麻豆传媒映画

麻豆传媒映画 has received a 2025 Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization from NAFSA: Association of International Education, recognizing the university鈥檚 emphasis on preparing global ready graduates.

With more than 10,000 members, NAFSA is the largest non-profit organization worldwide for international education and exchange. 麻豆传媒映画 joins Penn State, University of Arizona, University of Georgia and Notre Dame in landing the prestigious Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization this year.

Providing global opportunities to students and faculty have been woven into the fabric of 麻豆传媒映画 for decades, with the university receiving a similar NAFSA award in 2003 and consistently ranking in the top 25 nationally for students studying abroad.

This latest honor comes after an overhaul initiated by President Adela de la Torre to sharpen 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 focus on binational efforts given the university鈥檚 position along the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as broader efforts to develop graduates prepared for global careers.

The modernization includes combining disparate functions under the umbrella of 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 International Affairs unit; investing in binational and global education diplomacy initiatives; creating the only position in the California State University system solely focused on managing safety for foreign travel; strengthening platforms to help international students transition to the U.S. higher education system; and re-focusing global education pathways (study abroad) to emphasize academics and inclusion.

鈥淲e鈥檝e added pillars around global education access, cultural and linguistic diversity, and safety,鈥� said Cristina Alfaro, associate vice president of 麻豆传媒映画 International Affairs. 鈥淎dditionally, we have elevated our commitment to international education diplomacy, research, and transborder engagement with our neighbors in Mexico.鈥�

Named after the late U.S. Senator Paul Simon of Illinois, the celebrates outstanding innovation and accomplishment in campus internationalization.

In addition to the comprehensive award winners, NAFSA recognized Saint Louis University, University of Arkansas Little Rock and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with Spotlight Awards for specific internationalization programs.

鈥淲e are thrilled to receive the 2025 Simon Award from NAFSA, and we offer our heartfelt congratulations to our colleagues across the nation for their NAFSA internationalization recognition,鈥� said Alfaro.

The university鈥檚 education diplomacy is exemplified through , a collaboration with universities in the Republic of Georgia to offer accredited STEM degrees to address workforce shortages. 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 Oaxaca Center for Mesoamerican Studies, which opened in 2022, has become a hub for research and study abroad programs in public health, education, Indigenous languages, sustainable food and more.

Another cornerstone of 麻豆传媒映画 internationalization is its geographic location near Mexico. The university offers many cross-border experiences, creating access for students unable to travel to more distant locations.

鈥淪tudents, faculty and staff choose to come to 麻豆传媒映画 because we think and act globally,鈥� said Noah Hansen, senior director of 麻豆传媒映画 International Affairs. 鈥溌槎勾�媒映画 students want a global education and they are getting out to study, explore, and to do research in the world.鈥�

For study abroad, the university has focused on academics, safety, and access. 麻豆传媒映画 provided $917,000 in grants to help students pursue studying abroad last year. Working closely with 麻豆传媒映画 colleges, study abroad advisors strive to find international experiences relevant to students鈥� academic paths and collaborate with academic departments to pre-approve academics abroad.

鈥淪ince the restructure, we put in place a college-focused global education advising model that has helped us move away from "where do you want to go?" during advising, and focus first on "what is your major?鈥� and 鈥渨hat are your goals for the experience?鈥� said Chris Kjonaas, head of 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 Global Education Office.

The strategy is getting results. This spring, the university has seen a 40% increase in students going abroad compared with pre-pandemic levels.

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麻豆传媒映画 has welcomed 14,000 international students from 118 countries over the past decade and offers myriad services designed to knit international students into the 麻豆传媒映画 campus community.

鈥淭ransitioning to a new country and education system can be overwhelming, so support and guidance are critical during this time,鈥� said Ricky Paniagua, director of the International Student Center (ISC). 鈥淭he ISC provides this to students, so they feel empowered and part of the 麻豆传媒映画 community during this transition period and beyond.鈥�

Institutions selected for the Simon Awards will be featured in NAFSA's report, 鈥�,鈥� to be published this fall. They also will be honored during NAFSA鈥檚 2025 Annual Conference & Expo, May 27-30 at the San Diego Convention Center.

鈥淔or more than two decades, the Simon Award has stood as a hallmark of excellence in campus internationalization, and this year鈥檚 recipients continue that proud tradition,鈥� said Fanta Aw, NAFSA executive director and CEO. 鈥淭he inclusion of minority serving institutions and public land-grant universities among the honorees underscores that global education can thrive in a variety of institutional settings.鈥�