Georgia Southern receives grant to create new, bilateral study abroad experience
Georgia Southern University is one of 18 higher education institutions that will soon implement a new academic exchange program to provide students unique learning opportunities thanks to a grant from the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund Competition.
As an Innovation Fund grant winner, Georgia Southern will provide access to short-term exchange and training opportunities in the United States and Latin America to students who traditionally lack the resources or are underrepresented in international mobility programs.
These Innovation Fund grants, with generous support from MetLife Foundation, will facilitate nine partnerships between universities and colleges in the United States with higher education institutions in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. These new academic exchange programs will provide students with unique opportunities to work in teams, conduct research and solve real-world problems in an international setting.
Georgia Southern and the Universidade de Brasilia (UnB) will collaborate to create a new bilateral study abroad experience that will provide students with innovative, hands-on and experiential learning activities.
This will enable students to reflect on their new cultural and technical knowledge in the fields of international studies, sociology and chemistry. Georgia Southern students will learn about local sustainable technology practices and federal policies supporting green technology in Brazil while engaging in a mix of laboratory work and practical skills.
UnB students will also have the opportunity to take a series of courses at Georgia Southern, during which they will be engaged in all aspects of scientific research and training techniques. The program will conclude in a joint meeting at the Sustainable Technologies Summit of the Americas at Georgia Southern University, where students will share and reflect on their respective learning experiences.
These Innovation Fund grant programs at universities and colleges in the United States and five countries in Latin America will provide training opportunities from diverse academic disciplines, such as Chemistry, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, Nutrition and Migration Studies.
“MetLife Foundation recognizes the vital role study abroad programs play in helping students enhance technical skills while developing valuable cross-cultural skills and experiences,” said Dennis White, President and CEO of MetLife Foundation. “We are pleased to support a second round of partnerships between higher education institutions across the Americas and extend the benefits of study abroad to more students.”
This grant is announced by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassies, Partners of the Americas and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Since January 2014, the Innovation Fund has awarded 187 grants to nearly 350 teams of higher education institutions from 25 countries and 42 U.S. states. Innovation Fund grant awards are typically $25,000 each with grant-winning teams contributing other resources an average of 1.8 times above the grant award. These funds are used to implement new and sustainable academic exchange programs for students in the United States and the rest of the Western Hemisphere.
Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving nearly 26,500 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.
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