November 17 – International Students’ Day

International Students’ Day is observed on November 17, 2016. International Students’ Day is an international observance of student community. Taking the day differently than its original ...

International Students’ Day is observed on November 17, 2016. International Students’ Day is an international observance of student community.

Taking the day differently than its original meaning, a number of universities mark it, sometimes on a day other than November 17, for a non-political celebration of the multiculturalism of their international students. The date commemorates the anniversary of the 1939 Nazi storming of the University of Prague after demonstrations against the killing of Jan Opletal and worker Václav Sedláček as well as against the occupation of Czechoslovakia, and the execution of nine student leaders, over 1,200 students sent to concentration camps, and the closure of all Czech universities and colleges.

Students display and celebrate their acts of social responsibility and have gatherings on campus to showcase the causes they volunteer for, take part in gleeful competitions, indulge in student food, gossip about the student unions and complain about their student fees.

The International Student Congress declared November 17 as International Students’ Day.