profession
Place: Admin 206
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Do you speak a language other than English? Join this session to learn about the world language teaching profession. Associate Provost Bridget Yaden will share the various paths to becoming a world language teacher and will discuss the need for and benefits of teaching world languages.
For questions, contact the Office of the Provost, or Bridget Yaden, byaden@plu.edu
Semester Study Away Pop-Up Advising!
Place: AUC Lobby
Time: 5:30 - 7:30p.m.
Come talk to the Wang Center Global Ambassadors, Kendall and Morgan, about the semester study away application process! Study Away applications open on November 17th, 2025, so if any impromptu questions about the process, study away locations, or tips on the application arise, stop by any of these locations to chat!
If you miss this session on Monday, it will be offered two more times during IEW!
Wed, 11/19, Rieke lobby from 11:45am-12:45pm
AND Thu, 11/20, Hauge Admin lobby from 11:45am-12:45pm
For questions, please contact our Global Ambassadors, global.ambassadors@plu.edu
Tuesday, November 18th
Lutheran College Washington Semester
Place: Virtual
Time: tbd
The Lutheran College Washington Semester (LCWS) is a small, personalized program through which students can explore academic and professional opportunities in the nation’s capital. Fall and spring semester students intern four full days per week and take two classes, each meeting once per week, in the evenings. Through our partner institutions of higher education, LCWS brings students together from across the country and around the world.
LCWS encourages students to become active and engaged citizens of the world. Through professional engagement in a competitive internship placement, academic inquiry in challenging weekly classes, and whole-hearted participation in the day-to-day life of Washington, D.C., students gain a new perspective on what it means to be an active member of society in a culturally diverse world. Students of the program leave Washington, D.C., with a newfound confidence in who they are and a better sense of their purpose in life.
For questions, please contact Allison Zaleski, azaleski@washingtonsemester.org
PLU’s Seal of Biliteracy
Place: Admin 211-B
Time: 11:00am - 11:30am
Do you speak a language other than English? PLU would like to celebrate your linguistic assets through our Seal of Biliteracy! Come to this 30-minute session to learn about the process and support for earning this recognition. What is the Seal of Biliteracy? It is a national movement to recognize linguistic assets, regardless of how you attained your language(s)! All states now have a recognition program for high school students when they graduate. PLU is one of the early adopters for colleges and universities.
If you cannot make this session, feel free to contact Dr. Bridget Yaden (byaden@plu.edu) for more information.
Fulbright Interest Session
Place: Admin 211-B
Time: 11:30am - 12:00am
Interested in studying, teaching, or researching abroad after graduation? Explore Fulbright! Bridget Yaden, Associate Provost and PLU’s Fulbright Program Adviser, will share opportunities for U.S. citizens to pursue graduate or professional study, conduct research, or teach English. During the session, you will find out about the types of Fulbright awards, application components, tips, and get your questions answered.
For questions, contact Dr. Bridget Yaden at byaden@plu.edu
Young Adults in Global Mission – a post-grad year of service (with ELCA)
Place: Campus Ministry, AUC 190
Time: 3:45pm - 5:00pm
ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission program is a one-year international service opportunity. Young adult volunteers offer their gifts of all unique forms in exchange for a powerfully transformative experience including:
+ Self-Discovery: Developing oneself through the sharing already discovered gifts as well as the opportunity to explore new things
+ Discernment of Vocation: What fills one’s cup; motivation and fulfillment
+ Faith-Formation: How we can be in fellowship with each other and our surrounding community
+ Themes of Justice and Social Issues: Discussion and action for current issues, including but not limited to, racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmental/ecojustice
+ Stewardship and Ambassadorship: Establishing and maintaining goodwill between the ELCA and their international companion synods
https://www.elca.org/our-work/global-mission/young-adults-in-global-mission
For questions, please contact Jen Rude, rudejl@plu.edu or Campus Ministry, cmin@plu.edu
Place: AUC 214, Chris Knutzen Hall
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Travel the world without leaving PLU! Take a tour of interactive table displays to learn about the unique history, character and culture of different countries as represented by students who have personal connections to those locations.
For questions, contact Heather Jacobsen, jacobsha@plu.edu
Wednesday, November 19th
Semester Study Away Pop-Up Advising!
Place: Rieke Lobby
Time: 11:45 - 12:45p.m.
Come talk to the Wang Center Global Ambassadors, Kendall and Morgan, about the semester study away application process! Study Away applications open on November 17th, 2025, so if any impromptu questions about the process, study away locations, or tips on the application arise, stop by to chat!
If you miss this session, it will be offered again on Thu, 11/20, Hauge Admin lobby from 11:45am-12:45pm
For questions, please contact our Global Ambassadors, global.ambassadors@plu.edu
Place: AUC 203, Regency Room
Time: 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Join us to meet students from diverse backgrounds and expand your circle beyond your usual friend group. We plan to talk about the leadership learning attribute Enacting Change, and how even small acts can make a big contribution to better our society. Free catered lunch!
For questions, contact Heather Jacobson, hjacobson@plu.edu or Karmen Taylor-Brown, baldwink@plu.edu.
Study Away Info Session: ACM-IAU Aix-en-Provence and Florence
Place: Virtual (Email wang.center@plu.edu for link)
Time: 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Please join us to learn more about our study abroad programs in Aix-en-Provence, France and Florence, Italy!
ACM-IAU’s global flagship campus is in Aix-en-Provence, a charming university town located in the southern region of France. The city of Aix (pronounced like the letter “X”) provides traditional French culture in an intimate setting, while offering the appeal and elegance of a large metropolis. While abroad, students explore Aix and the surrounding regions through courses, field studies, and cultural activities.
ACM-IAU offers two programs in Florence!
Our Business, Fashion, and Liberal Arts program is offered in partnership with the Accademia Italiana, which is considered one of the most important European Institutes in the field of design and applied arts. The courses offered at Accademia Italiana in art and design are complemented by IAU course offerings in business and liberal arts and the combined catalogue boasts a wide variety of courses designed to meet the needs of students across many majors.
Our Performing Arts and Music program in Florence is offered in partnership with the prestigious Accademia Europea di Firenze (AEF), which has a long history and tradition focused on Italian language and culture and the performing arts. The center is located in the historical center of town in the Piazza San Marco on Via Camillo Cavour, which is within walking distance to the Duomo and Piazza della Repubblica among other important historical sites in Florence. Email the Wang Center at wang.center@plu.edu if you’d like to be added to the g-Cal invitation for the Zoom link.
For questions, contact Megan Grover, megan.grover@plu.edu
Thursday, November 20th
Place: Morken 138
Time: 11:45am - 12:45pm
This event gives current Peace Corps Prep students and students interested in Peace Corps Prep an opportunity to gather and get to know each other over pizza. We hope to see you there!
For questions, contact Amy Siegesmund, Peace Corps Prep Program Director, siegesam@plu.edu or the Wang Center wang.center@plu.edu.
Semester Study Away Pop-Up Advising!
Place: Tabling in Hauge Admin Building
Time: 11:45am - 12:45pm
Come talk to the Wang Center Global Ambassadors, Kendall and Morgan, about the semester study away application process! Study Away applications open on November 17th, 2025, so if any impromptu questions about the process, study away locations, or tips on the application arise, stop by Hauge Admin from 11:45am-12:45pm on 11/20 to chat!
For questions, please contact our Global Ambassadors, global.ambassadors@plu.edu
Mongolian Culture Night
Place: Scandinavian Cultural Center, AUC 100
Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 pm
Experience the warmth and traditions of Mongolia! This event will begin with a traditional Mongolian dance and a presentation about Mongolia while people enjoy a special dinner. Afterwards, guests can join fun activities including bingo with Mongolian fun facts, a treasure hunt, and the Nomad Freeze dance.
For questions, please contact Heather Jacobson, International Student Services, jacobsha@plu.edu.
Friday, November 21st
Place: AUC, CK Hall
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm, Doors open at 6:30pm
The Center for DJS is rounding off International Education Week with Global Getdown, an evening event that brings our PLU community together to cultivate joy and show off something that is culturally significant to them, whether that be a talent or taking part in our flag/fashion parade! If you are interested in performing, walking in the flag parade, or participating in an art showcase, please sign up using the Google forms below.
(Sign up to share your cultural fashion at the event door)
For questions, contact Center for Diversity, Justice and Sustainability, djs@plu.edu / Nicole Juliano, juliannh@plu.edu
Place: Karen Hille Phillips auditorium
Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Step into the sparkling world of this all-Mozart showcase as PLU Opera brings to life iconic scenes from his greatest operas, including The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute, Così fan tutte, and more.
The concert will be livestreamed via the following link: PLU | ARTS
Gateway Programs
- Gain an in-depth understanding of Trinbagonian culture through a required set of three PLU-designed courses taught by local professors, local experts and US professors
- Examine key issues such as post-colonialism, globalization, diversity, equity, social justice, gender and environmental sustainability in a rich, ethnically diverse culture
- Study at University of the West Indies, a major research institution in the Caribbean, and engage with local students
- Engage with the rich cultural, environmental, religious and artistic diversity of Trinidad & Tobago through a series of study tours and lectures that facilitate student participation in Trinidad’s expressions of the Hindu spring festival of Phagwa, the West African Orish and Shouter Baptist festivals, the Muslim Hosay commemoration, and the world famous Trinidad Carnival
- Experience the traditional fishing village of Charlotteville, Tobago, as it explores new directions in organic gardening, marine research, and sustainable tourism
- Explore Mexican history, development, society and environment through an interdisciplinary view of Ancient, Modern, and Contemporary Mexico
- Learn about U.S.-Mexico relations and gain an in-depth perspective of Mexican immigration to — and the hispanization of — the United States
- Experience approaches to, and strategies for, social change, and the value placed on these processes by diverse groups in the Oaxaca region and across Mexico
- Integrate academic knowledge and intercultural skills in an internship with a local nonprofit organization focused on an issue related to your academic, personal or professional goals
- Build knowledge of pressing issues facing Mexico today through extended study tours to Mexico City and the states of Puebla and Morelos
- Increase Spanish proficiency to advanced, advanced plus or superior through a complete immersion program
- Study at Sichuan University, one of China’s most prestigious universities, with students from all over China and the world
- Develop your Chinese language abilities with courses available at all levels
- Engage with local communities through study tours to rural farms, local villages and nearby monuments
- Deepen your understanding of the various cultures of China through study tours to the Forbidden City, the Great Wall in Beijing, and Xian, whose famous Terracotta Warriors and Wild Goose Pagoda are reminders of China’s prominence in the world as the eastern terminus of the Silk Road
- Experience Tibetan culture with a week-long study tour exploring Buddhist temples and shrines, contrasting with China’s ethnic Han majority
- Study at the premier University of Namibia alongside students from Namibia and countries across Africa and the globe
- Engage in a practicum in a local school and complete a robust set of courses aligned with PLU’s program requirements (Education students)
- Learn about this young democratic country with a focus on a historical perspective of Namibia from colonization to democracy
- Engage with indigenous people, cultures, and the country’s unique geography on study tours, through rural homestays in the villages of northern Namibia and visits to Namibia’s renowned national parks and game reserves
- Create your own batik art in a 3-day workshop in Windhoek
- Engage with the local community through an internship or volunteer work with community organizations
- Spend January enrolled in a context-setting, intensive course on non-Western history taught by a local Namibia historian
- Experience the “Oxford tutorial” — weekly one-on-one sessions with Oxford faculty and graduate students, aimed at bringing forth the students’ own powers of judgment, thought, and argumentation e Learn to “read” the United Kingdom through the disciplinary lens of the semester’s Site Director — a PLU-IHON faculty member who will teach a place-based 200-level seminar and lead you on study tours in London, Manchester and other sites
- Apply what you’re reading and learning to your own experiences in the 4-credit, discussion-based “Living and Learning in Oxford” course, also led by the PLU Site Director
- Become an Associate Member of an Oxford college with dining and other privileges in the college
- Take part in induction into the world-renowned Bodleian research library, including more than 20 Oxford branches, where you have full research access and reading privileges
- Complete two of your 200-level IHON seminars — one in the form of an interdisciplinary tutorial with Oxford faculty and graduate students, the other with the PLU Site Director
There is an opportunity for a small number of non-IHON students who are a good fit for the program to study in Oxford. Get in touch with Dr. Strum to learn more!
- Challenge the perception of the “sameness” of Western societies by experiencing the rapidly changing Norwegian culture and society and Norway’s active engagement in defining and redefining its roles internationally and within its borders
- Examine the Norwegian approach to contemporary issues in a central location with engaged faculty whose specialties include Peace and Conflict Studies, African Studies, International Relations, Middle East Studies, Polital Theory and more
- Study in English alongside Norwegians majoring in Peace & Conflict and International Studies
- Immerse yourself in Norwegian culture, history, geography, society, and politics with the “Norway—An Introduction” course (not for credit) that includes excursions in and around Oslo
University of Southeastern Norway
Study in Bø:
- Engage in an active campus community at the University of Southeastern Norway and experience the local natural landscape as an extension of classroom learning
- Live and learn in an environment that challenges cultural assumptions and helps you to see your discipline and the world through a Norwegian lens
- Explore Telemark, a region known as “Norway in miniature” and known for its rich cultural tradition and outdoor life
- Focus on Environmental Studies, Natural Sciences, Marketing and Management, Business, Kinesiology, or Norwegian Language and Literature
Study Kinesiology in Vestfold:
- Engage in an active campus community at the University of Southeastern Norway and experience the local natural landscape as an extension of classroom learning
- Focus on Kinesiology in the Exercise and Health Management program
- Examine the Norwegian health system and work life and social laws regulating health and sick leave through project management development and apprenticeship
- Live and learn in an environment that challenges cultural assumptions and helps you to see your discipline and the world through a Norwegian lens
- Put theoretical components into practice at the Vestfold campus’ stunning gym and pool facilities or in the stunning natural setting with numerous outdoor recreation options
Featured Programs
“Not Your Ordinary Study Abroad.” Experiential hands-on learning, homestays, language learning, finish with an independent research project or an internship. Focused around a program theme.
Featured SIT Programs Include:
- Rwanda – Post-Genocide Restoration and Peace Building
- Morocco – Field Studies in Journalism and New Media
- Morocco – Migration and Transnational Identity
- Morocco – Multiculturalism and Human Rights
- India – Public Health, Gender and Community Action
- India – Sustainable Development and Social Change
- Indonesia – Arts, Religion, and Social Change
- Mongolia – Nomadism, Geopolitics and the Environment
- Nepal – Development, Gender and Social Change
- Nepal – Tibetan and Himalayan Peoples
- Vietnam – Culture, Social Change, and Development
- Serbia – Serbia, Bosnia, and Kosovo: Peace and Conflict Studies in the Balkans
Overview of SIT
Vietnam
Indonesia
Morocco
Morocco
Nepal
India
India
Rwanda
Mongolia
Course options in STEM disciplines, indigenous studies, humanities, social sciences and much more
Course options in STEM disciplines, humanities, social sciences and more.
Choose between a language immersion track (Language & Area Studies) or one of two English-based academic tracks (Metropolitan and Urban Studies / Security Studies and International Affairs)
Study music performance, history and more, variety of elective options
Study music performance, history, and more, and take a German class, variety of elective options / Choose from a variety of psychology courses and elective options
Language immersion French Honors program / English-based academic tracks in Art – Business and Intl. Relations – Humanities & Social Sciences, French class required
This is a great fit for adventurous students interested in science and the environment. ENVT majors can choose the Sustainability & the Environment academic track, and the Tropical Ecology & Conservation track is designed for Biology students
Spanish language and cultural immersion program, homestay, various excursions around Spain
Course offerings in STEM disciplines, humanities, social sciences and more. Great course options for Political Science and Global Studies students.
Questions about study away?
Get in touch with us at wang.center@plu.edu
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