About "Year Of"

For over 40 years, Kennesaw State University (KSU) has dedicated each academic year to the study of a particular country or region -- introducing tens of thousands of students, faculty, and staff to the rich diversity of world cultures that make up the human family.

Each year the "Year Of" Country Study focuses on a different part of the world, rotating through four regions identified as Asia/Oceania, Africa, The Americas, and Europe. This award-winning program plays a vital role internationalizing our campus and engaging local and global communities. Annually, it results in new courses and curriculum, research projects, education abroad programs, and global partnerships.

Through special lectures, performances, exhibits, seminars, and events, the "Year Of" Program helps students break down stereotypes, build connections across cultures, and develop the intercultural competencies needed to act responsibly in today’s complex, interdependent world.

The initiative also expands the university’s approach to global learning by making international experiences more accessible to students. Through courses, lectures, performances, cultural events, culinary experiences, guest speakers, and other programs, students can encounter a country from multiple perspectives and connect classroom learning with real-world experiences.

In short, the Year of Country Study brings the world to KSU, making global learning accessible to more students while inspiring them to explore the world beyond campus through study abroad.

Please reach out to the director of the program if you are interested in additional information at shae.smith@kennesaw.edu .

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Our Goals

The "Year Of" Program cultivates an interdisciplinary educational platform for campus-wide, critical exploration of a country through a variety of relevant activities and events to engage KSU students, faculty, staff, and the community, while enhancing awareness, interest, and understanding of the world.

    • Expand participants' cultural knowledge and intercultural skills
    • Advance KSU's globally-focused curriculum, intercultural expertise, and international partnerships and research collaborations
    • Support and empower faculty to integrate country-specific material, as well as education abroad and local intercultural experiences, into their curriculum through connections with the local community and partners abroad
    • Strengthen student engagement in global learning and help prepare students to enter the global society as responsible citizens
    • Break down stereotypes and create connections across cultures by providing participants with a rich, complex sense of place, identity and community (both locally and globally)
    • Competitive College Spotlights that integrate program offerings into course content
    • Team-taught, semester-long interdisciplinary courses that include a study abroad component
    • Extensive involvement of local and international community partners, including university partners, consular officials, business leaders, and expatriates
    • Guest lectures featuring national and international experts from various fields/professions (arts, business, education, engineering, health, humanities, science, etc.)
    • Featured films both from and about the country or region of study
    • Featured theatre, music and dance performances, art exhibits, and culinary demonstrations
    • Visits with exchange faculty and students, including special residencies for artists, chefs, and other specialists

 

Year of Thailand (YoT)

During the 2026–2027 academic year, the KSU campus and community will embark on a journey to discover the Kingdom of Thailand. Through education abroad opportunities and a wide range of dynamic on-campus programs, the Year of Thailand will showcase the nation's diverse heritage, contemporary achievements, rich culture, history, traditions, and global influence, offering meaningful opportunities to engage with the unique identity of this vibrant Southeast Asian country.

The enduring success of the Year Of program is a result of the active participation of KSU faculty, staff, and administrators, who develop innovative programming to introduce students to diverse cultural, historical, social, and artistic dimensions of each country. Over the past four decades, the initiative has welcomed renowned scholars, government leaders, speakers, artists, filmmakers, and performers to campus, greatly enriching the university community.

We look forward to experiencing Thailand through these featured programs throughout the year. Use the link below to view the Year of Thailand calendar and follow us on Instagram @ksu.yearof for updates, educational content, and fun facts about Thailand.

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"Year Of" Country Studies on the Horizon

Year of Zambia - 2027-2028

In 2027–2028, we will turn our focus to Zambia, a country in Africa that has not previously been featured in this long-standing program, but one that has meaningful connections to both Kennesaw State University and the surrounding community. With a significant Zambian presence in the region and generous donors who have traditionally supported initiatives connected to Zambia, we look forward to exploring the many ways the Year of Zambia can connect our campus and community with this remarkable country.

College Spotlight Proposals: In October, faculty, staff, and administrators will be invited to propose College Spotlight Programs, an initiative that for more than 40 years has strengthened the university’s commitment to global learning and created opportunities for the campus community to engage with countries and cultures from around the world both inside and outside the classroom. Through this process, programs will be created that provide an opportunity for the KSU community to bring Zambia to life through academic, cultural, and interdisciplinary experiences. Faculty from every discipline are encouraged to be part of this process. Zambia can be incorporated into existing courses and syllabi, through the development of new courses or special topics, and with invitations to Zambian scholars, guest speakers, and artists. Faculty interested in incorporating Zambia into their courses or developing Zambia-focused academic opportunities will be invited to share their ideas and connect with resources, collaborators, and potential partners through the proposal process during planning in 2026-2027, in preparation for the Year of Zambia which will launch in August 2027.

The Year of Zambia will create opportunities to integrate Zambian perspectives and scholarship across colleges, departments, and disciplines through a shared university-wide focus. Together, we can make Zambia a meaningful part of the KSU academic experience and deepen our university community’s understanding of this dynamic country.

 

Year of ... A Country in The Americas - 2028-2029

Each year KSU's Year of Country Study celebrates a different part of the world, rotating through four regions identified as Asia/Oceania, Africa, The Americas, and Europe. In 2028–2029, the program will return to The Americas, offering the KSU community another opportunity to explore the history, culture, people, and global connections of a country within this region of the world.

Nominations: Each fall, faculty, staff, and administrators are invited to nominate a country for consideration. Nominations should include a strong rationale and supporting materials that demonstrate the country’s relevance and potential to engage the KSU community. All submissions are reviewed by the Year of Country Study selection committee.

The nomination portal will open in October. Start thinking now about which country you would like to see featured, and consider how you can contribute programming, expertise, and ideas to make this year of study a meaningful experience for the KSU community.

Contact the director of the Year of Country Study if you have any questions at shae.smith@kennesaw.edu . 

Previous Countries of Study

Over the past four decades, KSU's dedicated faculty, staff and enthusiastic students have embarked on transformative journeys through the university's "Year Of" programming, immersing themselves in the rich cultures, histories, and traditions of countries from around the world. Each year, a specific country is selected as the focus of these intensive studies, allowing KSU and the surrounding community to delve deeply into its unique identity while providing a comprehensive opportunity to understand its people, language, art, cuisine, and much more. Through this annual celebration, KSU fosters global awareness, promotes cross-cultural exchange, and cultivates a sense of interconnectedness among members of the diverse student body.

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