We live in a world where increasing numbers of people cross national borders and where our biggest, most complex challenges are global in nature, requiring international cooperation and collaboration to develop real solutions. These global trends have created a world in which interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and cross-national learning, research, and engagement are basic requirements for excellence. Institutions who are able to prepare students-of-the-world and support global research and engagement will be the colleges and universities of the next century. Global diversity within our institutions is no longer just nice to have, but a scholarly and practical imperative.
The APLU Institutional Award for Global Learning, Research, and Engagement recognizes member institutions and their leaders who excel in their efforts to drive an inclusive approach to their global engagement, research, and learning, while measuring the impact of these efforts.
As an organization bringing together North America’s public and land-grant universities, APLU is committed to public service, to providing access to a high-quality global education and partnerships for all stakeholders, and to tackling global problems. APLU believes every member institution in North America must have numerous opportunities for significant global engagement — exploring the interconnections between people and places around the world and deepening their understanding of similarities and differences across the globe.
The award recognizes institutional results and demonstrated commitment during the last six years towards:
All APLU member institutions (not systems) are eligible to submit one application per year for the APLU Institutional Award for Global Learning, Research and Engagement. Past winners cannot re-apply for a four year period; finalists from previous years of this award are encouraged to re-apply. Only complete applications will be reviewed. For a list of APLU member institutions, please visit our members page.
Submissions for the award are due by Thursday, June 30, 2022 at 11:59 PM EDT. Each year, one winner of the APLU Institutional Award for Global Learning, Research and Engagement will be selected for receipt of the Platinum Institutional Award. In addition, APLU may award 1-3 “Gold Awards” for excellence in one or several of the four evaluation criteria for this award.
The Platinum Award winner and Gold awardees will be celebrated at the 2022 Annual Meeting in November. The Platinum Award winner is expected to produce a 2-minute video to present their efforts during the 2022 APLU Annual Meeting. The video will be used as part of the award ceremony and to highlight your experience to help foster further innovation and adoption of best practices across the higher education community.
A complete application will include the following elements:
All application materials should be combined into a single PDF file and submitted via email to Bernie Burrola, Vice President for International, Community, and Economic Engagement, at bburrola@aplu.org.
Abstract: Summarize how your university’s internationalization efforts have moved the conversation forward with respect to equity, diversity, and inclusivity; research and engagement; leadership and pervasiveness; and assessment, as described above. The abstract should be a concise description that can be used on the APLU website and in the APLU Annual Meeting program.
Section 1:
Demonstrate how your institution is committed to empowering all stakeholders to participate in global engagement activities. To the extent possible provide quantitative indicators of how inclusive your internationalization efforts have been to date and describe how you are working to improve equity, diversity and inclusivity across all dimensions—socio-economic or first-in-family status, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age or other categories your institution may monitor. When thinking about students, and recognizing that not all students cross international borders during their education, explain how your institution fosters “internationalization at home” and provide evidence of innovative approaches to inclusive global learning.
Section 2:
Provide concrete evidence demonstrating how inclusive internationalization is integral to your institution’s research and engagement missions. Provide evidence demonstrating how the institution supports internationalization of research and engagement activities and show the impact of your accomplishments in these areas. Engagement is defined as: “the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.”
Section 3:
Describe how your institution’s leadership makes internationalization a priority within the mission, vision, values, and organizational structure of the university. How does the leadership of your institution show its commitment to internationalization, particularly to internationalizing the curriculum? How does the administration work with faculty, staff, and students to foster a pervasive culture of internationalization? Describe the reach and breadth of your internationalization efforts.
Section 4:
How does your institution measure progress (towards increased inclusivity and pervasiveness of internationalization as well as other goals related to internationalization) and assess the outcomes/impact from internationalization? Applicants should include any key performance indicators in this section.
Applications may include up to five pages of additional relevant information.
Monday, March 7: Launch request for applications
Monday, March 7 – Thursday, June 30: Application preparation period
Monday, March 7 – Friday, June 3: Question period—questions to be submitted to APLU in writing at bburrola@aplu.org.
Wednesday, April 6, 4:00-5:00 pm EDT: Institutional Award Information Session (register here)
Friday, June 30 at 11:59 PM (Eastern Time): Deadline for application submission
Tuesday, July 5 – Friday, August 12: Review panel will review proposals and determine the Platinum winner and Gold Awardees (if applicable).
Wednesday, August 24: Platinum winner and Gold awardees notified.
Wednesday, August 24 – Friday, September 30: Platinum Award winner prepares 2-3 minute video for the APLU Annual Meeting
Monday, October 3: Platinum Award winner video submission due
APLU will appoint a panel to review applications. The panel membership will avoid conflicts of interest. For evaluation of the main award, each section of the narrative will be weighted equally with 20 points for each section.
For questions please contact Bernie Burrola, Vice President for International, Community, and Economic Engagement at APLU.
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