The University of Nebraska system has released its 2020 report on global engagement, highlighting recent successes of faculty, staff and students from across the four campuses in building international connections and awareness in an increasingly globalized world.
In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic – which has presented unique challenges related to faculty travel, study abroad and international student enrollment – all University of Nebraska campuses have continued to advance their critical work in international engagement. While some of that work looks different in a COVID-19 world, the university remains committed to engaging across borders to solve complex challenges and preparing students to live and work in a global economy.
“Employers know that a student exposed to new and different situations can more successfully handle challenge and change,” University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen wrote in an opening letter in the global engagement report. “More clearly than ever, current events are illustrating how important creativity and adaptability can be.”
Global engagement successes highlighted in the report include:
- A 2019 trip by a group of UNK students to the Asian Undergraduate Research Symposium in Tokyo, where they had the opportunity to present their research to an international audience and learn about Japanese culture.
- UNL’s recognition as a “Greatest Growth Institution” by the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, a U.S. Department of State award that supports study abroad opportunities for underrepresented undergraduates who may not otherwise be able to participate because of financial constraints.
- UNMC’s work in improving health outcomes in under-resourced settings, including efforts to improve the health of children in Nigeria through the International Foundation Against Infectious Disease in Nigeria. The country has one of the highest under-5 mortality rates in the world.
- UNO’s celebration of 40 years of partnership with Shizuoka University in Japan, the longest active international partnership at UNO that allowed more than 2,000 students and faculty to participate in educational and cultural exchanges between the sister institutions.
The 2020 report, available at nebraska.edu/2020-GE-AnnualReport, is the final such global engagement report to be issued from the NU system. Central Administration has phased out its global engagement office and transitioned its work to the campus senior international officers.