International Center

A Taste of the World
2026-02-25 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Baker Science (180) Lawn
Sample International Cuisines at A Taste of the World – February 25, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Baker Science (180) Lawn
The International Center will be serving up food and fun at A Taste of the World on Wednesday, February 25 on Baker (180) Lawn from 10 a.m. – noon! A collaboration with the Food Science and Nutrition and the Experience Industry Management departments, A Taste of the World invites the campus community to enjoy free tastings of delicious bites and beverages from this year’s featured countries — Portugal, India, Morocco, Brazil, Mexico and Indonesia — while celebrating Learn by Doing in a global context. Take your taste buds on a tour of the world while experiencing live performances and exploring study abroad opportunities at Cal Poly!

Take the world to-go!
We understand that some may be observing Ramadan. If you’d still like to experience our featured dishes, we’re pleased to offer a convenient takeout option. Simplycomplete our takeout order form no later than Monday, Feb. 23 to pick up a to-go box.

Sponsored by Semester at Sea, Cal Poly Student Affairs and Cal Poly Latin American Studies.

Brazil

View the Brazil eBrochure

India

View the India eBrochure

Indonesia

View the Indonesia eBrochure

Mexico

View the Mexico eBrochure

Morocco

View the Morocco eBrochure

Portugal

View the Portugal eBrochure

Latin American Studies

View the Latin American Studies eBrochure

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2026
2026-03-09 11:00 - 13:00 | Kennedy Library (Bldg 35)
Join the Cal Poly International Center in celebrating International Women’s Day on Monday, March 9 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on the first floor of Kennedy Library. There will be trivia, prizes, and more!
Visit our International Women’s Day Linktree for a compiled list of women-run podcasts, local businesses, authors, a special Spotify playlist and more! – https://linktr.ee/calpoly_intlwd.
The IWD 2026 Give To Gain Campaign encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration.
Give To Gain emphasizes the power of reciprocity and support. When people, organizations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase. Giving is not a subtraction, it’s intentional multiplication. When women thrive, we all rise.
Whether through donations, knowledge, resources, infrastructure, visibility, advocacy, education, training, mentoring, or time, contributing to women’s advancement helps create a more supportive and interconnected world.
To participate, tag us on Instagram (@calpolyglobal) and tell us how you will #GivetoGain gender equality.
International Women’s Day isn’t just a day—it’s a movement. Since its first gathering in 1911, this global celebration has championed women’s rights, achievements, and the ongoing fight for equity. Cal Poly honors this tradition by joining organizations around the world in celebrating the historic contributions and innovations of women across all disciplines. Today, International Women’s Day leads several missions to help forge a gender equitable world, recognize the impact of women’s achievements, and uplift women’s voices, while calling attention to inequality and inequity.

2026 Passport Event
2026-04-08 10:00 - 14:00 | ATL Keck Lab
The Cal Poly International Center is partnering with CEA CAPA and all Cal Poly colleges for the fifth annual Passport Event, happening April 8, 2026!
Cal Poly students and staff who have never had a passport will have the opportunity to apply for their U.S. passport book and, thanks to the generosity of CEA CAPA and Cal Poly’s six colleges, application fees of $165 will be covered for up to 100 Cal Poly students!
Applicants must meet the following criteria:

18 years or older
U.S. citizen
First-time passport holder (as an adult, 18 years or older)
Full-time undergraduate student with at least one year of study left at Cal Poly (through Spring Quarter 2027 or later)
Financial need

Passport applications can only be processed during an in-person appointment with an official passport agent on April 8, 2026, in the ATL Keck Lab.
The deadline to apply is March 1.
Students must have their application documents in hand no later than April 3.
Faculty and Staff Passport Services
Cal Poly faculty and staff are eligible to apply for a first-time passport through the Passport Event. Interested faculty and staff should complete the Passport Interest Form. Applicants will be contacted by the International Center to register for an appointment with a USPS passport representative.
Learn more about the 2026 Passport Event.

Chasing Survival: Cheetahs, Communities and Conservation
2026-04-23 16:10 - 17:30 | ATL/Keck Lab (Bldg. 7)
Free. Open to the public.
Join the International Center for Chasing Survival: Cheetahs, Communities and Conservation with Dr. Laurie Marker, founder and executive director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, for a community lecture from 4:10 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, in the ATL/Keck Lab (Bldg. 7). A global leader in conservation, Dr. Marker will explore how science, community partnerships and sustainable innovation are transforming the effort to protect wildlife — while strengthening human livelihoods. The event is free and open to the public.
Learn more:
cheetah.org

International Engagement Symposium
2026-05-06 15:00 - 17:00 | 1901 Marketplace Pavilion
Staff and faculty only.
Each year, the International Engagement Symposium brings together experts, thought leaders and visionaries to spark global connections and explore opportunities for impactful cultural and academic exchange.
Join us for an inspiring evening of cross-cultural dialogue, insights from the fieldand be part of the conversation that’s shaping how we bring Cal Poly to the world and the world to Cal Poly.
This year’s speakers:

Xiaoying Rong, Department Chair, Graphic Communication
Nishi Rajakaruna, Professor, Biological Sciences
Alexander Parker, Oceanography — Cal Poly Maritime

Taiko Drumming with Ichimi Daiko
2026-05-06 17:10 - 18:30 | UU Amphitheater
Experience the power and rhythm of live Taiko drumming with Ichimi Daiko from 5:10–6:30 p.m. in the UU Amphitheater following the International Engagement Symposium. This special performance is co-sponsored by the International Center, the Cal Poly Music Department, the Japanese Student Association and the APIDA Faculty/Staff Association.
Taiko is rich in history and meaning. It was used in agricultural and fishing communities to pray for successful crop harvests and catches. It served to rally troops during battles. It has been said that a village’s borders were defined by how far the taiko could be heard. Taiko has also become integral to Shinto and Buddhist religious music traditions and has played a role alongside other instrumentation in the Japanese classical music and dance tradition, gagaku. Today, the powerful and moving sounds of taiko in several styles can be heard around the world bringing the sounds of Japan to new places and new homes.

Study Abroad Fair
2026-09-03 10:00 - 14:00 | Kennedy Library Courtyard
Join us as the world comes to Cal Poly!
Discover hundreds of Cal Poly study abroad programs offered in about 70 countries, including domestic programs, and start planning your next global adventure! Meet with program faculty leaders, partner program representatives, and hear from recent study abroad alumni about their experiences abroad.
Cal Poly International Center connects students with opportunities to study, intern and research abroad and away, including multi-country destinations and domestically in other parts of the U.S. and U.S. territories. Programs are offered in varying lengths and formats, and financial aid opportunities are available for most programs, making studying abroad accessible to everyone.
During their time at Cal Poly, around 25% of students go abroad on Cal Poly approved programs, earning credit for GE, major, and minor courses while immersing themselves in other cultures.
