The International House offers a variety of events and programming designed to accomplish two goals.
- Bring the world to UT
- Serve international students
Read more below about how the International House accomplished these two goals in 2021.
Bring the World to UT
International Festival
Attracts 2,000 guests annually and brings international organizations together each fall for food and other cultural experiences. Hosted on September 24.
International Dance Competition
Annual celebration that attracted 143 guests and saw five separate dance groups compete and represent dance from around the world. Hosted on April 7.
World Showcase
Week-long series of events highlighting a selected country, region or cultural group. This past year saw India, Japan and Germany represented.
International Coffeehouses
Weekly event in collaboration with student groups to feature countries, regions and cultures through coffee, tea and snacks. This past year saw 15 different cultures represented.
Language Practice
Weekly language practice led by native speakers for 8 languages: Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.
Serving International Students
International Student Conference
Hosted a total of 331 international students in their transition to UT and Knoxville by connecting them to campus and community resources.
Friendship Program
86 students placed in groups of three with participants from different countries than their own. Program designed to build community across cultures.
American Cultural Experiences
Connects international students to local culture with roughly six events or programs per semester, such as a Thanksgiving dinner or a trip to Dollywood.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
From February–April, the International House provided tax support to 75 international students through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
International Education Week
Celebrated each fall by educational institutions worldwide to recognize the benefits of international education, hosted from November 15–19.
In Their Words: Ahoud Algargoush
Ahoud Algargoush poses in graduation gown in front of the International House
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s International House, or “home away from home,” offers a host of programming for international students. Recent UT graduate Ahoud Algargoush is one such international student who spent her time as an undergraduate heavily involved with the I-House.
Algargoush decided to move to Knoxville from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, for two main reasons: Knoxville’s sense of community and UT’s Haslam College of Business.