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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 10, 2022) — As the University of Kentucky continues to become a more globally engaged campus, it is important that all faculty and staff have the opportunity to be informed about UK’s many international connections and to contribute to internationalization themselves.

Established in the spring of 2020, the Global Engagement Academy (GEA) offers free professional development for faculty and staff to build cross-cutting competencies in international education and engagement. Since the program’s inception, 166 UK faculty and staff have participated in the 58 sessions that have been offered so far. The spring 2022 GEA will help past participants build on the foundational knowledge of previous courses while welcoming new participants just getting started.

“As Kentucky’s flagship public research university, global engagement enhances all our core institutional missions, priorities and enterprises. This engagement will only grow as we continue to serve our globally connected Commonwealth,” said Sue Roberts, associate provost for internationalization. “The Global Engagement Academy helps prepare faculty and staff by giving them the tools they need to effectively navigate the complex and changing landscape of international higher education, research and service.” 

Through the Academy, participants are exposed to various aspects of campus internationalization — making it an ideal professional development opportunity for those who may be interested in teaching or conducting research abroad. It will also help faculty and staff learn how to work closely with students and scholars from other countries, manage international transactions and represent the university globally.

Participants will also learn about how to implement policies and best practices regarding international engagement from experts across campus, while developing cross-cultural communication skills and identifying university resources for international engagement.

Faculty and staff can choose to take as few or as many courses as they want, and there are no pre-requisites.

This spring, two foundation courses are being offered: Internationalization at UK and Global Trends and Global Mobility. Electives offered include:

Those who complete three foundation courses and any three elective courses within three years, will receive the GEA certificate of completion and become eligible to apply for a $250 academy grant to support their professional development plans.

To register for the Global Engagement Academy, visit the UKIC website. If you have questions, please contact melody.ryan@uky.edu