Every day, our world grows more interconnected as technological, economic and cultural crosswinds create new interdependencies, touchpoints and exchanges. The University of Washington is preparing our students for the challenges and opportunities of working and living in a globally-connected economy, and we are deeply engaged in partnership, research, innovation and collaboration with academic colleagues and government and industry partners all over the world. Global engagement is not simply additive, it is a core part of our mission to foster innovation, address pressing global issues, and prepare the next generation for success, and why we are consistently ranked as one of the best global universities and a top producer of Fulbright Scholars.
Across our three campuses, global impact and engagement manifests in many ways. At UW Seattle, the Global Innovation Fund supports international, interdisciplinary research collaborations, and awarded more than $225,000 last year in seed funding for global research, learning, teaching and community building. At UW Tacoma, 2024 Global Initiatives Fellowships supported 11 UWT faculty and staff in developing new study abroad programming that engages historically marginalized students and/or underrepresented locations. At UW Bothell, the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) initiative has connected almost 1,500 UW students with peers in different countries through more than 50 COIL courses, and COIL/ Study Abroad Launch Grants will soon support two faculty teams in developing new COIL and study abroad offerings. And in anticipation of the Men’s FIFA World Cup arriving in Seattle in 2026, the Jackson School of International Studies and UW partners have created the Global Sport Lab, an interdisciplinary pilot program to teach students and the public about global affairs and connections through athletics.
Our campuses are teeming with opportunities for cross-cultural exchange for students. Through UW CIRCLE, we welcomed international students from more than 100 countries in the past year, and hosted over 100 events to foster cultural exchange with more scheduled for Winter quarter. For UW students, study abroad is more popular than ever: more than 2,800 students studied abroad in 2023-2024, with Huskies traveling to more than 70 countries and participating in more than 500 international study and internship opportunities. And our alumni continue to be involved in our thriving network of international Huskies that boasts more than 17 chapters and communities around the world.
Leading our global engagement strategy is the Office of Global Affairs, and next month, we are very excited to welcome our new Vice Provost for Global Affairs, Dr. Ahmad Ezzaddine. Ahmad will lead OGA’s work to enhance and expand the UW’s global partnerships, as well as collaborating with University partners to build a cohesive and campus-wide vision for global engagement.
For our students who will be competing for jobs in a global marketplace, and for the public who benefit from research that transcends borders, global engagement is critical for workforce preparedness and advancing new technologies, medicine and innovation. At the University of Washington, we are committed to making these connections a fundamental part of how we learn, discover, and lead.