Students and faculty can attend events showcasing UF's international programs all week.
International Education Week, an annual event sponsored by the U.S. Education and State departments, celebrates the use of different world cultures in the university system.
The International Center started planning the events about two weeks in advance, said David Sammons, dean of the International Center.
"This week is about appreciating the diversity around campus," Sammons said. "Students have the chance to meet people from other parts of the world."
Events are being held all over campus and will be co-sponsored by groups such as the Belly Gators, the Peace Corps and Volunteers for International Student Affairs.
Santa Fe College will also co-host some events on its campus, Sammons said.
The week doesn't focus only on international students, but it also highlights UF's study abroad programs.
Linguistics junior Tommy Budd, 21, competed in the study abroad category in the Eighth Annual Global Culture Photography Competition.
His photo, which shows a priest reading outside a church in Lalibela, Ethiopia, won second place.
Winning photos will be displayed in the Grinter Gallery.
"Studying abroad was the best decision I have made so far at UF," Budd said. "I was exposed to other cultures and was able to decide what I want to do with my life."
Budd, who studied in Ethiopia during Spring 2011, said he hopes to record endangered languages in villages to keep record of them before they disappear.
Studying abroad and other international programs form a more complete college education, said Mabel Cardec, spokeswoman for the International Center.
Cardec said this year 15-minute flash demonstrations have been added to the week's events. The demonstrations will show how to complete tasks from other countries, including embroidery from Jordan, skiing from Switzerland or Tai Chi from China.
"The idea here is to put that little international bug in everyone," she said. "Hopefully students will want to be more involved in international programs."
