APLU Honors Two Institutions for International Impact

Orlando, FL – In recognition of extraordinary global teaching, learning, and engagement efforts, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) today named the University of Florida and San Diego State University as winners of the 2024 International Impact Awards.

“Congratulations to the University of Florida and San Diego State University on winning the APLU International Impact Awards,” said APLU President Mark Becker. “We’re delighted to recognize public research universities that are major drivers of progress through their global efforts both on campus and abroad.”

The awards recognize results in three categories across the institution:

• Widespread Global Engagement— how the institution empowers all stakeholders in its global efforts;
• Institutional Commitment—how the institution’s leadership (at the president/chancellor or provost level) is committed to global efforts, and how they make them a priority for the institution;
• Assessment—how the institution measures participation and impact.

Background on the award winners:

University of Florida
The University of Florida (UF) won the APLU International Impact Award for Global Teaching & Learning, which recognizes innovative and impactful efforts to increase global learning on campus and with partners. UF has advanced a multipronged strategy to significantly expand access to global learning experiences for students in any major and from any socioeconomic background.

The university’s International Scholars Program provides study abroad alternatives that do not require cross-border travel, expanding the group of students to whom global learning opportunities are available, with a particular focus on first-generation and low-income students. The university’s Virtual Exchange initiative also provides courses in collaboration with international partners, reaching more than 5,000 UF students since 2018. The university also supports paid faculty development programs to support faculty globalizing their curriculum and maintain a global learning community to advance best practices in intercultural learning.

San Diego State University
San Diego State University (SDSU) won the APLU International Impact Award for Global Engagement in recognition of its exceptional efforts in fostering global connections both on and off campus. SDSU has advanced a variety of international collaborations to help deliver the transformational impact of higher education in Mexico, Eastern Europe, and Micronesia. The university’s Oaxaca Center for Mesoamerican Studies in Mexico operates as a hub for education, research opportunities, and public health engagement. For a decade, the university partnered with Tbilisi State University, Ilia State University, and Georgian Technical University to offer bachelor’s degrees in critical STEM fields. SDSU also has partnered with a community college in the country of Palau since 2005 to educate more than 250 graduates who are now educators and community leaders. SDSU’s global engagement is centered on long-standing collaborations with partners in Baja California. The Re:Border Conference brought nearly 1,000 people to campus this fall to tackle challenges facing the Cali-Baja region. SDSU has provided 41 transborder academic programs and global seminars in Mexico and Latin America in the past two years.