Last week, UTMSU’s Ministry of International Students organized the International Human Students Week on campus. Events were held throughout the week to welcome the international student population of UTM. “The main reason for this week is to gather people together to build an inclusive community, and to make them understand that we are all here together,” said Grace Guo, UTMSU’s VP external.
The first event, Art Attack, was hosted on Monday at the Student Centre. Students painted their names, languages, signatures, and fingerprints on a large banner. The banner will be put on display as a symbol of the campus’s diversity.
On Tuesday, international students were invited to the event Ministry 101, at which they learned about what the campus has to offer them and how they can help the Ministry of International Students work with the international students on campus.
“The idea is to make them feel at home,” said Guo.
A few full-time, part-time, and international students attended a two-hour educational town hall called “International = Domestic” on Wednesday. Everyone was encouraged to offer their opinions about issues international students face, such as higher tuition fees.
Thursday was International Cuisine Day at the Student Centre. Students sold a variety of foods from around the world. The selection included cuisine from regions as far as India and the Caribbean.
To conclude the week, the International Student Centre hosted a workshop on Friday for international students on visa renewal and work permit applications, among other services.
