With eight campuses in seven counties throughout Northeast Ohio, Kent State University radiates a welcoming hometown atmosphere. Each campus feels integral to the communities it serves, providing exemplary education and unique experiences for all students.
Kent State also has been a purveyor of global education for more than half a century. Its history of international collaboration includes an educational exchange with the Soviet Union during the Cold War and student exchanges with Iran prior to its revolution in 1978-1979.
Today, Kent State’s global reach has expanded to six continents, with full education abroad programming in Brazil, the Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Italy, Jordan and Switzerland; study abroad partnerships with countries such as Australia, Bolivia, Japan, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Uganda; and outreach centers in China and India. The university currently hosts international students from 99 countries and provides 200+ programs in 60+ countries for both domestic and international students to immerse themselves in global education experiences.
Students who study abroad are better prepared for a world that is increasingly interconnected and multicultural. As they engage with different cultures, people, languages and ideas, students become comfortable with the unfamiliar, increase their global awareness and develop an appreciation for other ways of living.
At the end of their study abroad program—whether it be a few weeks, a semester or a full academic year—students have gained not only a global perspective and memories to last a lifetime, but a new confidence and sense of self. And as they embark on their careers, their ability to communicate and collaborate with colleagues from different backgrounds is an essential 21st-century skill.
WORLD-RENOWNED
Kent State honored for its commitment to internationalization
Kent State has integrated international education throughout all facets of the university and its campuses—through competitive research, comprehensive education abroad programs, international curriculum development and robust international student and scholar programs.
Unlike many universities, Kent State boasts a centralized system for internationalization with both education abroad and international student programs housed under the Office of Global Education, which can trace its roots to the Center for International and Comparative Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences.
“Kent State has always had a global presence in one way or another, but what we’ve been able to do over the past 50-plus years is to build that intentionally,” says Melody Tankersley, PhD, senior vice president and provost. “Every day, we’re looking to have more opportunities for our students to study abroad and see the world, as well as to bring the world to Kent State’s campuses and our global partners.”
Earlier this year, Kent State was the only university in the United States to receive the prestigious 2022 Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization from NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The award recognizes outstanding innovation and accomplishment in campus internationalization efforts as evidenced in mission, strategies, programs and results.
“The Senator Paul Simon Award is our nation’s top prize for excellence in global education,” Kent State President Todd Diacon says. “It is a richly deserved award that highlights our excellent education abroad programs and our ongoing success in enrolling and graduating international students.”
The award is made even more meaningful by the timing of its presentation. Despite challenges posed by the pandemic and an emerging sense of xenophobia following months of isolation and fear of the coronavirus’s spread, Kent State remained a stalwart supporter of global education.
“Having received the Simon award at this very moment validates the hard work of the people in the Office of Global Education, but also the vision and the motivation of Kent State to guarantee all of its students be immersed in an international environment,” says Marcello Fantoni, PhD, vice president for global education.
THE WORLD IS OUR CLASSROOM
Education Abroad
Kent State University oversees its own study abroad programs, which allows the university to ensure the academic integrity of its offerings no matter where its students are studying. The academic rigor in each of Kent State’s study abroad experiences is parallel to the curriculum taught at its Ohio campuses.
“We select institutions that have similar rankings or accreditations as us so our students can stay on track for graduation by taking credits that will be applicable,” says Amber Cruxton, director of education abroad in the Office of Global Education. “Then we work with the academic units here to develop meaningful partnerships that meet the needs of their missions as well.”
Students can select the length of their study abroad experiences, including a full academic year, a semester or a four-week institute. They also can participate in faculty-led trips and alternative spring or winter breaks, which are often shorter and less cost-prohibitive than a traditional semester abroad.
Kent State students from every Regional Campus participate in study abroad. Kent State University at Stark has an Office of Global Education Initiatives, which has a similar function as the Office of Global Education on the Kent Campus. The Stark office has some of its own international partnerships and programming, including Kent State Stark courses in Florence, Italy, that students can take at the regional rate.
“The fact that this is a strategic priority of the university indicates its commitment to cultivating all of the good things that global education fosters, such as cultural awareness and broadening perspectives,” says Sarah Schmidt, assistant director of global education initiatives, who oversees the Kent State Stark Office of Global Education Initiatives, is an instructor of peace and conflict studies and is pursuing a doctorate in cultural foundations of education at Kent State. “As a university-wide priority, global education should be accessible to every student at Kent State.”
International students also have the opportunity to complete a study abroad experience during their time at the university. By coming to Kent State, they gain access to the culture and academic offerings of not only the United States but the rest of the world. From 2018 to now, more than 200 international students at Kent State have studied abroad.
The Office of Global Education and several colleges throughout the university offer funds to help domestic and international students overcome the financial barriers that can be associated with studying abroad. And Kent State’s Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement recently established an endowment fund with the aim of providing a global education scholarship for all incoming students who wish to study abroad.
From help obtaining a passport to covering travel expenses, tuition and more, the university is endeavoring to bring the world to its students.
Learn more about education abroad programs and scholarships.
THE WORLD AT OUR DOOR
International Student Programs
“The world has taken notice of the outstanding educational opportunities Kent State has to offer,” says Sean Broghammer, PhD, Kent State’s vice president for enrollment management. “Our Office of Global Education has successfully shared the good news around the globe that we have much to offer for students seeking a degree in the United States.”
This Fall Semester 2022, Kent State University is host to 1,648 international students from 99 countries, a nearly 18% percent increase from the previous fall. Of that total number of international students, 967 are graduate students, a 37% increase from the previous fall. (See more statistics.)
That robust international student population brings a wealth of perspectives, experiences and cultures to share with domestic faculty, staff and students, as well as with fellow international students from other countries.
“International students enhance the learning environment of a university,” Marcello Fantoni says. “The diversity they bring enriches culture and opens individuals’ minds.”
For Maham Khan, a Fulbright scholar from Pakistan studying literature, coming to Kent State was an opportunity to access a better-quality education and to push herself beyond her comfort zone. Because of Kent State’s support services, she connected with other Fulbright scholars before arriving in the United States, which eased her transition. She has since made even more friends, including other international and domestic students.
Though she came to Kent State with the understanding that being an international student would benefit her, Khan has since realized that the surrounding community benefits as well. The presence of international students offers an opportunity for people to confront their own prejudices and empowers personal growth that will impact themselves and the communities in which they live and work.
“We really need to work on finding each other, connecting with each other and reminding one another of our shared humanity,” Khan says. “So many of the prejudices that people have can be unlearned just by having a conversation with another person.”
See list of international student programs and resources.
WORLDWIDE WELCOME
International Partnerships
Kent State University has a long history of collaborating internationally. Its many partners include universities, institutions of higher education, governmental agencies, non-governmental agencies and private sector companies.
The most successful and active partnerships typically are a result of one or two committed faculty members from each institution who coordinate and promote the collaboration among their peers and students.
“International partnerships are one of the key components of international education,” says Sarah J. Malcolm, BS ’98, MA ’05, executive director of Kent State’s Office of Global Education and director of international partnerships, marketing and communications. “They help build a foundation for faculty and students to meet their international goals through research, faculty and student exchange, and international program development.”
The International Partnerships division in the Office of Global Education assists with developing formal documentation of the relationship, such as a Memorandum of Agreement or contract.
“The work of international partnership development is often the behind-the-scenes work of relationship building, program design and contract management,” Malcolm says. “This work helps lay the foundation for sustainable and long-term international education efforts that ensure faculty and students have opportunities to meet their international goals.”
Learn more about international partnerships.
View a three-minute video about Kent State’s global perspective:
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