DES MOINES – Around the world in 80 days? Guests at the annual International Festival at AIB College of Business went around the world in 60 minutes through the efforts of Kayla Vanderlaan of Newton and other exhibitors. 

Students from the International Student Association as well as the International Business and Intercultural Communications and Customs classes created booths at the AIB Activities Center representing dozens of countries. Many students dressed in traditional garb from other nations, offering information about the native cultures and samples of their local cuisine.

This year, the event offered increased authenticity because of AIB’s dramatic rise in enrollment of international students. Brandon Ermels, head coach of AIB’s soccer teams – which played their first seasons last fall – lists men’s soccer players from 16 countries: the United States, Australia, Brazil, Bosnia , El Salvador, England, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Liberia, Mexico, Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago.