Category: International Main

Intercultural Experience Showcase

Intercultural Experience Showcase

On Tuesday, April 13, University of Alabama students presented posters highlighting their experiences from the CIP 202 course, Introduction to Global and Cultural Perspectives. This is an intercultural experience course that offers UA students the chance to meet with international students from all over the world. The UA students join English Language Institute (ELI) students to discuss cultural and current topics. The course provides the opportunity for the students to develop their intercultural competence, the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with people of other cultures.

Many of the students expressed that their biggest fear before joining the course was that they would say something inappropriate. However, once the course began, students quickly overcame this fear and began to form connections with the international students. UA students expressed surprise by how easily they could communicate with students from other countries and the many similarities they shared. Several UA students commented that this was their favorite class of the semester. As one student put it, it is a “life experience” class, not just a class focusing on a textbook. UA students felt that this class gave them confidence to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people in the future. For some students, the course led to an interest in studying abroad.

The ELI students benefit from the course as well. They have the opportunity to share their culture while learning more about U.S. culture and campus life.

Kelly McPherson, the course instructor, said, “It is really exciting to see the relationships between the American and international students grow over the course of the semester. You can see change on both sides as they truly get to know each other.”

The CIP 202 course is an introductory course for UA’s Global and Cultural Perspectives Minor.

Intercultural Experience Showcase

Three UA Students Earn Critical Language Scholarship

Three University of Alabama students have received the Critical Language Scholarship to study overseas during summer 2021.

The Critical Language Scholarship, or CLS program, is part of a U.S. State Department effort to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages. CLS scholars gain critical language and cultural skills that enable them to contribute to U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.

Headshot of Jackson Burns.
Jackson Burns

Jackson Burns, a political science major from Sand Rock, Alabama, will study Mandarin in an online program based in Dalian, China. Burns, who is minoring in global and cultural perspectives, is an Honors College student and recipient of an Education Abroad grant. He was previously an English language partner in Ansan, Korea, in summer 2019, studied abroad in Chengdu, China, in spring 2020 and studied abroad in Seoul, Korea, in spring 2021. Burns plans to continue furthering his education and work in diplomacy or law one day.

Headshot of Ann Williams.
Ann Williams

Ann Williams, an international relations major from Montgomery, Alabama, will study Mandarin at Shaanxi Normal University in Xi’an, China, through a virtual program. Williams, who is minoring in Chinese and women’s studies, is in the accelerated master’s program in public administration and is part of the Blount Scholars Program. Previously, she participated in the National Security Language Initiative for Youth, or NISL-Y, program in 2015 in Xiamen, China, interned with the U.S. State Department last year, and just wrapped up a job as under-secretary-general at the National High School Model United Nations, the biggest Model UN conference in the world, aiding in the success of its first virtual format. She hopes to gain fluency in Mandarin and work as a foreign service officer or with a human rights nonprofit.

Headshot of Samuel Watson.
Samuel Watson

Samuel Watson, a computer science major with a concentration in cybersecurity from Hazel Green, Alabama, will study Korean at Chonnam National University in Gwangju, South Korea. Watson, who is minoring in Korean, is also a recipient of the Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship and the Boren Scholarship, through which he spent seven months studying at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, in 2017. In addition, he served as a college-level English instructor at Ansan University in Ansan, South Korea, in 2019, and is currently participating in a software engineering co-op at ADTRAN. Watson plans to further develop his Korean proficiency, and upon graduation from UA, he hopes to secure a cybersecurity position within the U.S. government.

In addition, two UA students were chosen as alternates. Elena Guerra, from Littleton, Colorado, is an alternate to study Russian, and Quinn Lee, from Montgomery, Alabama, is an alternate to study Mandarin.

The CLS program provides scholarships to U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to spend eight to 10 weeks overseas studying one of 14 critical languages, including Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Swahili, Turkish or Urdu.

The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains. CLS scholars are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship and apply their critical language skills in their future careers.

Students interested in Critical Language Scholarships, Boren Scholarships or Fulbright Awards may contact the Capstone International Center at cic@ua.edu for more information.

Contact: Melissa Parker, UA communications, melissa.parker@ua.edu

UA Named a Student Fulbright Top Producer, Sets University Record

Fulbright_Top-Student Logo
For the fifth time in six years, UA was recognized as a Top Producing Institution for Fulbright U.S. Student Awards.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.  — For the fifth time in six years, The University of Alabama was recognized as a Top Producing Institution for Fulbright U.S. Student Awards while setting a new University record with 17 students receiving Fulbright Award offers in the 2020-2021 cohort.

“We are immensely proud of our student Fulbright scholars, all of whom have earned a priceless opportunity to teach and conduct research in other countries,” said UA President Stuart R. Bell. “Not only will they grow personally and intellectually by building relationships with likeminded peers across cultures, they are also furthering UA’s mission of transforming lives throughout the world through distinctive academic and research projects.”

Now in its 75th year, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the premier educational exchange program of the United States Department of State. The Fulbright Award offers grants for independent study and research and for English teaching assistantships overseas. The highly competitive program selects about 2,200 award recipients from more than 10,000 applicants each year.

“UA’s repeated recognition as a Top Producer of Student Fulbright Awards reflects the quality of our applicants and the dedication of our faculty and staff to providing all students with a global perspective during their time at the Capstone,” said Dr. Teresa Wise, associate provost for International Education & Global Outreach. “The challenges of the pandemic have altered our delivery methods but not our devotion to offering a world-class and world-focused education.”

The UA students who received Fulbright Award offers in this year’s national competition are: Christine Allen (Spain), Austin Blair (Germany), Mason Olivia Blanke (Poland), Camille Carr (Colombia), Julia Coursey (Hungary), Caroline Smith Dean (Spain), Isabella Rose DeSheplo (Bulgaria), Lota Erinne (Spain), Logan Fenhouse (Spain), Amelia Wyant Gaither (Taiwan), Robert “Chad” Hankins (Germany), Asia Hayes (Spain), Joshua Kirks (Germany), Katherine Lightfoot (Germany), Ashley Tickle Odebiyi (Italy), Rebecca Paholski (Spain) and Ian Samlowski (Germany).

“These brilliant students deserve admiration for their dedication to their studies, and our university takes pride in their Fulbright honors,” said Dr. Beverly Hawk, director of global and community engagement in the Division of Community Affairs’ Center for Community-Based Partnerships. “We wish them all success as international travel resumes, educational institutions reopen, and winners have the opportunity to go abroad and serve.”

Students with an interest in applying for next year’s Fulbright competition can learn more at international.ua.edu and us.fulbrightonline.org, or by sending an email to fulbright@ua.edu to reach the UA Fulbright advising team: Megan Wagner, Dr. Matthew Feminella and Dr. Beverly Hawk.

Contact: Diane Kennedy-Jackson, UA Community Affairs, dkkennedy1@ua.edu

Preparing for a Life-Changing Journey Abroad

Two UA students stand in front of B.B. Comer Hall.
Mariah Muhammad and Bailee Hughes are two of this year’s Gilman International Scholarship recipients.

There are countless ways to make a college experience memorable. But for two sophomores at The University of Alabama, they expect their most life-changing moment will come this fall, as they travel across the world to study abroad.

Mariah Muhammad and Bailee Hughes are recipients of this year’s Gilman International Scholarship, a program designed to increase access to study abroad opportunities for students with financial constraints who might not have otherwise participated.

As transfer students, they both came to UA for the greater opportunities it offered them, like education abroad. Even though the classmates have some things in common, they will embark on two different journeys this fall, in different countries, on different continents.

Muhammad, a Hoover, Alabama, native, is preparing to study in South Korea for the year. An international studies major and Korean minor, she believes her experiences there will be defining for her future.

“Being a global citizen is a life-long journey,” said Muhammad, who is a member of UA’s Model UN team and hopes to one day work for the United Nations. “Studying abroad is more than just going to another country. It’s about being open to new experiences and seeing the world from a different and global perspective.”

UA student stands in front of B.B. Comer Hall.
“I want to be an inspirational figure to minorities and show that anything is possible, no matter what obstacles are standing in your way.” Mariah Muhammad

Muhammad plans to spend her time abroad learning more about the Korean culture and language.

“I hope to better connect with the locals by studying their language so that I can make a greater impact while I’m there,” said Muhammad, who also received Gilman’s Critical Need Language Award, which offers additional scholarship funds to students studying critical languages while abroad.

Thousands of miles away, Hughes will travel to the United Kingdom, where she plans to further explore two things she’s passionate about — mental health and true crime. The Lexington, Kentucky, native hopes the experience will give her a competitive edge in the future.

“One goal of mine is to be an FBI agent,” said Hughes, a psychology major, minoring in women’s studies and African American studies, who plans to eventually pursue a doctorate in forensic psychology. “But my ultimate career aspiration is to open a criminal justice nonprofit, where we’d assist in criminal cases, and educate and advocate for mental health, criminal justice reform and minorities. I’m confident the experience abroad will give me knowledge and understanding in this field.”

A UA student stands in front of B.B. Comer Hall.
“I want to do things that I am passionate about that fulfill me, like fighting for overall equity and standing up for my beliefs.” Bailee Hughes

Hughes, who is involved in a number of organizations at UA, including Women of Excellence and the Women and Gender Resource Center, is also passionate about educating and advocating on behalf of animals and homelessness, which she plans to incorporate into her future endeavors.

Both Muhammad and Hughes have concerns about studying abroad during a pandemic, including a potential cancellation, but they’re preparing to make the most of whatever situation they’re given.

“I believe everything happens for a reason,” said Hughes, who plans to apply for the scholarship again next year if the trip is canceled.

Added Muhammad, who has firsthand experience after receiving the scholarship last year and having her trip canceled due to COVID-19, “It’s definitely a good lesson in adapting to unexpected circumstances. Always make a plan B, just in case plan A doesn’t work out.”

Contact: Melissa Parker, UA communications, melissa.parker@ua.edu

Model UN Team Wins at the National Collegiate Security Conference

January 22, 2021

This past weekend the Alabama Model United Nations Team competed at the 48th National Collegiate Security Conference hosted by Georgetown University. The 12 delegates representing the University of Alabama debated in a wide array of committees ranging from anti-terrorism policies to Chinese direct foreign investments in Tanzania. The team won three individual awards, a strong start to the spring season.

In Margaret Thatcher’s Cabinet 1980, Freshman Ash Lussier tackled three primary issues: inflation, the IRA, and Afghanistan. While seemingly simple, the committee quickly evolved into power grabs in South America, new militias being formed, and even the royal family being accused of working for the Soviet Union! Ash’s performance as Ambassador Sir Nicholas Henderson led to her winning a Verbal Commendation – her second award of the season!

Freshman Sean Atchison earned his third win of the season with a verbal commendation competing in the Asamblea Legislativa of El Salvador, 1993. Delegates were tasked with solving various crises plaguing the country such as police violence, economic free fall, and a broken system of government. Though the committee’s prerogative seemed impossible to solve, delegates created and passed innovative solutions like building a community based policing program and a clinical rehabilitation system. In the end, the Asamblea Legislativa of El Salvador passed two resolutions that would revolutionize the nation.

In the French Third Republic 1871 JCC, Head Delegate Sarah Conrad addressed the rising of the Paris Commune and treaty negotiations in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War. The committee worked to free POWs, bolster alliances with Britain and Austria and debated the role of the French colonies. Sarah won Best Delegate representing Foreign Affairs Minister Jules Favre.

The competition hosted over 500 talented delegates from across the nation and the weekend was a test of historical knowledge, creativity, and policy creation. Alabama competed against delegates from 30 universities including Harvard College, The University of Chicago, and Florida International University. We are so proud of all that the team has accomplished so far and look forward to the rest of the spring season!

Up next for the Model UN team is the McGill Model United Nations Assembly January  28th-31st. Students interested in learning about Model UN can attend a meeting of the Alabama International Relations Club. Meetings are currently being held over zoom on  Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm. Information can also be found at https://international.ua.edu/airc/.

UA’s Model UN team is part of the Capstone International Center’s Alabama International Relations Club. The Model UN team is the cornerstone of the AIRC, the premier student-led global affairs organization at UA that continuously provides opportunities for its members to learn, develop, find community and make an impact at the Capstone and the world beyond.

Sarah Conrad
Sean Atchison
Ash Lussier

Permanent Residents in Tuscaloosa

ELI student Abduljabar from Yemen

ELI student Abduljabar from Yemen

The English Language Institute serves not only students on student visas but also international permanent residents of Tuscaloosa.

Abdulwanab Fadhel, 35, has just completed the ELI program. He escaped the war in Yemen in 2016 and came to Tuscaloosa two years later. Abdulwanab established a store here and is improving his English to better conduct business and to pursue a master’s degree in law.

Abduljabar Saleh, 18, also left Yemen because of the war. At the age of 13, he went to Jordan and then graduated from high school in Turkey. In the fall of 2020, he joined his father, a businessman in Tuscaloosa, and began his studies at the ELI. Abduljabar hopes to earn a degree in international business law and improve the conditions in Yemen.

Abdulwanab summed up the ELI experience by saying, “Y’all made a change in us that could never be forgotten.”

Drive to Succeed at Home and Abroad

From UA News | December 1, 2020

When Austin Pearson came to The University of Alabama, he didn’t speak a word of German. Three years later, he was sitting in conference rooms at Mercedes’ headquarters in Germany, participating in meetings spoken in German about the company’s newest car models.

A man sits on concrete stairs for a portrait.
Austin Pearson has already begun his graduate studies.

Pearson took part in a unique program at The University of Alabama, learning German alongside his engineering courses while working for Mercedes-Benz in Alabama and in Germany.

Offered through the UA College of Engineering, Two Steps Ahead: International German Student Exchange Program is designed for a select group of students to gain experience with multi-national companies in automotive engineering while learning German. It is a huge reason why Person left the Chicago, Illinois, area to come to UA.

“I’m happy that I chose to come here and be a part of this program,” he said. “The whole experience opened my eyes, and learning a new language and going abroad was a great experience.”

Pearson graduates with his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and German this semester, and has already begun his graduate studies toward a doctorate.

He came to UA in 2016 never studying German, but was quickly immersed in his German major while beginning his engineering studies. After his sophomore year, he worked the summer at Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, an automotive manufacturing facility near UA. He interned as a process engineer in the paint and body shop helping improve output and troubleshooting technical and automation issues that arose.

A man poses in front a castle in Europe.
Pearson visited Nüremberg during his year in Germany.

He continued his engineering studies, even taking an automotive engineering course taught in German by Dr. Bharat Balasubramanian, an engineering professor who was vice president of Daimler AG’s group research and advanced engineering before joining UA.

In fall 2018, Pearson moved to Germany to study for a semester at Hochschule Esslingen, University of Applied Sciences, and work for Mercedes in Stuttgart in project management during the spring and summer of 2019.

“It was really cool seeing what goes into these cars,” Pearson said. “You think about what goes into a car, especially a Mercedes S-Class with all its complexity and detail, it was a great learning experience to work with the engineers on the project.”

The deep cultural immersion that came with a year in Germany was worth the hard work it took to be part of UA’s program, he said.

“I have a great respect for people who come to the U.S. to study,” he said.

For now, Person envisions a path in research, having worked in the lab of Dr. Kalyan Srinivasan, associate professor of mechanical engineering, on internal combustion engines. He will continue studying under Srinivasan as a graduate student.

His undergraduate research work culminated with being selected as one of two undergraduate winners for his virtual presentation at the 2020 Fall Technical Conference of the Internal Combustion Engine Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Learn more about the Fall 2020 graduating class on UA’s commencement page.

Starting Your English Success (YES!) Online

Starting Your English Success (YES!) Online

This fall the English Language Institute (ELI) at UA is starting a new online 3-week certificate course program called Your English Success (YES!) Online.

The YES! Online program is for anyone who wants to improve their English skills. It is easy to enroll, and no visas or placement tests are needed. The courses include the following:

  • 2 hours of Zoom class meetings
  • 2 additional hours of activities/tutoring per week
  • Personal attention and feedback from teachers who have master’s degrees in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
  • Certificate following successful completion of the program

There are two courses beginning October 13. These courses will be offered at different times in order to allow people living in different time zones to study easily.

  • Pronunciation Skills
  • Business English Topics

Another two courses will be November 12.

  • Intermediate Speaking & Listening
  • Advanced Speaking & Listening

For more information about YES Online, visit the ELI’s website: https://international.ua.edu/eli/yes/

UA’s Model UN Team Starts the Year Strong

September 20, 2020

The Alabama International Relations Club’s traveling Model United Nations team proved that even Covid-19 could not stop their momentum with a strong start to the 2020-2021 season. Despite a moratorium on travel and the adaptation to zoom debates, the team managed to win seven awards. The 24 delegates selected to represent Alabama at ElonMUN, hosted by Elon University, competed in three committees centered on the topic of immigration. These delegates, all new to collegiate Model UN, represent the next generation of the Alabama International Relations Club.

In the African Union committee, the delegates responded to terrorism across the continent, the role of authoritarian regimes, and the desertification of the Sahel. Debate focused on resources for refugees fleeing Boko Haram and those impacted by environmental disasters. Alabama delegates dominated the debate and took home all three awards in the committee. Freshman Shrishti Dubey awarded Best Delegate (1st place) representing Ethiopia. Freshmen Turner Koch, representing South Africa, and Abigail Brewer, representing Chad, brought home the Outstanding Delegate (2nd place) and Honorable Mention (3rd place) respectively.

In the Viva Italia? Migration, Politics and the Chaos of Italy Committee delegates discussed the impact of immigrants on the Italian economy and the consequences of accepting versus rejecting immigrants. The Alabama delegates shined brightly compared to their competitors, leading debate and progressing the committee to its peak, where the nation left the European Union. In her first ever Model UN Conference, freshman Ash Lussier took home the Best Delegate award, representing the Minister of the Interior, and junior Elle Sauli won the Honorable Mention representing the Minister of Health.

Several Alabama Delegates also competed in Erdogan’s Dilemma: The Growing Pressure of Migration in Turkey. Delegates were tasked with solving the complex issues of migration in Turkey while simultaneously dealing with different social and political crises. After successfully overthrowing the Foreign Minister, this committee established a successful plan to address the migration issue by redirecting funds and establishing new immigration protocols.  Junior Carolyn Adams won Best Delegate representing Burak Özügergin and Julian Wyatt won the Honorable Mention representing Feleknas Una.

After finishing the 2019-2020 school year ranked #25 in the World Division of Collegiate MUN, the team has started the fall semester with an exceptionally strong performance. With the lack of conferences due to the pandemic, the team hopes to continue to build up its new talent for the spring season.

Up next for the Model UN team is Florida State University’s Regional Training Conference September 25th-27th. Students interested in learning about Model UN can attend a meeting of the Alabama International Relations Club (AIRC). Meetings are currently being held over zoom on Thursday evenings at 7:00pm. Information can also be found at https://international.ua.edu/airc/.

UA’s Model UN team is part of the Capstone International Center’s Alabama International Relations Club. The Model UN is the cornerstone of the AIRC, the premier student-led global affairs organization at UA that continuously provides opportunities for its members to learn, develop, find community and make an impact at the Capstone and the world beyond.

UA Students Win Gilman International Awards

Ten University of Alabama students were awarded scholarships through the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program during the 2019-2020 academic year.

“The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship allows students to study abroad who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints,” said Carolina Robinson, director of Education Abroad at UA’s Capstone International Center. “We are thrilled that we had 10 UA students selected as recipients for this award.”

Recipients were selected by the Institute of International Education through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of State.

UA awardees include India Cary, of Louisville, Kentucky, selected to study in the Czech Republic; Koriella Graham, of Tuscaloosa, selected to study in Italy; Opal Khotsombath, of Montgomery, selected to study in South Korea; Meredith Mosley, of Union Grove, selected to study in Belgium; Michael Murphy, of Mount Prospect, Illinois, selected to study in Spain; Victoria Oldham, of Belleville, Illinois, selected to study in France; Paris Powell, of Mableton, Georgia, selected to study in Greece; Teagan Stanley, of Columbia, South Carolina, selected to spend a semester at sea visiting 11 countries; and Connor Todd, of Tuscaloosa, selected to study in Jordan.

Nicole Arnold, of The Colony, Texas, was selected as an alternate for the award to study in the Czech Republic.

In addition, Meredith Ward, of Niceville, Florida, was selected as a recipient of the Gilman-McCain Scholarship to study in Italy.

The Gilman-McCain Scholarship, a congressionally funded initiative of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and named after the late senator John S. McCain, provides awards to child dependents of active service members to study or intern abroad.

“Our Education Abroad office invests heavily in increasing awareness and supporting students in refining their stories and scholarship applications,” said Robinson. “Our efforts are paid off with each student who wins a scholarship, which allows them the incredible opportunity to experience a new country and culture.”

Students interested in educational opportunities around the globe can visit Education Abroad.