Community Service Highlights

Community Service Highlights

This semester, students have been working diligently to complete one of the Global UGRAD Program’s most meaningful requirements: community service. From supporting children in the foster care system to tagging sharks for important research, our students have served their host communities in a variety of ways. We are proud to feature a sample of some exceptional students’ volunteer experiences. Ajla …

Alumni Spotlight: Kyrgyzstan

Alumni Spotlight: Kyrgyzstan

“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 …

Campus Visit: Emporia State University

Campus Visit: Emporia State University

In March, Sarah Halligan, Global UGRAD Program Officer, had the opportunity to visit Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. During this visit, she met the four Global UGRAD students studying at Emporia State this semester and explored the Emporia State campus. Emporia State has hosted Global UGRAD students since 2014, and the students currently attending are thoroughly enjoying their experience. …

Sports in the United States

Sports in the United States

Across the country Global UGRAD participants have been enjoying a wide range of sports activities, both on and off campus. For many, this is their first time watching or joining athletic activities typical of the United States. We asked students to describe their experiences, so read on to learn more! Mark Virgil Jamer | Philippines | Kent State University “This …

Campus Visit: Bluefield State University

Campus Visit: Bluefield State University

This February, Global UGRAD Program Officer Melanie Winters and Senior Program Associate Cameron Teaney had the pleasure of visiting Bluefield State University (BSU) in Bluefield, West Virginia. During this visit they toured BSU’s campus and met with the friendly and hospitable staff supporting the four Global UGRAD students studying there this semester. BSU is one of only two Historically Black …

Alumni Reflection: Sri Lanka

Alumni Reflection: Sri Lanka

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, …

Campus Visit: University of North Carolina Wilmington

Campus Visit: University of North Carolina Wilmington

This February, Global UGRAD Program Officer Jordan Ferrick had the pleasure of visiting the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) in Wilmington, North Carolina. Throughout the visit she explored UNCW’s campus and engaged with the welcoming and accommodating staff who support the Global UGRAD students. UNCW is a public research institution known for its coastal location and vibrant campus life. …

Global UGRAD Bucket Lists

Global UGRAD Bucket Lists

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 …

Alumni Spotlight: Mozambique

Alumni Spotlight: Mozambique

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 …

What’s in Your Bag?

What’s in Your Bag?

As snow descends on much of the United States, the majority of the spring 2024 Global UGRAD students are busy unpacking their bags and settling into campus life for the semester, while others are finishing penultimate preparations in their home countries before their departure later this month. Equally important to all the new experiences each student will have in the …