Universities across Canada and around the world will be putting a focus on their foreign students this week during International Student Week.

Counting over 2,000 foreign students, this is the first time St. Mary’s University in Halifax is participating in the four-day event, along with institutions in 85 other countries.

“It relates to a recognition that our graduates have to have a global knowledge. I think we call it citizens of the world,” said Maureen Woodhouse, acting director of international activities. “Even within Canada you need an awareness of international issues. You need cross-cultural skills. You need to be able to communicate with people from other cultures, other backgrounds.”

SMU will be showcasing some of their international students with a public storytelling event Friday at 1 p.m.

“Stories from Overseas” will feature students from foreign institutions, as well as Nova Scotians who have studied abroad, who will talk about their experiences.

“How did you manage? What kind of funny things happened to you as a result of you not understanding another culture? That’s a fun thing that different people would find interesting,” said Woodhouse.

This is the fifth consecutive year Nova Scotia’s international student population has increased. There are about 6,300 students from other countries taking classes in the province, with more than 4,000 of them studying at local institutions.