USF World -- Global Achievement Award - Early Adopter of Virtual Global Exchange

It was a treat to celebrate the global achievements of USF at the USF World Global Excellence Awards ceremony on the USF Tampa campus.

I arrived late (after presenting virtually at the conference in  Chisinau - see this blog post) and left early  (to get back to St Pete for my US Constitutional Law class) -- but --  I did have the opportunity to hear from student recipients of the Genshaft/Greenbaum scholarships (especially enjoyed hearing about one student's archeological research in Romania), to see President Genshaft honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, to re-connect with the Fulbrighter from Moldova, and to learn more about the global reach of USF.

One aspect that was recognized at the event was the impact that faculty have had in developing Virtual Global Exchanges. I was honored to be recognized as an "Early Adopter." 

More than 10 years ago, I developed, along with my colleague Svetlana Suveica (then at) the Moldova State University's American Studies Center (see this blog post from Fall 2011 semester) my first "global classroom" project.

Since then, I have partnered with colleagues throughout the Middle East (see this blog post about our work with Raya and the Women Lawyer's Group blog post) (2012, 2014)

with Professor Gabriel Andreescu of the Scoala Nationala de Studii Politice si Adminstrative (SNSPA) in Bucharest, Romania (blog post) (2015)

Professor Karolina Rostova-Aasterud of UKIM in Skopje, North Macedonia  (blog post) (2018)

Professor Blerim Reka former Vice Rector of South East European University in Skopje, North Macedonia (see this blog post and blog post) in 2018

Professor Jusuf Zejneli (now Dean of the Faculty of Law) of the University of Tetova in Tetovo, North Macedonia (blog post) (2020)

and most recently with colleague Larisa Patlis at ULIM in Chisina, Moldova- with special thanks to Vice Rector Valentina Ciumacenco and professor Elena Margineau (2022) (blog post)

I am so grateful to these brilliant colleagues and their students. This award recognition belongs to them as well.

It takes a great deal of planning and additional effort and flexibility to organize these programs -- on the part of the faculty colleagues and on the part of the student researchers -- but how rewarding for all involved. 

Creating a "global classroom" provides a way to internationalize the curriculum and a way for students to develop relationships with students overseas without leaving their home campuses. Students develop global citizenship competencies while learning more about the course content.

Wonderful to see this Fulbrighter from Moldova (we met previously at the Fulbright Welcome Reception in August)

I spy the Moldovan flag on this centerpiece!

student recipients of the Genshaft/Greenbaum scholarship describing what the award for international travel meant to them. I was especially interested in the archeological research conducted by the student who traveled to Romania

President Genshaft receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award for her tremendous leadership

ULIM's Symposia Investigatio Bibliotheca conference "Libraries in the 21st Century: Gateway to a Progressive and Integrated Society"

 It was an honor to present with ULIM colleague Larisa Patlis during the Symposia Investigatio Bibliotheca, "Libraries in the 21st Century: Gateway to a Progressive and Integrated Society."

During our presentation - “Creating a Global Classroom: Developing Collaborative Legal Research Partnerships for Undergraduate Students in the U.S. and Moldova" -- we talked about the role of libraries in developing students' civic literacy and global citizenship skills.  It was a pleasure to discuss the research accomplishments of the USF - ULIM students from our "global classroom" during the Spring 2022 semester.  It was wonderful to be back at ULIM, if only virtually.