International Students’ Day 2025

Born out of historical events and pure defiance, the International Students’ Day reminds us of the pivotal role of education in shaping our youngsters’ futures and the foundation of our society. 

Celebrated since 1934, as a non-political event, this day has spread throughout the world as a memorial day to honor the lost lives of brave Czech students who didn’t let one of the most oppressive regimes of history dim the light on their path to enlightenment and growth.

History of the International Students’ Day

In the year 1939, as the boots of German soldiers and rolling screeches of the Third Reich’s tanks shook the windows of the urban housing of Czechoslovakia, another silent and invisible invasion was forming. 

As the cultural onslaught reached the doors of schools and universities, the defiant voices of Czech students grew louder and louder. 

It was then, as the crispness of the sunset ushered in another day of impending upheaval in the academic world, that the students took to the streets as loudly as they could. And, as history has shown us time and time again, the catastrophic events of November 17th followed by an authoritarian regime, which made the nation weep red! 

However, the fruition is still with us. 

Beyond Borders, Beyond Classrooms, Beyond Stereotypes

Today’s educational systems and modern teaching methods are breaking boundaries and biases alike. 

Each year on International Students Day, we’re energetically reminded that knowing and learning know no race, ethnicity, gender, or, obviously, borders. 

International Students Day is a day to cherish and relish students’ strides to become the cornerstones and couriers of the future, and to foster multiculturalism. 

November 17th reminds us to learn and share knowledge without bias. That no coloration or background matters when books are involved.

• “Modern teaching methods are breaking the old barriers.”

In fact, the more diversity, the merrier. It points out that no country in the world should be led by a single party or ethnicity. It should be a collective of different cultures, where everyone is included.

Also, in this new age, technology and travel have become an integral part of the 2025 learning trend as we get more interconnected and distances fade away more rapidly than ever.

Through the lightspeed globalization of the internet, learning has become online.

From small study groups to multi-time-zone research parties, it’s safe to say that the world is now one giant international school, where learning a second language is a must and the conveyance of words and quotes is the goal! 

International Student Quotes

Over the years, as the non-political World Students Days messaging gained reach and became widespread, so did the quotes and chants. 

However far and distant these cries of freedom, knowledge, and solidarity, the context remained the same: “Defense of Justice,” “More Power to the Students and Their Unions,” “Education as a Form of Defiance,” and “Make Your Voice Heard.”

Many words reside in our ears about the importance of World Students’ Day. The most important one probably comes from one of the most prestigious and kindest teachers to ever walk among us, Nelson Mandela. He quotes:

• “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

But it’s not political figures who find education of the utmost cruciality. From the lips that sang beautifully – the B.B. King himself – sprang:

•  “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” 

International Students Day in Iran

Although it took nearly two decades for this notion to travel between continents and reach the halls of educational institutions in Iran, its impact and echoes reached every heart and mind in the country, stirring the evolution of education in Iran.

In Iran, there are two separate dates with equivalents for the International Students’ Day. December 7th is dedicated to the students (Rooz-e Daneshjoo), and the other for pupils on November 13th (Rooz-e Danesh Amooz). These days garner a lot of sympathy and remind the younger generation of Iran what standing up to authorities means and why it should be remembered as a pivotal moment in this great country’s history. 

• “In Iran there are two days for students. November 13th and December 7th.”

On such days, many great universities – Ivy League educational establishments – such as Sharif University, Tehran University, and even elementary schools, arrange cultural programs, or sponsor smaller inner-groups to promote the idea of student and pupil power across the faculties, university grounds, and sometimes even take it to outdoor gatherings. 

Why Education Matters

Whether you’re an Iranian student or glued to textbooks in other parts of the world, you have realized the importance of education. It’s a source of power like no other. 

In fact, to you we say: “May the notes be with you.” That should be the mantra of the World Students Day, as every stroke of the pen is an invisible, unwielding force that can tilt the course of history, for the greater or for the worse. 

Education is also like magic, and it has surely happened to you, too; with every pen swipe or screen swipe in our golden age of technology, the mind wonders, questions rise, and our curiosity spikes to learn more. 

• “May the notes be with you. This is the way!”

That’s the nature of education for us, guiding us on the growth path, all the while honing our skills and guiding us through the experiences and knowledge of our predecessors.

That said, education matters because it’s not only in our personal growth. On the contrary, the very foundations of our society, how we think as a collective, and how we perceive the future, lie in what we learn and receive in classrooms.

In shorter words: “Education matters because it’s the language through which we write our own history.”

Long Way Ahead

It’s a good time to be a student, but it can get even better. As we slowly round up 2025, we can rejoice at the fact that, today, the number of global learners has surpassed 1.4 billion. However, the rally continues as there are more who need to receive at least some sort of education. 

Today, around 300 million children are poverty-stricken, education-wise. This means they’ve never held a pen, or too few times. Not to mention sitting in a safe and welcoming classroom has been lost to them in the wake of war, genocide, displacement, and misinformed households. 

FAQ

When’s the International Students Day?

Every year on November 17th, we dedicate the day to our learners and students.

What’s the historical importance of this day?

World Students Day holds great value because of its historical implications of Czech students standing up to the fascist Reich regime, and, unfortunately, some of them gave their lives in the protests.

What’s World Students Day about?

It’s about education for all, no matter their gender, ethnicity, cultural background, or sexual orientation.

When’s the International Students Day in Iran?

Unlike the rest of the world, in Iran, December 7th is non-officially celebrated as Student Day.