Academic Exchange , Alumni , Professional Development
One of the most memorable activities for Global UGRAD students is the End of Program (EoP) Workshop held in Washington, DC. The spring 2024 workshop took place from April 3rd through April 6th and brought together the spring cohort of 162 students from 53 countries. After arriving in the nation’s capital, students were greeted by World Learning staff and gathered …
Academic Exchange , Alumni , Community Service , End of Program Worshop , Kenya , North Central College , Professional Development
Hello, my name is Ian Adipo, and I am from Kenya. Global UGRAD is an enriching experience that I have long wanted to be a part of. My dreams came true in January 2023, when I was selected for an interview out of hundreds of applicants. After successfully interviewing, I moved on to the next phase and completed my TOEFL …
Alumni , Experiencing America , Kyrgyzstan , Professional Development , Wayne State University
“Once a UGRAD, always a UGRAD!” This statement resonates deeply with me and many others who have had the privilege of participating in the Global UGRAD Program. My name is Aigerim Kurmanbekova, and as a proud Wayne State Warrior representing Kyrgyzstan at Wayne State University during the fall semester of 2019, I have come to understand the profound impact this …
Academic Exchange , Alumni , Experiencing America , Professional Development , Sri Lanka , University of Maine
Greetings from the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean,” Sri Lanka! I am Hashini de Silva, a Global UGRAD who studied social sciences at the University of Maine (UMaine) in the fall semester of 2023. As the only UGRAD that semester coming from the humble roots of Sri Lanka, an island nation trying to pave its path in an illustrious world, …
Academic Exchange , Academics , Alumni , American Host Institutions , Cambodia , Experiencing America , Kansas State University , Presbyterian College , Professional Development , Saginaw Valley State University , University of Arkansas , Vanuatu , Vietnam , Zimbabwe
One month into their exchange program, Global UGRAD participants are hard at work setting ambitious goals to make the most of their semester. Now that they have familiarized themselves with campus and settled into life in the United States, they have begun to think about the events, activities, or objectives they hope to accomplish before they depart in May. As …
Academic Exchange , Academics , Africa , Alumni , American Host Institutions , Career , Community Service , Fairleigh Dickinson University , Mozambique , Professional Development , Southern Oregon University , Sub-Saharan Africa , Utah Tech University
In this month’s alumni spotlight, World Learning is thrilled to highlight the remarkable efforts of three Global UGRAD alumni from Mozambique who are joining forces to establish an organization dedicated to promoting climate literacy within their homeland. Xana Maunze, a Global UGRAD participant from the 2017-2018 cohort who studied at Fairleigh Dickinson University, embarked on her journey toward sustainability during …
Alumni , El Salvador , Marymount University , Morocco , Professional Development , Ukraine
In the spirit of fostering lifelong connections and celebrating the diverse achievements of Global UGRAD alumni, Michelle Cerén (El Salvador), Sophia Pylypyuk (Ukraine), and Abdessadeq Ourkiya (Morocco), recently embarked on a reunion that transcended borders and cultures. All three were Global UGRAD participants at Marymount University in the Fall 2016 semester. In this collaborative article, they share about their experience …
End of Program Worshop , Experiencing America , Professional Development
World Learning hosted the fall 2023 Global UGRAD End of Program Workshop from November 8 to 11 in Washington, D.C. The event saw 145 Global UGRAD students from 51 countries participate in an event that is not only the highlight of the semester but also a uniquely UGRAD experience. Workshop sessions began on Thursday, November 9. Following insightful opening remarks …
Academic Exchange , Alumni , Keuka College , Maryville College , Professional Development , Thailand
This month we feature two alumni from Thailand who had different UGRAD semesters. Pharinya Auttho (James) | Fall 2019 | Keuka College My name is Pharinya and I go by “James”. I was a UGRADer back in the fall of 2019 at Keuka College, New York. My major there was Political Science and History, and I took classes in International Relations …
Academic Exchange , Alumni , Professional Development , University of Tennessee Knoxville , Zimbabwe
Hello UGRADs! My name is Sibonisiwe Ngubeni and I was privileged to represent my country, Zimbabwe, as a Global UGRAD student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) in the spring semester of 2019. UTK, also known as Rocky Top, was packed with opportunities, hospitality, energy, tradition, green spaces, and quiet corners; a true breeding ground for thriving global changemakers. …