Making Connections Through Religion  

Making Connections Through Religion  

Doni Rizki Akbar, Indonesia, Indiana State University: I have two local families around my campus who really care about me. One family is Muslim and the other is Christian, and they are both like my host families. The first is the Alam family. They are a Bangladeshi-American family who have lived in the U.S. for more than 10 years. There …

Celebrating International Women’s Day: A Woman I Admire

Celebrating International Women’s Day: A Woman I Admire

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Global UGRAD students reflected on women from all backgrounds and walks of life who have inspired them to pursue their dreams. Maureen Tejeda, Dominican Republic, University Houston-Victoria: The woman who has inspired me to continue pursuing my dreams is the best known as “RBG”, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of …

Lessons I Learned While Living in the USA

Lessons I Learned While Living in the USA

An exchange semester is a dream for many and it’s for that reason I was the happiest because I was living all my fantasies. Though with each new experience, I had a lesson in life. Without further ado, here’re what a semester in the U.S. has taught me: I May Not Understand Something, but I Learned to Accept Just because …

Capacity Building Program for US Study Abroad Application

Capacity Building Program for US Study Abroad Application

At the direction of the U.S. Department of State’s USA Study Abroad branch within the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, World Learning will be providing a small grants competition and virtual and in-person activities in 2019 to support the expansion and diversification of American student mobility as part of the Capacity Building Program for U.S. Study Abroad.  This is …

Spring 2019 First Impressions

Spring 2019 First Impressions

World Learning asked our Global UGRADs to describe their first impressions of their host campuses. Check out what they said about their ‘homes’ for this semester! Adina Joseph, Malaysia, Chatham University: My first impression of my campus was if I was in a Narnia or Harry Potter world setting. Chatham University is so beautiful it almost does not feel real. …

Celebrating the Lunar New Year Across the U.S.!

Celebrating the Lunar New Year Across the U.S.!

Zihan Xu, China, Emporia State University: The year of the pig in the lunar calendar has just come. This is my first time spending the Spring Festival away from family and friends. The Spring Festival is the most important festival for Chinese people. This is when families reunite to enjoy meals and conversations. No matter how far people are from their …

Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2019 Application is Open!

Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund 2019 Application is Open!

The Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) is a U.S. Department of State initiative that provides grant money to alumni who want to carry out projects in their home communities. Since its inception, AEIF has supported over 300 alumni-led initiatives worldwide. AEIF has reached millions of people through training, awareness campaigns, and leadership initiatives. In 2018, out of more than 1,300 project …

Alumni Reflections

Alumni Reflections

Studying in the U.S. as a Global UGRAD student has not only had an impact on my academic skills, but it has also expanded my career scope, perspectives, and increased my awareness. I enjoyed every single aspect of the program starting from community service to living with an American roommate. Even though it wouldn’t be accurate to call any country …

My Second Family: the Impact of Friendship Families

My Second Family: the Impact of Friendship Families

Many Global UGRAD host universities provide amazing opportunities for Global UGRAD students to engage with their host communities. One such example are friendship family programs, where international students are paired with local families for an exchange of culture, friendship, and fun. Please continue reading to hear more about the positive impact these types of exchanges have on both student and …