International Center releases Global Engagement Academy offerings for Spring 2024
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 5, 2024) — As the University of Kentucky continues to become a more globally engaged campus, it is important that all faculty and staff have the opportunity to be informed about UK’s many international connections and to contribute to internationalization themselves.
Established in the spring of 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, 291 UK faculty and staff have participated in the 121 sessions that have been offered so far. The Spring 2024 GEA will help past participants build on the foundational knowledge of previous courses, while welcoming new participants just getting started.
“The Global Engagement Academy supports faculty and staff by giving them, in a very accessible way, the insights and tools they need to effectively navigate the complex and changing landscape of international higher education, research and service,” said Sue Roberts, associate provost for internationalization. “Faculty and staff becoming more globally aware and engaged enhances teaching, service and research and is key to advancing our institutional mission and strategic plan, the UK Purpose.”
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 themselves, or who may be supporting global learning and research. It will also help faculty and staff learn how to work effectively with students and scholars from other countries, manage international transactions and represent the university globally.
Participants will learn from experts across campus about implementing policies and best practices regarding international engagement, 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 pre-requisites. Courses are an hour and a half each, and they are offered in person and virtually.
This spring, three foundation courses are being offered: Internationalization & Global Trends, Global Mobility, and Intercultural Communication.
Electives offered include:
- Advising International Graduate Students
- Conflict and Health: Beyond Morbidity and Mortality
- Exploring UK’s Global Footprint
- The Fulbright Program & Its Role in Campus Internationalization
- Hiring & Hosting International Faculty & Staff (J-1 & F-1 OPT Employment)
- International Travel Readiness
Those who complete three foundation courses and any three elective courses 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. Click here to register for spring GEA offerings. If you have questions, please contact GlobalEgAcademy@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.