2011 Initiative 1: Create an International Consortium of Universities for Critical Issues Challenging Cities.

This consortium was established in 2015 and is called the Global Partnership for Better Cities (GPBC). It includes faculty from partner universities in South Africa and Hong Kong. The first Global Partnership Symposium on Better Cities will occur in Atlanta in spring 2016. The GPBC is founded on joint-research projects taking place in Atlanta, Hong Kong, Johannesburg and Cape Town to advance understanding of western, eastern and southern hemisphere conceptual frameworks for studying cities and addressing their challenges. The partnership has started student exchanges, scholar visits for completing research and development of joint courses across universities.

Georgia State has identified five strategic countries in which to focus its activities internationally. Five emerging-market task forces have been formed to focus on joint activities and university links in 1) Brazil, 2) China, 3) Korea, 4) South Africa and 5) Turkey. More than 90 bilateral agreements among universities in these and other strategic countries have been established. Each task force has developed an external advisory board of prominent civic, community and academic leaders who are dedicated to advancing initiatives in the task force countries.

2016 Initiative 1: Build the Global Partnership for Better Cities to become a unique joint venture of international universities providing perspectives from cities around the world.

We will emphasize urban-themed research collaboration and output including joint conferences, externally funded research grants, and student engagement.

2011 Initiative 2: Promote externally funded research on the challenges facing emerging nations.

Two initiatives have provided internal seed grant funds to deepen partnerships and prepare research grants for external funding:

• The International Strategic Initiatives Grant Program leverages external funding in support of internationalizing the university. In 2013, the Office of International Initiatives (OII) awarded multiple seed grants totaling $100,000. Annual Georgia State commitments over the 16-year history of the program resulted in the award of more than $1.6 million in seed grants that helped leverage some $60 million in external funding from public, private, governmental and non-governmental institutions.
• The Global Partnership for Better Cities program provides grants to internal faculty groups to travel to partner universities in South Africa and Hong Kong and develop proposals with local scholars who have a unique focus on cities in their urban areas. These grants leverage external funding in support of internationalization of university urban research in relationship to goal four. Topics have centered on urban resilience, transnational and migrant wellbeing, urban health, housing, infrastructure and municipal government finance.

2016 Initiative 2: Enhance and promote research and scholarships on the challenges facing the global community.

Continue to leverage the activities of the University’s many international centers and programs to expand the scope of research on global issues and increase awareness of Georgia State’s work around the globe.

2011 Initiative 3: Establish a Georgia State University International Center.

Georgia State established a new International Center, which opened in 2015 in Dahlberg Hall. Its location in the center of campus brings space, visibility and coordination to international programs, activities and services. It houses the Office of International Initiatives, which is responsible for the strategic integration and coordination of the university’s international initiatives, partnerships, grants, program development and management, events and activities, study abroad programs and the Confucius Institute. Between 2011 and 2014, more than 100 events were organized by the office during International Education Week (IEW). IEW is a joint U.S. departments of State and Education initiative to promote international education at U.S. schools, colleges and universities. In 2015, the Office of International Initiatives was named the International Education Program winner in the Governor’s International Awards.

2016 Initiative 3: Unchanged.

2011 Initiative 4: Enhance the global competency of students, faculty, and staff.

A new Global Studies Institute was established in 2014 in the College of Arts & Sciences, and the first director was appointed in 2015. The institute, with a core interdisciplinary faculty, focuses on pressing international problems and opportunities through collaborative research, undergraduate and master’s degree programs, outreach activities and international centers. It also integrates the Asian, Hellenic, Latin American and Latino, Middle East, and Human Rights and Democracy centers.

Since the strategic plan was adopted in 2011, the number of international students studying at Georgia State and the number of students studying abroad have increased. International students at Georgia State have increased from 1,574 in fall 2011 to 2,148 in fall 2015, providing students with the opportunity to live and learn with students from 157 countries.

The largest numbers of Georgia State’s international students come from China, India, and Korea, mirroring national trends in international student enrollment.

Students who participate in study abroad opportunities have increased from 636 in 2011 to 836 in 2015. Georgia State faculty-led study abroad program offerings have increased from 32 in 2011 to 52 in 2015. Study Abroad Programs award more than $1 million in Georgia State study abroad scholarship support to allow those students who have limited opportunities to live and study abroad, thanks in part to the mandatory student international education fee approved by Georgia State students. The number of study abroad scholarship awards has increased from 356 International Education Fee scholarship recipients in 2011 to 541 in 2015, and from four Global Experience Scholarship recipients in 2011 to 54 in 2015.

New international programs have been created to increase Georgia State’s international educational footprint, including the Guangzhou Overseas High School Program, the Southwest Jiaotong University 2+2 Biology Program, the University of International Business and Economics 1+1 MBA and MPA Dual Degree program and the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program.

A Faculty Mentoring Program for Visiting Scholars was created to assist interested partners with professional development for their faculty. The program encourages cross-cultural exchange and builds research networks for mentees and mentors.

Since 2013, 18 international faculty scholars have been mentored on campus by their Georgia State peers.

A four-week Summer Institute was created in 2012 to give opportunities to more than 40 Georgia State faculty to teach international students at Georgia State. Since its inception, more than 300 international students have come to Georgia State during the summer semester to participate in the program. More than 150 Georgia State students also have participated in the Global Ambassador Program, where they serve as a cultural liaison between the international students and Georgia State, attend special events and local excursions, facilitate small-group outings and host “Dinner in America” in homes. Global Ambassadors earn a leadership certificate and strengthen their intercultural communication and leadership abilities, increase global networks and learn more about different cultures and languages.

2016 Initiative 4: Leverage Atlanta’s global footprint to further the global perspective of students, faculty, and staff through experiential learning, research, and community engagement.

Building upon our previous successes, additional activities could include distinctive internships with international businesses and non-profit organizations located in Atlanta, invitations for international representatives to lecture in global courses, and faculty/staff-supervised student research on global issues.