University Times

Pitt’s commitment to international education and the strength of its global programs has been recognized with the 2017 Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization.

The award is given by NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

The University Center for International Studies (UCIS) coordinates implementation of Pitt’s global plan. It is home to the Office of International Services, the Study Abroad Office, the Nationality Rooms program and six area and thematic studies centers: the African studies program, the Asian Studies Center, the Center for Latin American Studies, the Center for Russian and East European Studies, the European Studies Center and the Global Studies Center.

Pitt’s international education achievements also include:

• Embracing the World: A Global Plan for Pitt, which serves as a road map for the University and coordinates international efforts.

• The Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute, which allows Chinese students to complete their engineering degree in both Chengdu, China, and Pittsburgh.

• Agreements for Pitt’s health sciences in Italy, Ireland, China and Kazakhstan for teaching opportunities as well as medical, nursing and pharmacy rotations.

• More than 100 research collaborations across Pitt that link faculty with colleagues abroad.

• A study-abroad program, in which more than 1,800 students participate annually. More than 80 faculty members facilitate close to 100 study-abroad programs.

• Living-learning communities within student residences dedicated to global themes or mandating global programming.

• Attracting close to 6,000 international students, faculty, staff and visiting scholars from more than 100 countries.

• Platforms to support global operations including partnerships with international universities and organizations and faculty in-country research and collaborative projects.

• Home to the Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies; the Latin American Studies Association and the European Union Studies Association.

The other institutions receiving the award are Florida State University, the University of Iowa and Santa Monica College.