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International Education Week has been celebrated for the last 21 years, and it has at its core the idea of preparing students of the world for the world. Its celebration recognizes the importance of sharing information and experiences within the global community. International education itself is a growing academic field that examines a variety of educational issues in a wide spectrum of countries all around the world. It is mostly connected with the mobility of students, teachers, and researchers and the transferring of knowledge. It benefits significantly those participating in studying abroad as it provides more learning opportunities for different societies and involves employability skills. As a global citizen, it is essential to expose yourself to what is out there. London is one of the most multicultural cities in Europe and offers numerous possibilities for you to involve your global perspective. As part of the international education community, this week needs to be all about creating new experiences. Having a better understanding of the world around you takes only one small walk and some good recommendations for places to visit. Here are some practical tips to help you immerse yourself in the new place you have arrived. 

First and foremost, you can attend different online webinars from universities all around the UK through social platforms. In view of International Education Week, UCL’s Institute of Education organises an online webinar “Opening-up as entrepreneurial internationalisation in Chinese higher education”. Depending on your interests you can find more information on universities’ youtube channel, for instance from LSE, Edinburg, SOAS, Oxford. However, not only universities offer interesting talks about a variety of topics. A lot of Embassies, Cultural Centers, and Institutes give you the opportunity to approach a variety of topics from different perspectives. 

The Spanish Embassy hosts a series of online talks related to art and culture - “The Research Seminar Series”-  by the Zurbarán Centre. If you prefer in-person then, the Institut français, on the occasion of COP26, offers some insightful talks called “The earth here and now”, with both French and British speakers attending. It also gives you the possibility of replaying the events if you don’t have the chance to attend. Keep an eye on the websites and you might come across events that interest you. 

Of course, as you already know, learning about the world is not only restricted inside a classroom. London offers many opportunities for you to enrich your knowledge about different cultures. According to your preferences, you can choose from art exhibitions and film festivals to food expositions and dance events. The ongoing French film festival and Korean film festival, and the upcoming From Venice to London with the best of the Venice Biennale 2021, offer you an opportunity to watch eye-opening, humorous, and provoking films. If you are enjoying art exhibitions then the Given Time exhibition from The Embassy of Spain, the Hidden Stories: From the Caribbean to Great Britain, and the annual Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize, which hosts this year the Powerful portraits exhibition contest, are the places that you need to visit. 

Those who are more interested in music and dance, on the other hand, might find some interesting performances at The London Jazz Festival, such as the African Drumming Performance & Workshop at Southbank Centre or the upcoming German jazz violinist Johanna Burnheart’s performance at The Spice Of Life. The Institut français also organizes several music performances that you can attend throughout your time here. If you feel that you will like to get more involved then the Irish set dancing class and the Sunday Traditional Irish Music Classes by the London Irish Center might be the right thing for you. 

Another well-known side of London is the countless food options from all around the world. From lightly hidden restaurants in London’s alleys to the most famous brands, the options are beyond imagination. A highlight of those is the food markets! From the west to the east, from north to south, a food market can be found in every corner of London. Some very famous ones are the Borough market, Camden, Greenwich, Portobello,  Spitalfields market,  Box park, and many more for you to discover.  As London is one of the most vibrant cities in the world, more opportunities can be found just by walking around. In general, studying abroad means that you have been given an amazing chance to create new memories and educate yourself about whatever you might want. Under the name of International Education Week, seize the day, discover more about London, and embrace the knowledge that is offered all around!