The first ever Durham Global Week was a resounding success, with 38 events including panel discussions, workshops, language taster sessions, world music and dance, international movie viewings, a multilingual pub quiz and student takeovers of cafés around campus.
Many of the events were hybrid, allowing guests to attend in person or online. We launched a new Global Durham section of our website. Our official social media accounts published 68 posts and 21 stories, reaching 34,000 followers. We received 265,238 impressions, 2,800 engagements, 1,400 reactions and gained 1,539 new followers across all channels. The #DUGlobalWeek hashtag was used 258 times between 22 February and 11 March.
Staff and students were recognised for their contributions to building the University's international reputation and partnerships at the Global Durham Awards, which were held following a celebratory dinner at Stephenson College on 10 March.
Students, staff and members of the wider community celebrated our cultural diversity at events throughout Durham Global Week
Global Week was a great opportunity to learn about different cultures and traditions from around the world, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have participated in it. It was a great reminder of how much we can learn from each other and how much we have in common, despite our differences.
Our Global Week events culminated in a celebratory dinner on 10 March 2023 at Stephenson College, for the first-ever Global Durham Awards.
Click through the gallery to see some of our favourite moments from Durham Global Week 2023.
Students taking part in the Indian tradition of throwing coloured powder over each other for Holi Festival.
Students throwing coloured powder in celebration of Holi Festival at Durham Global Week.
Students helping local children colour in designs as part of Holi Festival celebrations during Durham Global Week.
Students performing traditional Indian dances in celebration of Holi Festival during Durham Global Week.
Lord Darroch of Kew (pictured, left), the UK's former Permanent Representative to the EU, National Security Adviser, and US Ambassador, delivered a talk on Brexit, Trump, and the War in Ukraine: Democracy in Turbulent Times as part of Durham Global Week.
Students offering samples of food from countries around the world at a stall at World Fest, a Durham Global Week event.
Students learning about Indonesia, one of many countries represented at a stall at World Fest.
The Canadian stall at World Fest.
Students at the Mongolia stall at World Fest.
Students at the Mexico stall at World Fest.
Students taking part in international music and dance taster sessions at World Fest.
Students taking part in global craft sessions at World Fest
Students painting fans during a craft session at World Fest.
Painted fans created by students during a World Fest craft session.
Writing in foreign languages during World Fest.
Students taking part in a Taekwondo session during World Fest.
A student taking part in a global dance session at World Fest.
Serving traditional refreshments at World Fest.
Dr Maksud Kamal from the University of Dhaka presents slides at the Fixing our Climate: The Bangladesh Perspective event.
The Fixing our Climate: The Bangladesh Perspective event was hybrid, allowing speakers and audience members to attend in person or online.
A speaker summarises recommendations that were made at the Fixing our Climate: The Bangladesh Perspective event.
Vice-Chancellor and Warden Karen O'Brien addressing guests at the International Scholars' Reception 2023, an invitation-only event held in the Oriental Museum during Global Week to celebrate our international scholarship recipients.
Guests listening to speakers at the International Scholars' Reception.
Guests at the International Scholars Reception.
A group of guests in conversation at the International Scholars' Reception.
A group of guests posing for a photo at the International Scholars' Reception.
Staff stand in front of a Durham Global Week banner during the Global Goals Summit.
Professor Mark Allen delivering a session on What are UN SDGs and Why are they Important? to an audience at the Global Goals Summit
Speakers at the Global Goals Summit.
Students taking part in a group exercise at the Global Goals summit.
Students hold their certificates of achievement after completing the Global Goals Summit.
Two students preparing food in preparation for the Palatine kitchen takeover, in which students prepared menus from different countries at cafés around campus.
Students trying a variety of foods from around the globe at the Palatine Kitchen Takeover.
Students making food in preparation for the Palatine kitchen takeover.
Some of the baked goods made by students to international recipes for the Palatine kitchen takeover.
Participating in Global Week as a lead ambassador has been a true highlight of the year. The opportunity to connect with others and learn about many different cultures, perspectives, and definitely music was an unforgettable experience that I cherish and am proud to have taken part in.
This year, we are sent six delegates to the Conference of Parties in Baku, Azerbaijan. Learn how their work helps to address the challenges of an ever-changing and complex world – and inspires the next generation of problem-solvers.
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