Kent State’s International Education Week kicks off with a fashion show, games and other activities Monday.

Alana Baudo, graduate student and intern at the Office of Global Education, said International Education Week creates an international and global environment.

“It is a week that has been put together as part of the Department of State and the Department of Education to incorporate international culture, heritage and education into the week at universities and schools across America.”

There will be 28 events throughout the week, a Mahjong Tournament, a screening of an Invisible Children documentary and speaker, followed by a Thai Fashion Show, World Poetry Reading, and International Karaoke.

Baudo said the events will appeal to a variety of students and academic interests.

“If you’re an art student you might be interested in going to a dance event like the Barefeet Dance Tribe dance lesson, or if you’re a political science student, we have a couple lectures regarding some global issues,” Baudo said.

A popular event in the past has been the International Cook Off, taking place 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday in the KSC Ballroom.

“At the cookoff, you’re able to taste authentic food from different countries,” Baudo said.

Baudo hopes students learn about the diversity of global cultures after attending the week of events.

Desnee Stevens, assistant director of International Student and Scholar Services for the Office of Global Education, said all the events this week have their own cultural meaning and students who want to learn about other cultures should attend.

“I hope that they will learn there is more to the world than what they might know,” Stevens said. “Understanding and embracing another culture is just as significant as understanding and embracing their own.”

Contact Sydney Baltrusaitis at [email protected].