International Education Week at CPP Kicks Off with Global Campus Open House
About 60 people attended the Global Campus Open House on Nov. 19 at the International Center, which officially kicked off International Education Week 2024.
Hosted by Global Campus, a division under the College of Professional and Global Education (CPGE), the event showcased programs for international students and those who want to study abroad.
Attendees listened to remarks from CPP leaders and enjoyed cultural performances and lunch featuring various ethnic foods.
Lisa Xue, director of the Global Education Institute, and Kelly McCullen, interim associate director of International Students and Scholar Services Office, served as MCs for the event. They shared that there are currently over 700 international students enrolled at Cal Poly Pomona coming from over 60 countries.
International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide,bXue said. The purpose of the weeklong celebrations is to further promote international education at CPP.
The theme of the kickoff ceremony was Global Campus. Xue provided a brief introduction of Global Campus. “Global Campus serves as a central hub to support the university’s international programs and global engagement” she said. “The structure enhances better communications and collaborations with related campus communities on international affairs internally and externally with our international partners. The creation of Global Campus is in alignment with our institution’s mission and our academic Master Plan.”
Jessica Wagoner, senior associate vice president for enrollment management & services, spoke on behalf of Terri Gomez, Provost & vice president of Academic Affairs.
Larisa Preiser-Houy, interim dean of CPGE, acknowledged the invaluable contributions of international students to the campus community and expressed gratitude to the faculty and staff who support them.
"This week is a time for us to celebrate, learn, and embrace the incredible opportunities that international education and exchange bring to our campus and beyond," she said. "International Education Week highlights the transformative power of these experiences. It is an opportunity to learn from one another, build lasting connections, and deepen our engagement with the global community."
Preiser-Houy also emphasized the importance of recognizing the cultural richness international students bring to CPP.
"Our international students are ambassadors of their cultures, and their contributions are truly invaluable,” she said. “International Education Week provides us with an opportunity to honor their impact and reaffirm our commitment to fostering global learning and exchange.”
Students from various Global Campus programs spoke during the event and shared their impressions of their experiences at CPP.
Ziyu Tian, 20, who is a Cal Poly English Language Institute student from China, said that he is enjoying his time in the program because he is not only improving his English, but also meeting new friends from all over the world.
“For now, I hope to apply to the hospitality management major in all of 2025 and continue my education at CPP”, he added.
German native Carla Dettling, 24 is a Semester@CPP student who is currently an education major in her home country and hopes to be a teacher by next year. She said that her time at CPP has been amazing.
Performances by various student groups closed the event, which included a Chinese dance, a Taiko drum performance by the Japanese Student Association, a national dance by the Barkada Filipino Cultural Club, a guitar solo by a Chinese Students & Scholars Association member and a cultural showcase by the Cal Poly English Language Institute students.
International Education Week continued throughout the week, ended on Friday, Nov. 22.
