In 2000, Bill  Clinton, former President of the United States initiated the idea of International Education Week for the higher education institutions in the United States.  The goal of this initiative was to celebrate both international education and intercultural understanding. A special focus was to involve the academic communities to enhance the knowledge and understanding of world cultures and global diversity among students at the U.S. institutions. By signifying international education as a tool to promote peace and cross-cultural understanding during one week became an annual tradition at many colleges and universities including Michigan Technological University.

Each year, there is a special theme for the International Education week.  This year’s theme is Fostering Global Citizenship and Respect announced by Ms. Margaret Spellings, the U.S. Secretary of Education.