This session focuses on the ancient tradition of pysanky (decorated eggs) in Ukraine. It discusses the history and process of making pysanky as well as the fascinating symbolism in the designs, tracing the change pysanky symbolism throughout cultural shifts in Ukraine. The session also introduces participants to digital resources on pysanky including sample lesson plans that show educators how they can use pysanky in a variety of classroom contexts.

This webinar is the fourth in a six-part webinar series, The Arts of Eastern Europe and Eurasia, designed to support K-14 educators in bringing the vibrant and diverse artistic traditions of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia into the classroom. Each 90-minute session will spotlight a different art form—including music, dance, literature, visual arts, cultural artifacts, and theater/film—offering both historical and cultural context as well as practical classroom strategies. Use the registration form to register for one or more of these events.

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-7 pm during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Hosted by the French Club

Are you interested in studying abroad in Greece this summer? Stop by the Posvar Global Hub on Wednesday, January 14th between 12pm and 1pm to meet with faculty and staff and discuss this amazing Panther Program opportunity!

Learn about the Nationality Room Scholarships and how to apply to support your global experiences this summer! Applications for graduate students are due February 15, 2026.

Learn more at www.nationalityrooms.pitt.edu/opportunities/scholarships.

Speakers include Kati Csoman, Director of the Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Programs, and Natasha Garrett, PhD, Assistant Director of Student Success and Global Readiness.

Lunch is provided.

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-7 pm during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Hosted by the French Club

Are you interested in learning more about Health & Culture in Bolivia, a Panther Program running in Summer 2026? Join us on Zoom for a virtual information session, where you can learn more about studying abroad in Bolivia, meet program leaders, ask your questions, and more! Zoom Link https://pitt.zoom.us/j/93999713566

Mangia con noi! Bring your lunch to the Global Hub every Thursday to chat with the Department of French and Italian and practice Italian!

Tavola Italiana will meet every Thursday during Spring semester, from January 15 to April 23, EXCEPT on January 29, February 5, February 12, and March 12.

Hosted by the Department of French and Italian

Are you interested in studying environmental sustainability and Native American culture and history this summer? Come by our virtual information session, where you can meet program faculty and staff, learn more, and ask all your questions about this amazing opportunity at the Pine Ridge Reservation in May 2026! Zoom Link: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/96545833295

Program in Film and Media Studies Spring 2026 Colloquium Series

This talk outlines an approach to writing a new history of early cinema in the Russian Empire, one that moves beyond the familiar canon, incorporates newly accessible archival materials, and draws on current film and media studies methods to revisit a body of work that remains understudied. Unlike many other early cinema traditions, early Russsian cinema still alcks a comprehensive history in English, and existing narrative depned heavily on a small group of canonical films by Evgeny Bauer and Piotr Chardynin, whiile many surviving titles and the much larger lost corpus receive very little or no attention. Using new archival findings alongside the recently launched Daydreams database, which brings together production data, plot summaries, personnel networks, and censorship records, I employ large-scale analysis of narrative patterns ("distant viewing") to trace broader trends, reconsider transnational contexts, and highlight the often-overlooked contributions of women in the industry. The goal is not the offer a definiitve account, but to suggest how reent evidence and methods may support a revised and more inclusive history of this period.

Join the Persian Table for its first meeting of the semester in the Global Hub, when students will have the chance to introduce themselves and get to know one another.

Hosted by the Persian Table

Hoping to study abroad this summer? Learn if/how you can use financial aid for your program before the January 20th application deadline! Hosted by Pitt Global Experiences & Office of Admissions & Financial Aid.

Join us for our weekly Global Distinction Drop-In Hours on Tuesdays from 3-4 pm in the Global Hub! Come learn how to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market, get the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receive special recognition at graduation, and stand out to prospective employers.

Join us for a follow-up conversation on how policies, displacement, and community response have shifted in 2025. Together, we'll reflect on what has changed since January, what has been unexpected or impactful, and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead.

This event will also explore how allies from all backgrounds can offer meaningful, sustained support. Whether you are directly affected or standing in solidarity, this is a space for reflection, connection, and collective support.

Sheila Vélez Martínez, Jack and Lovell Olender Professor of Asylum, Refugee and Immigration Law/Pitt
Mónica Méndez, Director of Programs, Latino Community Center
Nathan Harper, Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Manager, City of Pittsburgh
Michael Goodhart, Professor, Political Science, University of Pittsburgh
Jaime Martinez, Community Defense Organizer, Casa San José
Moderator: Scott Morgenstern, Professor, Political Science, University of Pittsburgh

To register: https://www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas/content/clas-event-registration. This will be a hybrid event.
The Zoom link will be provided to registered online participants at a later date.
For in-person participants, refreshments will be provided.

Sponsors: The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS), the Center for Ethnic Studies Research (CESR), the Global Studies Center (GSC) at the University of Pittsburgh, the Latin American Cultural Center (LACC), and the Center for Applied Research on Targeted Violence (Pitt/CMU).

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-7 pm during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Hosted by the French Club

The Global Appalachian Reading Group for Spring 2026 examines the complex intersections of regional identity, connectedness and disconnectedness to lived spaces, and environmental justice as they pertain to Appalachia and its connections to the wider world. Through thoughtful engagement with The Appalachian Trail by Philip D'Anieri, No Last Place to Rest by Dineo Skosana, and Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver, participants will explore the spaces that comprise and define Appalachia, reflect on the theme of dispossession within the context of Appalachia, and discuss global climate change through displaced species that find a home in Appalachia. This reading group invites participants to connect local narratives with global contexts, fostering deeper understanding and critical conversations about place, space, identity, sustainability, and the future of Appalachian communities.

The series theme is Spaces. Participation in all three events in the series is not required but encouraged. All events will take place from (please see dates below) 1:30-3:00pm (EST) in 4217 Posvar Hall. Copies of the books will be available in the Global Studies Center for local registrants to pick up. Please contact Veronica Dristas at dristas@pitt.edu with questions.

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-7 pm during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Hosted by the French Club

Join the Ukrainian Culture Club for a meeting in the Global Hub as they welcome new members and invite fellow students to join the club and embrace Ukrainian culture, language, and advocacy!

Mangia con noi! Bring your lunch to the Global Hub every Thursday to chat with the Department of French and Italian and practice Italian!

Tavola Italiana will meet every Thursday during Spring semester, from January 15 to April 23, EXCEPT on January 29, February 5, February 12, and March 12.

Hosted by the Department of French and Italian

Thinking about studying abroad? Interested in IES Abroad programs? Come by 810 William Pitt Union, meet an IES representative, and ask all your questions about studying abroad with IES!

This professional development workshop series is designed for K-12 educators seeking to deepen their understanding of global issues through literature. This year, we will explore the theme of “The U.S. in the World.” Through global and regional perspectives, we will discuss narratives of a “Global United States,” where the U.S. role in the world and its relationship with other countries and regions is informed by transnational narratives and dialogues shaped by global trends such as migration, environmental issues, human rights, and human conditions. By exploring compelling stories from diverse cultural perspectives, educators will gain insights into the complexities of this theme, its impact on individuals and communities, and how to engage students in meaningful discussions around these topics.

Each session features a carefully selected book, paired with historically contextualized presentations, interactive discussions, teaching strategies, and cross-disciplinary activities to inspire classroom implementation.

The January 22, 2026 workshop will focus on the book, "Forty Autumns," by Nina Willner.

Sessions this year will take place virtually on Thursday evenings from 6:00-7:30 p.m. (ET). Three Act 48 credit hours (for PA educators) and a copy of the book are provided for each session.

For more information and to register, please go to: https://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global/GILS .

Join Brazil Nuts in the Global Hub for weekly Bate-Papo Conversation Hours to meet other students and to practice Portuguese of all levels!

Bate-Papo Conversation Hours are every Monday during Spring semester, starting January 26 and ending April 20.

Hosted by Brazil Nuts

UPDATE: Bate-Papo's meeting on January 26 has been postponed due to weather.

Join the German Club for weekly meetings on Mondays in the Global Hub to practice German and share about German culture! 

Hosted by the German Club

Join us for our weekly Global Distinction Drop-In Hours on Tuesdays from 3-4 pm in the Global Hub! Come learn how to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market, get the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receive special recognition at graduation, and stand out to prospective employers.

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-7 pm during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Hosted by the French Club

This marks the beginning of our 2026 EU Film Festival. This year's theme: "Democracy, Community and (Space) Aliens!"

Spain
2024
Director: Dir. Albert Solé
Documentary, 54 MIN

A rare, behind-the-scenes look at how the EU navigates an increasingly chaotic geopolitical landscape. This documentary follows Josep Borrell through real-time diplomatic crises, revealing how global policy actually gets made.

A discussion after the documentary.

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-7 pm during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Hosted by the French Club

Join the Arabic Club in the Global Hub every other Wednesday during Spring semester, starting January 28, to practice Arabic language, structured by varying geographic dialects and level of speaker proficiency!

Hosted by the Arabic Club

**UPDATE: This event is being rescheduled due to weather. The new date and time will be updated here as it is confirmed.**

Join us for a conversation with Pitt students who have participated in diverse experiential learning opportunities. Hear what inspired them, how these experiences helped internationalize their degrees, and the impact on their personal, academic, and professional growth. Facilitated by Dr. Abdesalam Soudi, this session will include audience engagement to share experiences and explore ways to get involved. Students, faculty, and administrators alike are invited to contribute to this dialogue on enriching experiential global learning.

Pitt undergraduate students can earn Global Distinction credit for attending.

A light lunch will be served. Attendees are encouraged to bring a refillable water bottle.

Moderator:
- Dr. Abdesalam Soudi - Teaching Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics; Dean's Fellow for Experiential Learning (ExL @ Pitt), Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences

Panelists:
- Leyla Ahmadova - Undergraduate student double majoring in Economics and Statistics, Global Studies Certificate in Politics and Economy
- Isabella Cicco - Ph.D. student, Civil Engineering
- Alison Gibbons - B.S., Public Health, Class of 2025
- Avni Prabhu - Undergraduate student double majoring in Microbiology and Economics, Chemistry minor

Co-Sponsors:
- University Center for International Studies
- Pitt Global Hub
- Pitt Global Studies Center
- Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation
- Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences

Part of the Socialist Studies Seminar series 

During the Socialist Education campaign and Cultural Revolution, Communist Party in Xinjiang broke the previous promise of “No Struggle, No Division, No Classification of Classes” made to the pastoral regions in the early 1950s. Mao’s anti-capitalism, anti-Soviet revisionism, and Learn from Dazhai movement in combination led to a rapid pace of landscape transformation through constructing infrastructures such as water conservation, permanent stalls, and artificial grassland forage bases. Based on oral history interviews with the individuals and Party historical materials, Guldana Salimjan examines how land and labor transformation led to a second dismantlement of the Kazakh political structures and an emergence of grassland degradation on the steppe.

The Socialist Studies Seminar is co-sponsored by the Carnegie Mellon University Department of History and the University of Pittsburgh Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies. For further information, contact Wendy Goldman (goldman@andrew.cmu.edu) or Alissa Klots (alissaklots@pitt.edu).

Ukraine. Gaza. Venezuela. Greenland. NATO.

Discussions of the state of the international legal order fill our headlines and newsfeeds. They compel us to ask: what is happening to our world? The transatlantic relationship has provided the foundation of the International Legal Order for decades, but at this moment, that foundation seems to be crumbling.
Pause your podcasts and join in for a live discussion of where we are and where we are headed!

Ruth Bajada, Deputy Ambassador of the EU Delegation to the United States

Joined by:
Prof. Ronald Brand, Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg University Professor and Director of the Center for International Legal Education
Prof. Randall Halle, Klaus W. Jonas Professor and Director of the Jean Monnet EU Center of Excellence
Prof. Carissa Slotterback, Dean of the School of Public and International Affairs, Moderator

This event is part of the European Studies Center's lecture series The International Legal Order.

Ukraine. Gaza. Venezuela. Greenland. NATO.

Discussions of the state of the international legal order fill our headlines and newsfeeds. They compel us to ask: what is happening to our world? The transatlantic relationship has provided the foundation of the International Legal Order for decades, but at this moment, that foundation seems to be crumbling.
Pause your podcasts and join in for a live discussion of where we are and where we are headed!

Ruth Bajada, Deputy Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation in Washington

Joined by:
Prof. Ronald Brand, Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg University Professor and Director of the Center for International Legal Education
Prof. Randall Halle, Klaus W. Jonas Professor and Director of the Jean Monnet EU Center of Excellence
Prof. Carissa Slotterback, Dean of the School of Public and International Affairs, Moderator

This event is part of the European Studies Center's lecture series The International Legal Order.

Pitt students: Join Kya Baat Hai, a Hindi-Urdu conversational club that practices language and celebrates South Asian culture, for weekly conversation hours!

2026 EU Film Festival: Democracy, Community and (Space) Aliens!

Czech Republic
2024
Director: Rudolf Havlik
Sci-Fi, 109 MIN

Strange happenings in a quiet Moravian village spark an offbeat alien mystery no one is prepared for. Campy, charming, and deeply European, this sci-fi romp asks what happens when your weirdest neighbor might actually be from space. Come to our feature screening for your space alien swag!

This talk examines how Islamic lifeworlds are governed, reshaped, and sustained on the Sino–Kazakh borderland. Drawing on ethnography, Kazakh oral histories, Han settler literature, and state gazetteers, I show that state governance in its western borderland has relied on settlement, enclosure, and racialized control across ideologically distinct eras. I also trace how Kazakh religiosity—lived through embodied rituals, ancestral relations, and active remembering of sacred landscapes—shifts and persists despite secular developmental regimes. By foregrounding these contested memory politics over land and belonging, this talk extends the critical scholarship on religious governance in China to global histories of settler colonialism, secular power, and cosmological dispossession.

Guldana Salimjan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Historical and Cultural Studies and the Department for the Study of Religion at the University of Toronto. She is an interdisciplinary scholar of East and Inner Asia who uses historical and anthropological method to study the intersection of borderland, religion, memory, gender, and environment.

2026 EU Film Festival: Democracy, Community and [Space] Aliens!

France
2024
Director: Julie Delpy
Comedy/Drama, 101 MIN

When a French village accidentally welcomes the “wrong” refugee family, their assumptions get turned upside down. Julie Delpy’s warm, funny dramedy asks who the real barbarians are when fear meets humanity.

*Free Admission with University and College ID
*Free to Pitt ID for Faculty and Staff

2026 EU Film Festival: Democracy, Community and (Space) Aliens!

Latvia
2024
Director: Dāvis Sīmanis
Historical Drama, 104 MIN

A Latvian actress enters Stalin’s USSR seeking her grandchild and finds herself trapped inside a machinery of terror. This gripping historical drama exposes the everyday innocence shattered by ideology and violence.

2026 European Film Festival (EUFF): Democracy, Community and (Space) Aliens!

Poland
2025
Director: Bartek Paduch
Drama, 97 MIN

A Polish cop uncovers a disturbing case that pulls him into a web of secrets uncomfortably close to home. Tense and tightly wound, it’s a European thriller with emotional stakes that hit universally.

Free Admission with University and College ID
Free to Pitt ID for Faculty and Staff