UKIC releases Global Engagement Academy offerings for Fall 2022

Photo of international flags on table
The Global Engagement Academy is the first-ever professional development program designed for the UK faculty and staff to build cross-cutting competencies in international engagement and education.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 1, 2022) — As the University of Kentucky continues to become a more globally engaged campus, it is important that all faculty and staff are informed about UK’s many international connections and the opportunities they have to contribute to internationalization themselves.    

Established in Spring 2020, the Global Engagement Academy (GEA) offers free professional development for faculty and staff to build cross-cutting competencies in international education and engagement. Since the program’s inception, 218 UK faculty and staff have participated in the 75 sessions that have been offered so far. The Fall 2022 GEA will help past participants build on the foundational knowledge of previous courses, while welcoming new participants just getting started.

“As Kentucky’s flagship public research university, global engagement enhances our core institutional missions, priorities and enterprises,” said Sue Roberts, associate provost for internationalization. “The Global Engagement Academy supports faculty and staff by giving them, in a very accessible way, the tools they need to effectively navigate the complex and changing landscape of international higher education, research and service.”  

Through the academy, participants are exposed to various aspects of campus internationalization — making it an ideal professional development opportunity for those who may be interested in teaching or conducting research abroad. It also will help faculty and staff learn how to work closely with students and scholars from other countries, manage international transactions and represent the university globally. 

Participants also will learn about how to implement policies and best practices regarding international engagement from experts across campus, while developing cross-cultural communication skills and identifying university resources for international engagement.  

Faculty and staff can choose to take as few or as many of the academy’s short courses as they want, and there are no prerequisites. Courses are an hour and a half each, and they are offered in person and virtually. 

This fall, two foundation courses are being offered: Global Mobility and Intercultural Communication. Electives offered include: 

Those who complete three foundation courses and any three elective courses within three years will receive the GEA certificate of completion and become eligible to apply for a $250 academy grant to support their professional development plans. 

To learn more about the Global Engagement Academy, visit the UK International Center website. If you have questions, please contact melody.ryan@uky.edu.   

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.