Currently, the University of Kentucky is planning major improvements in global presence and relations in terms of UK’s faculty and staff by broadening the GEA for theFall 2024 intake.

Funded by the UK International Center, this program’s goal is to support professional development of University staff through offering all the tools and information they need to succeed in the world of international higher education.

Launched in the spring of 2020, the GEA has received overwhelming engagement from the members of the faculty and staff namely; 375 total faculty and staff members in 136 meetings and sessions and conferences.

As a result of the program’s success, the university has continued to develop upon this format for future participants who are either new or returning to the program and who have the opportunity to engage with a very specific academic focus on global engagement.

Sue Roberts, the associate provost for internationalization, stressed on role of the academy in appendicitis of mission and strategic plan of the university. “As a highly practical learning resource, the Global Engagement Academy enables faculty and staff to be equipped with efficient approaches and strategies to engage the diverse developmental environment of in,” Roberts said.

She stressed that global mindfulness improves the teaching learning service and research in and amongst University personnels hence boosting the entire noble cause of the University.

The Fall 2024 GEA curriculum includes two foundational courses: The following courses are going to be available at “Internationalization at UK” Elective courses are as follows; “Global Trends and Intercultural Communication. ”

Flexible is a major aspect in the formulation of the GEA in the sense that a participant can opt to undertake as many courses as s/he desires without having to undertake any precondition course at all. Programs are short but very intensive and take one and a half hour, and are done both in class and online to suit the different time or preference of the takers.

As a way of encouraging students to take the courses and for rewarding those dedicated to the universal themes of the university, the university awards the participants with certificates on successful completion of three foundation courses and any three elective courses of their choice.

Successful certificate holders are also afforded an opportunity to apply for a $250 academy grant to assist them to undertake professional development initiatives that facilitate the practice of newly acquired global competencies.

The expansion of the GEA is compatible with the University of Kentucky mission as a flag ship, land-grant institution of the state. In training the members of the university’s faculty and staff on the ability to engage on the global level, the university wishes to increase its ability to transform the Commonwealth through education, research, creativeness, service, and healthcare.

This move is particularly coming in at a time that the University of Kentucky is beginning to receive commendations over efforts towards diversity and inclusion. In the recent past, the institution has being ranked by Forbes among the “Best Employers for New Grads” while the institution was awarded the INSIGHT into Diversity “Diversity Champion” title, proving the institution’s commitment in supporting and fostering a diverse environment.

The role of the Global Engagement Academy is even more important for the University of Kentucky fostering its development as a centre of international education and research as a global challenge progresses. Not only is the university building capability for itself, but it is also equipping its students with the skills needed for the globalised world.