Maricopa Community Colleges joins higher education institutions worldwide in celebrating International Education Week (IEW), November 17-21, 2025. This joint initiative, created by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, promotes the benefits of international education and exchange globally. To celebrate the national initiative, the system’s 10 colleges will host more than 50 in-person and virtual events open to students, employees, and community members.
“International Education Week is a celebration of our system’s core belief that a global mindset is essential for a well-rounded education,” said Jen Sydow-Madoski, Program Manager for Maricopa Community Colleges Center for Global Engagement. “By expanding access to study abroad programs and ensuring our international students feel supported and valued, we are preparing all our students to be global citizens.”
Why It Matters
This year’s theme, "Beyond Borders: Celebrating Global Learning and Connection," serves as a reminder that education is one of the most powerful bridges between people and nations.
Maricopa Community Colleges and the Center for Global Engagement are dedicated to creating opportunities that extend learning beyond borders—preparing students to succeed not just as professionals, but also as engaged global citizens capable of fostering understanding across differences.
This week also highlights the commitment of Maricopa Community Colleges and the Center for Global Engagement to provide a wide range of international and intercultural learning opportunities for students attending the system’s 10 colleges, as well as faculty and students from abroad.
Additionally, the Center for Global Engagement worked with Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs to issue a proclamation recognizing Arizona International Education Week.
Opening Doors through Study Abroad
The Center for Global Engagement offers a wide range of faculty-led study abroad opportunities in global destinations, including the Czech Republic, England, France, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, and Oman. Study abroad experiences provide students with invaluable cognitive and practical skills that extend beyond the classroom, offering a unique opportunity for growth and development. Students immersed in these learning environments gain foreign language proficiency, intercultural communication skills, adaptability, and heightened cultural awareness.
This past summer, eight study abroad programs spanned Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, allowing 132 students to broaden their perspectives and enhance their global competencies. In summer 2026, Maricopa Community Colleges is expanding its offerings to nine programs, sponsored by six of its colleges, creating even more opportunities for students to experience the world firsthand.
Supporting a Global Community
International students choose to study in America to gain new cultural experiences while they earn a college degree. During the 2023-24 academic year, more than 27,000 international students enrolled at an Arizona college or university. This fall, Maricopa Community Colleges enrolled 571 international students on student visas from 94 different countries. Each college has a dedicated International Education Department to support international students as they adjust to their new global community and academic journey.
Expanding Faculty Professional Development Opportunities
Since summer 2022, Maricopa Community Colleges has offered a Faculty Development Program in Guanajuato, Mexico. To date, the program has provided professional growth and cultural immersion opportunities to more than 90 faculty members. These experiences have helped the system internationalize its curriculum, enhance classroom teaching, and extend the benefits of global education to every Maricopa student.
To learn more about international and intercultural learning opportunities available at Maricopa Community Colleges, click here.