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From the Associate Provost for Internationalization

Colleagues and Friends,

It has been an exciting year for internationalization at the University of Kentucky; a year defined by growth in key areas and by successful launches of several pioneering initiatives. 

The landscape of international education is constantly and quickly evolving. I can only speak for myself when I say that’s part of what makes it so thrilling. In this dynamic landscape, UK International Center has established itself as a leader in international education. This is evidenced by two major awards received this year—the University of Kentucky was one of four institutions to receive the 2023 Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Campus Internationalization as awarded by NAFSA, and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities awarded UK the 2023 International Impact Award for Global Engagement.

These awards mean so much to us, as they recognize the totality of our work, and they are wonderful points of pride for everyone at the University of Kentucky.

Our efforts, as ever, are guided by Global UK, our strategic plan, and by UK’s strategic plan, the UK PURPOSE. With these plans as roadmaps, we have continued to grow several existing programs and enacted new initiatives which have seen great success.

Thank you to our colleagues across campus and around the world in international education who continue to inspire and aid this important work.

International Impact

This past year marked the launch of several new initiatives, including the UK Global Footprint, a hub for international data at UK, as well as Explore First: Careers, Cultures and Connections, a unique education abroad program designed to empower and equip First-Gen students.

We also helped welcome many displaced students thanks to the Kentucky Innovative Scholarship Pilot Project. Now, those students are flourishing and finding success in a second home. 

Additionally, Shoulder to Shoulder Global, a Global Health Initiatives program that integrates academic and community partners to improve the health and well-being of an underserved community in Santo Domingo, Ecuador, celebrated a USAID grant and continued to impact this community and the program's participants. 

Read more about these initiatives and the overall international impact at the University of Kentucky in the full 2023 UKIC Annual Report.

Read the Full Report

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