Looking Back on 2020
Although 2020 was certainly an 'unprecedented' year' for everyone, we took a thoughtful look back to see if there were lessons to be learned. Here are some takeaways that we hope to carry into 2021 and beyond.
Looking Back on 2020
Although 2020 was certainly an 'unprecedented' year' for everyone, we took a thoughtful look back to see if there were lessons to be learned. Here are some takeaways that we hope to carry into 2021 and beyond.
A Year of Resilience
Spring 2020 semester started off just fine...and then came March.
After their programs ended abruptly, students who had been studying abroad had to find a way to finish their semester in the "new normal." Read how Emma LaGuardia, Sophie Mather, and Martin Ganev made the best of the situation.
In some cases, students were able to resume international internships from the US. Julie Eagle and Jake McCorkle were among the students who were able to make the shift.
Intergroup Dialogue classes quickly moved to remote delivery, in a time of international turmoil. Voices of Discovery Not Muted by COVID.
Despite travel restrictions and COVID protocols, approximately 30 MUDEC students completed a memorable fall semester in Luxembourg. Marketing major John Strozsak gave us the inside scoop back in Oxtober.
A Year of Achievement
- The May announcement of the 2020-2021 Fulbright Awards: Miami receives 10 Fulbright grant offers: a new record
- How a Global Mindset Helps a Miami Alum Cultivate Social Justice
- Six Miami students named Gilman Scholars
- Guinigundo and Raval Awarded Internationalization Grant
Gilman, DEI taskforce, internationalization grant, MUDEC semester
A Year of Creativity and Connection
Along with the rest of the university community, Global Initiatives staff learned how to Zoom, Meet, and WebEx so we could continue advising and programming that would have taken place in person.
- A Fall Study Abroad Fair took place, along with numerous presentations about study abroad options.
- International Education Week, International Education Week 2020 Goes Virtual
- Samantha Arner had been planning to travel to Australia for the Project Dragonfly Global Field Studies Graduate Program in Summer 2020. She says, "While I was devastated about not getting the opportunity to travel abroad, a virtual course gave me the opportunity to network with organizations I would have otherwise never had the opportunity to." Read Samantha's story: Where in the World is Miami Wednesday: Virtually in Kenya
- Intercultural Corner Introducing Intercultural Corner
Zoom & Instagram events, IEW
Looking to the future
With the availability of a vaccine, hopes are high for international travel. Plans for Summer 2021 include options at MUDEC (Luxembourg) and approximately 25 other faculty-led study abroad/away programs. Browse offerings at MiamiOH.edu/SummerAbroad and plan to attend our virtual presentation at 2 pm on January 26, A New Dawn for Study Abroad: Planning for International Travel in the Near Future.
- 8 Benefits of Semester Study Abroad through Co-Sponsored and Exchange Programs
- Many universities began exploring ways to offer virtual study abroad programs, and Miami was no exception. You'll see more of these inclusive and affordable offerings going forward: Introducing 'MiamiConnects' Virtual Study Abroad Experience
- And in case you were wondering, our Spring 2021 MUDEC students will be heading to Differdange very soon!