The 2024 Multicultural Showcase took place on Friday, November 15, in the Iowa Memorial Union’s International Ballroom, as part of the University of Iowa’s (UI) annual celebration of International Education Week (IEW). More than 375 UI students, faculty, staff, and community members attended.
“The Multicultural Showcase is a powerful reminder of the vibrancy of our campus community,” said Shuhui Lin, international education program & student affairs advisor in International Student & Scholar Services, advisor to OASIS, and co-chair of Iowa’s International Education Week committee. “It’s inspiring to see our students share their cultures through performances, food, and activities. Events like this not only foster a deeper appreciation for global perspectives but also create a sense of belonging for our international and domestic students alike."
The Multicultural Showcase is designed to introduce UI students, faculty, staff, and the greater Iowa City community to different cultures through vocal and dance performances, ethnic dishes, as well as interactive tabling hosted by student organizations and UI colleges and departments. Examples of tabling activities included CIMBA Italy’s pasta matching game, where participants had to correctly identify pasta types by their Italian name, and an interactive writing activity hosted by the Asian American Student Union.
Andrea Chiu, an undergraduate student at Iowa majoring in translation, was participating in her fourth and final Multicultural Showcase, as she anticipates graduating in May 2025. Chiu both helped the Taiwanese Student Association table prior to the showcase but also performed with one of the dance groups of Hallyu, a student organization at Iowa that works to promote the globalization and appreciation for all things Korean pop culture and entertainment.
“I’ve been coming to the Multicultural Showcase since my first year at Iowa,” shared Chiu, “and my favorite part of it every year is the performances. There is such a wide variety of groups that perform each year from different cultures which makes me proud to be an international student at Iowa.”
The Multicultural Showcase opened with a video message from International Programs Associate Provost and Dean, Russ Ganim, who announced the 2024 Global Student Award recipients, Jeff Lai and Fascha Aryasa.
Iowa celebrates International Education Week each year, serving as an example of our commitment to preparing Americans for a global environment and to attract future leaders from abroad to come to the U.S. This year, IEW takes place November 18-22. Multiple events are planned during the week, many of which are organized by UI students, faculty, and staff from across campus. Visit the International Education Week site to see all the events.
The Multicultural Showcase was organized by OASIS (Organization for the Active Support of International Students) in partnership with International Programs. Additionally, the Tippie College of Business Global Engagement Student Advisory Board, Study Abroad, CIMBA, the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council, the Asian American Student Union, and the Taiwanese Student Association, all hosted interactive tables at this year’s event.
Photo credits: Justin Torner, University of Iowa
International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.
