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K-State Today

November 12, 2018

International Education Week 2018 continues

Submitted by Mary K. Pyle

The K-State campus continues to celebrate International Education Week for the second week with the following events and activities:

• The Paraguayan Student Association and Office of International Programs present a festive reception celebrating 50 years of partnership between the state of Kansas and the country of Paraguay from 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the International Student Center. Hundreds of Kansans and Paraguayans have traveled to and from Paraguay and the U.S. to gain a greater understanding of people's lives, culture and customs and have shared this with communities through the region.

"The Paraguayan Student Association serves two main purposes: as a liaison between the largest population of Paraguayan students in the U.S. and as a platform to share their culture within the university community and region," said Paula Mendez, co-president of the Paraguayan Student Association and undergraduate research assistant in the Knowledge Discovery in Databases Lab.

This unique long-time association has created and elevated cultural understanding and encouraged collaborative exchanges.

A Facebook Live event from this reception will connect with the Paraguayan office so K-State alumni also can experience the celebration.

In 2015, Paraguay's Comite Paraguay Kansas was awarded the Innovative Education Program of the Year from the Office of International Programs for assisting K-State in increasing the Paraguayan student population and for CPK's investment, dedication and assistance in helping students to achieve their goal of studying in the U.S. and at Kansas State University.

• The next Raising Your International Profile seminar will be noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, in 305 K-State Student Union. Ken Williams, director of licensing and director of business development for the food and ag products sector at the K-State Institute for Commercialization, or KSU-IC, will share the process and recent success stories of how the institute promotes the commercialization of university and underutilized corporate intellectual property emanating from basic research at K-State

In 2015, Williams participated in an Office of International Programs-led visit to Brazil. Marcellus Caldas, assistant provost of international faculty collaboration and educational and the creator of the Raising your International Profile series, arranged a high-level meeting with UNESP in Brazil where Williams presented on the KSU-IC and commercialization efforts at K-State. 

As an outcome of that initial visit, Williams indicated that the KSU-IC team had the honor to host Vitor Kopp, technology analyst, Agência Unesp de Inovação UNESP, on campus in 2017. During this weeklong visit, both organizations shared best practices in IP protection and technology commercialization between the institutions and worked to build collaborative relationships that could be leveraged for joint research endeavors in the future.

Kopp met with the K-State Research Foundation, patent counsel from Hovey Williams LLP, participated in a K-State Intellectual Property Advisory Committee meeting with KSU-IC and KSURF staff to better understand K-State's IP disclosure and technology screening process, and gained a greater understanding of how the licensing associates managed technology portfolios, marketing and licensing activities. Kopp also provided KSU-IC and KSURF staff with an overview of the Brazilian economy, the UNESP system, and how their Innovation Agency addresses the commercialization needs of their growing and vibrant university technology portfolio.

• The 2018 International Education Awards Ceremony and Reception will be 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in Regnier Forum and atrium at Regnier Hall. The annual ceremony honors and recognizes K-State and community leaders who have excelled in providing international opportunities for K-State faculty, staff and students.

Join this signature International Education Week finale honoring the 2018 International Education Award winners including International Educator of the Year; Outstanding Support for International Initiatives; and International Innovative Educator of the Year.

Charles S. Taber, provost and executive vice president, and Grant Chapman, associate provost in the Office of International Programs, will recognize and present the awards.

The Office of International Programs also will feature a fair highlighting the international units in the office as well as departments throughout campus. A reception will follow.

For more information about International Education Week contact at Mary K. Pyle at mkpyle@k-state.edu