From Where I Stand 2019 Part I | The Global UGRAD Photojournalism Project

From Where I Stand 2019 Part I | The Global UGRAD Photojournalism Project

One of our favorite sayings is “Once a UGRAD, always a UGRAD.” Even when the U.S. portion of the Global UGRAD experience is over, alumni are always a part of this big and talented family. The lessons learned and knowledge gained during the exchange live on as alumni share their stories and dedicate efforts to shine brightly in their home …

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. …

Visiting Global UGRAD Alumni in Malaysia

In late August, a World Learning colleague, Jessica Mead, had the opportunity to meet with several Global UGRAD alumni in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Jessica works on the Alumni TIES program and was in Kuala Lumpur to implement a seminar for 40 alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs on “Strengthening Environments for Civic Participation and Public Engagement.” During the seminar, participants …

Malaysia Alumni Update: Moris Deri’s Political Activism

I was on the Global UGRAD Program during one of the best periods in modern history – the 58th Quadrennial U.S. Presidential Election which saw the most spectacular power transition in the White House – where I learned and grew tremendously. From interning at the Hennepin County Government in Minneapolis as an absentee ballot counting agent for the UOCAVA, to …

Global UGRAD Staff on a Campus Near You! – Spring 2018 Site Visits

Global UGRAD Staff on a Campus Near You! – Spring 2018 Site Visits

Last month, Program Officer Will O’Roark and Senior Program Officer Bethany Gilchrist hit the road, visiting some of our Global UGRAD participants in their “natural habitats” – on campus at their host institutions! Will O’Roark at The University of Wisconsin – Green Bay Will visited The University of Wisconsin – Green Bay (UWGB), a first-time host institution located in Green Bay, …

All Hands on Deck! Stories of Community Service from Around the World – Part I

All Hands on Deck! Stories of Community Service from Around the World – Part I

Community service is an integral part of the Global UGRAD experience. Beyond being a program requirement, Global UGRAD participants embrace civic engagement as one of the most valuable, enjoyable, and rewarding parts of their semester in the U.S. As the spring semester students gear up to begin their own service activities, we would like to highlight the outstanding volunteer work …

My Journey with Global UGRAD by Firdaus Bin Ahmad Azman

My journey began on October 18, 2016, when Morris Deri, now an alumnus for the program, was undergoing his exchange semester at Minnesota State University Mankato. During his semester, he approached me with the prospect of applying for the same program. To put things into perspective, it was a flagship program performing under the Fulbright Grant, a highly coveted scholarship sought by applicants …

Malaysia Alumni Update by Justice Khor

Malaysia Alumni Update by Justice Khor

Flashback to almost a half year ago, when I was sitting in the LGBTQ safe zone training class at California State University Monterey Bay. I saw people coming from different walks of life, but mainly young people coming together to learn about the LGBTQ community. But suddenly there’s an elderly man. He drags a chair and joins the class. To …

The Global UGRAD Booklist – Part II

The Global UGRAD Booklist – Part II

National Book Month may be over, but reading suggestions from our current participants and alumni are not! Check out what the Global UGRADs are into this month:   Sibongile Hokonya (Zimbabwe), Carroll College, Global UGRAD 2017-18 Concrete Economics by J. Bradford DeLong and Stephen S. Cohen My room was very warm today and so I decided to sit outside and enjoy the cool …

Connecting through food

When the smell of a delicious meal wafts through the halls of a dorm, it can only mean one thing…. international cooks are in the kitchen! One of the most popular ways Global UGRAD participants share their cultures with their host communities is through food. Naomi Ng from Malaysia and Airat Gabdrakhmanov from Russia took advantage of Western Washington University‘s (WWU) …