With an eye toward the global economy, seven historically Black colleges and universities will participate in a new national initiative to help HBCUs expand their international programs and partnerships while enhancing global learning activities on their own campuses.
The universities were named to the new Creating Global Citizens: Exploring Internationalization of HBCUs project, jointly funded by the U.S. Department of Education and the American Council on Education (ACE). After conducting a competition among Black colleges, ACE announced the winning participants Jan. 21.
The seven participants—Dillard University, Howard University, Lincoln University of Missouri, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Savannah State University, Tuskegee University and Virginia State University—will work with an ACE project team to review their current international programs and explore new ideas.
While there are no monetary grants to the institutions, university leaders will have access to technical assistance and will travel to conferences to talk with experts and each other about effective strategies.
“It’s an opportunity to interact with people who can help develop the best ideas,” said Wanda Lester, interim vice chancellor for academic affairs at North Carolina A&T. While the university already has an office of international programs and several partnerships, “We want to do more,” she told Diverse. “No matter where you are, you’re in a global society.”
Because of financial need, many HBCU students cannot participate in study abroad programs, she said. Yet in recent years, North Carolina A&T has launched “mini” study abroad programs, typically focused on service learning during spring break. Expanding these programs is one potential item on the university’s agenda for this program, she said.
Dillard University already has a well-established student and faculty exchange with post-secondary institutions in Chile, China, India and Germany, President Marvalene Hughes said. Yet this program will generate broader discussions among Dillard faculty about how to infuse international trends into courses on its New Orleans campus, she said. Hughes is particularly interested in adding a global perspective to courses in mathematics, economics, space studies and other scientific disciplines.
