9 | Exploring new research frontiers with top Indian universities through joint symposium
10 | Engaging faculty through partnership development with institutions abroad 12 | UC Santa Cruz hosts international delegations
Facilitating Experiences
15 | UCSC Students explore Southern Africa’s biodiversity in faculty-led program
16 | Increasing opportunity and access to global internships
17 | Summer Opportunities Fair showcases on-campus and global opportunities for students
19 | Exploring Healthcare Access Challenges through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Providing Support Services
21 | International students experience collaborative research at UCSC through the ISRP
22 | International students selected to receive 2024 Sara Matthews Scholarship
22 | Bicentennial Ambassadors program advances engagement with Mexico
23 | UC Santa Cruz provides international travel support to campus community
Data & Trends
25 | International Student Services & Programs
28 | International Faculty & Scholar Services
30 | Global Learning
32 | International Partnerships The UC Santa Cruz Global Review is published yearly and serves as a report of performance, activities, data, and trends.
Cover: UCSC international students socializing in the Namaste Lounge, located near College Nine and John R. Lewis College.
“Meeting the challenges of today’s world requires the diversity of thought that an international perspective provides.”
As we reflect on the past year, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for the remarkable achievements UC Santa Cruz has made in the realm of global engagement. It is with great pleasure that I present to you our Global Review, highlighting the strides we have made in advancing comprehensive internationalization.
Among our achievements, we were honored with the prestigious Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization from the Association of International Educators. Meeting the challenges of today’s world requires the diversity of thought that an international perspective provides. This award is a testament to the collective efforts of UC Santa Cruz to offer students and faculty a wide range of global learning and research experiences. We have worked hard to make internationalization a part of our campus culture.
We also made significant progress in expanding our global footprint, establishing new partnerships with leading universities to enhance our research efforts, and providing students with invaluable cross-cultural exchange and learning opportunities. Our study abroad programs flourished, and we are working hard to provide integral support services to international students.
The global challenges we face require a globally engaged academic community. We remain committed to addressing today’s global challenges through groundbreaking research, creative scholarship, public service, and a student-centered learning environment.
As we celebrate our successes, we are grateful for the contributions of our campus community and international partners, and look forward to building a brighter, more inclusive, and globally connected future.
The Division of Global Engagement
Richard Hughey Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education and Global Engagement
Becky George Assistant Vice Provost of Global Engagement and Senior International Officer
The Division of Global Engagement, located in Classroom Unit building.
The Division of Global Engagement seeks to inspire and facilitate global learning, teaching, and research at UC Santa Cruz.
International Student Services & Programs (ISSP)
ISSP provides visa and immigration advising to F-1 and J-1 international students at UC Santa Cruz. The team designs and facilitates orientation programs, events, and activities to foster intercultural learning, build community, and support cultural adjustment.
International Faculty & Scholar Services (IFSS)
IFSS provides immigration advising and facilitates and monitors immigration compliance for international faculty and scholars within a complex, ever-changing regulatory environment. The team works to enable UC Santa Cruz to attract and retain research and teaching talent.
Global Learning
Global Learning develops and oversees a range of experiential opportunities for UC Santa Cruz students. The team works to promote an internationalized campus that cultivates an understanding of our diverse global community, and encourages students to engage with other cultures.
Global Initiatives
Global Initiatives manages a growing portfolio of international partnerships and agreements. The team facilitates visits to our campus by foreign delegations, engages in faculty outreach, and provides project and policy analysis and support across the division.
RECIPIENT
SENATOR
PAUL SIMON AWARD
UC Santa Cruz Awarded Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization
Granted to only four U.S. universities and colleges annually, the award celebrates institutions that are making significant progress toward comprehensive internationalization.
During the past decade, UC Santa Cruz has experienced rapid growth in international student enrollments. In 2016, the Division of Global Engagement was established to create a broader campuswide structure and to amplify our international efforts. Since then, UC Santa Cruz has achieved remarkable milestones to become a national model for advancing comprehensive internationalization, guided more recently by the Strategic Plan for Internationalization (SPI) which was adopted in Academic Year 2021-2022.
Three years into the SPI, UC Santa Cruz has dramatically increased global learning opportunities for students through an increase in its institutional partnerships around the world. Thanks to innovative new programs and initiatives student participation in international experiential learning opportunities has surged.
“This award is a testament to the collective efforts of our campus to offer students a wide range of global research opportunities and learning experiences, and to make internationalization a part of our campus culture," said UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive.
Left to right: Fanta Aw, NAFSA Executive Director and CEO; Richard Hughey, Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education and Global Engagement; Becky George, Assistant Vice Provost of Global Engagement and Senior International Officer; LaNitra Berger, NAFSA President and Chair of the Board of Directors.
HSI LEADER
ONE OF FIVE ONE IN THREE
One of only five members of the prestigious Association of American Universities that is also designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI).
Named a Fulbright HSI Leader for the third year in a row by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
One in three UC Santa Cruz students who applied were awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.
Developing Partnerships
Forging partnerships, engaging faculty, and hosting international visitors
Exploring new research frontiers with top Indian universities through joint symposium
On the heels of the Chancellor’s visit to India in December of last year, UC Santa Cruz hosted a joint research symposium with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) from July 14–17. The event was designed to deepen existing institutional partnerships and facilitate new connections between faculty and graduate students with shared research interests around the topics of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Cybersecurity — areas of shared national strategic interest that were highlighted by President Biden and Prime Minister Modi in their June 2023 Joint Statement as priorities for increased international collaboration and joint research.
Dean of the Baskin School of Engineering Alexander Wolf kicked off the symposium by sharing goals and intended outcomes to set the stage
for a productive gathering. Following general introductions, UC Santa Cruz faculty and graduate students held a poster session in the Baskin Engineering Courtyard where faculty from all institutions engaged in illuminating discussions. Faculty from IITD and IITK finished day one by showcasing their research through in-depth presentations on robotics, privacy enhancing technology, medical image analysis, and more.
“The visit by IIT engineering faculty to UCSC's Baskin School of Engineering has been tremendously fruitful, identifying common research interests in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, and laying the groundwork for promising, deep collaborations,” said Wolf. “This visit follows upon one that I was privileged to lead earlier this year in which a delegation of Baskin Engineering faculty traveled to several institutions across India for intensive discussions with like-minded colleagues, advancing our long-standing shared commitment to building robust global
academic partnerships.”
On day two, UC Santa Cruz Director of Research Development Molly McCarthy initiated the morning session in which symposium participants heard from representatives from each institution about potential government and institutional funding opportunities that could support their collaborative research as well as several opportunities for faculty and student mobility between India and the U.S.
“The symposium was engaging and convivial. It was great to greet many faculty members whom I first met on our trip to India in April,” said Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Roberto Manduchi. “Discussions were constructive and there was a genuine effort to create sustained collaborations. I am expecting that the symposium will generate several such collaborations."
Following the morning session and networking lunch, participants moved on to in-depth round table discussions
about generative AI and cybersecurity to identify concrete next steps for research collaboration. Participants ended the day with some free time to visit labs, conduct individual follow up meetings with faculty and students, and explore the beautiful UC Santa Cruz campus.
“Through rich discussions and inspiring lab visits with the students and faculty at UCSC, the seeds for deep relationships have been planted,” said Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at IITK Tushar Sandhan. “It's only a matter of time before these seeds will grow into strong, deep roots.”
To wrap up the symposium, faculty from IITD, IITK, and UC Santa Cruz traveled to the UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Campus on the third day to engage in panel discussions with expert researchers from each university to explore cybersecurity and the responsible and ethical applications of AI. UC Santa Cruz Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Ian Lane hosted a fireside chat with Dr. Francisco Guzman from Meta, who shared lessons from scaling “No Language Left Behind,” a breakthrough AI project that is capable of translating 200 languages, including low-resource languages.
“The challenges in AI, cybersecurity, and related areas are critical to the economic prosperity of our countries and will be advanced by collaboration,” said Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Lori Kletzer in her remarks on the final day of the symposium.
“The time is ripe for new approaches to research in the areas that were addressed during the three-day symposium.”
IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur faculty join UCSC faculty and staff during the UCSC–IIT Summer Research Symposium.
Engaging faculty through partnership development with institutions abroad
While the benefits of fostering international partnerships are clear, effectively engaging faculty members in relationship-building is essential for universities seeking to harness the full potential of global collaboration.
In spring 2024, UC Santa Cruz faculty participated in three delegation visits to institutions in Mexico, the UK/ Northern Ireland, and India to explore partnership opportunities.
Cali-Baja Dialogue, a faculty symposium with UABC in Ensenada
In early May, a delegation of UC Santa Cruz faculty led by Vice Chancellor for Research John MacMillan participated in a one-day symposium aimed at strengthening ties between UC Santa Cruz and Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC).
The delegation of UC Santa Cruz
faculty included Nobel Laureate Carol Greider, Manel Camps, Ari Martinez, Carlos Martinez, Mohammed MostajoRadji, Stacy Philpott, Pallab Sarker, and Matt Sparke. The faculty were accompanied by Senior International Officer and Assistant Vice Provost of Global Engagement Becky George and current graduate student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Andrea Paz Lacavex.
The symposium featured a keynote from Distinguished Professor of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology Carol Greider, followed by roundtable discussions focused on topics in the sciences and a networking lunch.
“It was fascinating to learn about a range of research endeavors on their campus – everything from marine biodiversity and aquaculture to climate change in urban areas and farmworker health,” said Professor of Environmental Studies Stacy Philpott. “As an added bonus, we were treated to an amazing meal prepared by their culinary and ecology student teams.”
The joint faculty symposium followed a visit to UC Santa Cruz from the rector of UABC Dr. Luis Enrique Palafox Maestre in 2023 to explore collaborative opportunities, agreements, and joint projects. Maestre expressed the importance of developing ongoing collaboration and research opportunities with UC Santa Cruz, highlighting shared values and priorities between the two universities.
New Faculty Seminar Away program sends faculty to the UK
In late April, a group of 12 UC Santa Cruz faculty embarked on a one-week trip to visit two institutional partners, the Queen’s University of Belfast (QUB) in Northern Ireland, and the University of Bristol, located about two hours by train from London in the southwestern corner of England. The group was selected to participate in the inaugural iteration of the Faculty Seminar Away, a Global Engagement initiative that aims to engage faculty in partnership-building efforts and expand cross-institutional ties to support increased international research and teaching collaborations.
The agenda at each institution was crafted to maximize networking and opportunities for faculty-to-faculty dialogue and mutual sharing on research strengths and academic areas of synergy for collaboration. Faculty explored topics specific to their disciplines,
UCSC Distinguished Professor Carol Greider gives keynote at Universidad Autónoma de Baja California.
engaging through meetings, roundtable discussions, and departmental tours.
“Our visit to Queen's University Belfast and the University of Bristol can be described in three words: productive, eye-opening, and stimulating,” said Professor of Computational Media Sri Kurniawan. “Exchanging ideas with their leading researchers on assistive technology, particularly regarding virtual reality games for individuals with autism, was a definite highlight.”
During the visits, faculty also learned more about opportunities to apply for joint research funding such as the United States-Republic of IrelandNorthern Ireland R&D Partnership and those provided by UK Research and Innovation. Several Faculty Seminar participants have already capitalized on the momentum of the trip and engaged in follow-up online meetings with the new QUB and Bristol faculty connections they developed to discuss proposal submissions for these grant opportunities.
Beyond the new connections forged at QUB and Bristol, the Faculty Seminar also fostered community and deepened relationships among the UC Santa Cruz faculty themselves. Professor of Performance, Play, and Design Patty Gallagher remarked that the trip, “was an exercise in inspiration and possibility.” The opportunity to travel together as a group afforded many an opportunity for a lively exchange of ideas and spontaneous conversations around potential interdisciplinary collaborations both at home at UC Santa Cruz and with partners abroad.
“The conversations among UCSC, Queen's Belfast, and the University of Bristol generated many ideas for intercampus and interdisciplinary collaboration and connection. We found ways to extend the reach of our teaching and scholarship,” said Gallagher. “Many of us have already made plans for Global Classroom projects, student exchanges, research, and performance projects.”
Gallagher concluded, “I'm immensely grateful to our campus Global Engagement office for connecting our universities, and for making us aware of these international opportunities.”
Engineering faculty travel to India
In March, Dean of the Baskin School of Engineering (BSOE) Alexander Wolf led a delegation of faculty to visit India to strengthen existing partnerships with several institutions, and to explore potential partnerships with others.
The group, including Ian Lane, Roberto Manduchi, Razvan Marinescu, and Josh Stuart from BSOE visited IIT Hyderabad, IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, Shiv Nadar University, Ashoka University, and IIT Madras. Faculty explored potential research collaborations, grant funding possibilities, and shared perspectives toward addressing pressing global challenges.
“I was interested in traveling to India with colleagues to educate ourselves in the different cultural, pedagogic, and administrative environments, and to explore collaborative research and educational opportunities,” said Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Roberto Manduchi. “I also saw a real opportunity to explore possible pathways to facilitate applications of qualified Indian students to our graduate programs."
UCSC faculty and staff visit Queens University Belfast.
Assistant Professor Razvan Marinescu also recognized the potential for this trip to attract new graduate students to UC Santa Cruz, and to uncover complementary institutional research strengths.
“I wanted to enhance recruitment of excellent PhD students and use the trip as a vehicle to advertise the PhD programs at UC Santa Cruz,” said Marinescu. “I was also seeking to establish research collaborations in key areas of focus in my lab.”
At IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur in particular, the delegation engaged in conversations that will continue at the UCSC-IIT Summer Research Symposium in July.
Expanding and enhancing globallyfocused research and teaching through engaging faculty and fostering
global collaborations is key to the UC Santa Cruz Strategic Plan for Internationalization, and provides a foundation for deepening opportunities for students, elevating research impact, and reinforcing institutional reputation.
UCSC hosts international delegations from Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC), Ashoka University, and the University of Melbourne
The delegation from UABC, led by Rectór Luis Maestre, included Alejandra Zubikarai, Consul General of Mexico, San Jose and Samuel Stanford, Consul for Economic Affairs, San Jose. The visit was aimed at exploring research synergies with UC Santa Cruz and occurred on the heels of the recently announced call for proposals from the UC Alianza MX office that aims to increase faculty research collaborations between UC
campuses and UABC, specifically in the areas of artificial intelligence, migration, and public health.
To begin the visit, UABC engaged in conversation with UCSC campus leaders, highlighting research priorities and exploring strengths and potential areas of synergy between institutions. This was followed by research presentations from UCSC faculty highlighting relevant connections with UABC, Baja California, or Mexico/ Latin America in general. A luncheon hosted by Chancellor Larive allowed for discussion and consolidation of themes and ideas raised during meetings throughout the day.
A delegation from the University of Melbourne, led by the dean of the Faculty of Science Moira O’Bryan, visited UC Santa Cruz on November 7. The delegation met with the dean of the Division of Physical &
UCSC faculty and staff visit IIT Hyderabad, IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, Shiv Nadar University, Ashoka University, and IIT Madras.
Biological Sciences, Bryan Gaensler, and made visits to the Coastal Science Campus where they met with faculty from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Additionally, the delegation visited the Genomics Institute to meet with the dean of Baskin Engineering and other select faculty. Currently, UC Santa Cruz has a bilateral student exchange agreement in place with the University of Melbourne. The delegation from Melbourne explored opportunities to build on this existing partnership with other activities such as faculty and graduate student research exchanges.
The Division of Global Engagement is excited to be developing a new agreement for student exchange with Ashoka University, UCSC’s first in
India. The opportunity to establish this new partnership came about as a result of Chancellor Larive’s trip to India in March to meet with prospective institutional partners. Dr. Vanita Shastri, the Dean of Global Education and Strategic Partnerships at Ashoka also visited UC Santa Cruz on October 26 to tour the campus and meet with several people including the chair of Economics, Alan Spearot; the new Executive Director of Global Mobility, Alice Michel; Crown Provost and Faculty Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development (CIED), Manel Camps, and CIED Program Manager, Nada Miljkovic.
“Starting the academic year with three important delegation visits has set the tone for an exciting and
productive year for partnership development at UC Santa Cruz,” said Director of Global Initiatives George Sabo. “Continuing to nurture these connections is instrumental to creating a broad range of international academic and collaborative research opportunities for faculty and students.”
The UC Santa Cruz campus community can use GlobalConnect, the official international connections and activities database, to find information about the institutions that UC Santa Cruz is engaged with throughout the world.
Delegation from Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) visit with leadership from UCSC.
Facilitating Experiences
Partner Program at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia.
Faculty-led Global Seminar: Agroecology Practicum in Guatemala.
Traveling abroad with UCSC faculty, increasing access through internships, and engaging with cultures
UCSC Students explore Southern Africa’s biodiversity in faculty-led program
In summer 2023, 18 students embarked on a life-changing faculty-led Global Seminar program – Evolution and Fish Biology in Southern Africa. Led by UC Santa Cruz Professor Dr. Giacomo Bernardi of the Environmental Studies Department, the students traveled to Southern Africa to explore the fascinating realms of Ichthyology and evolution.
The program is designed to offer students a dynamic learning experience, beginning in Pretoria, South Africa. Week one is spent at an organic farm where students learned foundational course information and participated in excursions to the Origins Centre at Wits University in Johannesburg and the Malapa Human Origins Tour, located in the Greater Cradle Nature Reserve and is the UNESCO-designated Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.
The program continued into the second week at Skukuza Research Station in Kruger National Park, a sustainably-built education, training, and research facility. Students engaged in guided excursions to observe wildlife and understand more about species evolution in the region.
During week three, students set out for Lilongwe, Malawi where they traveled to Cape Maclear at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Lake Malwai, where they participated in daily fieldwork in the lake to study cichlid fish. After conducting two weeks of fieldwork at Cape Maclear, students made their way back to South Africa, and the program was completed.
For students, faculty-led study abroad programs deliver a transformative adventure that will shape their academic and personal lives. They represent an opportunity to explore, discover, and make lasting connections with nature and their fellow students.
“Driving across the South African savannah in a truck full of other bright-eyed biologists was an experience unlike any other. Every day in Kruger National Park we were immersed in understanding evolution through the patterns of rhino tracks, the sounds of hippos grunting through morning mist, and the smell of grasslands baked in the African sun,” said UCSC student Mariah Silvah. “The instructor who leads this program is a world-class master of Ichthyology. Having the privilege of researching underwater and discovering the cichlids of Lake Malawi with Professor Bernardi as
your guide is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Southern Africa is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot and a paradise for studying aquatic ecosystems. With its rich variety of aquatic habitats, including freshwater and marine systems. This region offers an ideal setting for students eager to dive into Fish Biology and Evolution.
Professor Bernardi has been teaching Fish Biology and Evolution at UC Santa Cruz for over 20 years while also co-teaching a field class in Marine Ecology. He has a PhD in Molecular Biology of Fishes from the University of Paris, and has been studying the genomics of fishes since then. While he is currently working on projects in many
different countries, most of his work is focused in Micronesia, Polynesia, the Mediterranean, and South Africa.
Increasing opportunity and access to global internships with Latin American and Latino Studies
New for summer 2023, Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS) Global Internship program adds to a growing selection of Global Internships that allow UC Santa Cruz students to explore career goals, expand their professional network and skills, and gain real work experience by participating in an internship for an organization abroad.
Through the program, students have the opportunity to participate in a
customized internship at an organization in Buenos Aires, Argentina or Barcelona, Spain related to human rights and social justice, community organizing/social work, education, journalism/research, and curation and preservation.
In each location, the program will offer facilitated excursions so that students engage in an immersive experience, exploring the culture and history of each location.
“The Global Internship program provides our students with another much-needed experiential learning opportunity as part of their undergraduate degree. While earning UCSC credit, students can explore their career goals, broaden their professional network, expand intercultural communication skills, and connect the classroom to the real-world workplace while abroad,” said Alice Michel, director of Global Learning.
Internships will satisfy one upperdivision elective for LALS majors and are sponsored by an LALS instructor. While completing their internship, students write an analytical paper or produce another project agreed upon by the student and the instructor by the third week of the internship.
“We are very excited to offer this program to our LALS and Social
Faculty-led Global Seminar in Southern Africa with UCSC Professor Giacomo Bernardi.
Science majors. Through the LALS global internship, students will not only gain hands-on experience interning in their field of choice, but they will also have the opportunity to boost their Spanish language skills while interacting with their peers, colleagues, and host community,” said Ashley Bayman, Global Learning coordinator and advisor.
While this is the first year for the LALS program, the Psychology and Cognitive Science Global Internship, developed in partnership with the Department of Psychology, was piloted in summer 2022 with 32 student participants interning in Spain and Portugal.
In total, 66 students are expected to participate in both internships this summer. The Global Learning team
looks forward to working with additional campus departments to develop discipline-specific global internship opportunities for future summers.
Summer Opportunities Fair showcases on-campus and global opportunities for students
Each year, as summer approaches, students at UC Santa Cruz eagerly anticipate a break from lectures and textbooks. However, for those looking to make the most of their summer, the Summer Opportunities Fair, cohosted by Global Learning and Summer Session, introduces enriching and engaging academic programs that are available to all.
The Summer Opportunities Fair sheds light on a multitude of academic
programs designed to ignite intellectual curiosity during the summer months. These programs span a spectrum of disciplines, catering to students with varied interests and career aspirations.
Students interacted with representatives from departments across campus, learning the program details and curriculum highlights. Departments in attendance included, History of Consciousness (HISC), CAMINO, Humanities Division, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Undergraduate Advising, HSI Initiatives, Department of Performance, Play & Design (Theater Arts/Art & Design: Games + Playable Media), and the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office.
“We look forward to the fair every year. Meeting with students one-on-
Faculty-led Global Seminar in Southern Africa with UCSC Professor Giacomo Bernardi.
one is one of the best parts of our jobs. The earlier students can start exploring their summer options, the easier it is for them to maximize their winter and spring quarters. Even in the rain, it was exciting to see so many students stopping by to learn more,” said Jennifer Gallacher, director of Summer Session.
One of the highlights of the Summer Opportunities Fair is the myriad of Global Learning Opportunities showcased to enthusiastic college students. These programs open doors to a world of cultural immersion, language acquisition, and personal growth. From faculty-led Global Seminars abroad to domestic internships in our nation’s capital, students have the opportunity
to pursue programs and destinations that align with their academic interests, professional goals, and personal aspirations. Whether it’s a semesterlong exchange or a short-term cultural immersion program, students gain valuable information on the academic and personal benefits of studying abroad or away.
“Despite the rain this year, we had a great time connecting with students. In fact, after speaking with a student at the fair, they applied to a summer program the next day and I have since started working with them to complete their program pre-departure requirements,” said Ashley Bayman, interim assistant director of advising and outreach in Global Learning.
The Summer Opportunities Fair has been held since 2015, pausing in 2021 due to COVID, and has resulted in many students feeling prepared and informed as they look to make their summer plans.
Faculty-led Global Seminar in Baja California, Mexico with Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Fulbright Program: Student Experiences
Exploring Healthcare Access Challenges on the Dominican Republic Border through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program
In the heart of the Caribbean, amidst the vibrant culture and lush landscapes of the Dominican Republic, Lucia Vitale found that engaging in cultural exchange and international research would lead to a life-changing journey as a Fulbrighter.
After PhD candidacy exams, armed with a passion for global health and social justice, Vitale embarked on a mission to find a funding opportunity that would provide the ability to live and conduct fieldwork in her research sites, the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
During the search for funding, she learned about and became interested in the Fulbright U.S. Student program.
“The Fulbright U.S. Student program seemed like a beautiful opportunity to return to a place that I loved, the Dominican Republic, to continue with my PhD program, and to immerse myself in truly in-depth fieldwork,” said Vitale.
What distinguishes Fulbright from other programs is that reciprocal relationship-building is the principal avenue through which cultural understanding takes place.
“Through building relationships, I have seen first-hand how the consequences that individuals face in contexts where there are no social safety nets can look different from certain U.S. circumstances,” said Vitale.
Another feature of Fulbright that sets it apart from other funding opportunities is the use of affiliation organizations that provide support to Fulbrighters during their program. Vitale worked with OBMICA, a research center based in Santo Domingo that advocates for the human rights of migrants and their families.
“OBMICA has strong ties to immigrant communities, and is thus trusted to advocate for migrant rights,” said Vitale.
“To get to be up close and personal with an organization that was doing such fantastic work was an honor. Building a relationship with my affiliation organization was easily one of the best parts of the Fulbright program.”
Reflecting on the Fulbright experience, Vitale believes that it helps to let go of some expectations or ideas about what a program should look like.
“It is so important to embrace what’s often an unknown experience. The beauty of a Fulbright experience is that it is open, it changes, and you can make of it what you want,” said Vitale. “While that requires intention and value-alignment, it is a wonderful, unique experience that propels scholarship.”
Since participating in the Fulbright Program, Vitale has served as an instructor of record for Global Community Health 165, part of Global and Community Health at UC Santa Cruz, an interdisciplinary endeavor with B.A. and B.S. majors.
“The Fulbright experience has not only influenced my research, but it has also shaped how I show up in the classroom as an instructor and teacher," said Vitale.
The Division of Global Engagement administers the application process for prestigious international postgraduate scholarships for graduate study and research abroad.
Learn more on the Funding / Postgraduate Scholarships section of the Global Learning website.
Lucia Vitale (right) conducts research in the Dominican Republic.
Providing Support Services
New UCSC international students on a day trip to San Francisco as part of International Student Orientation.
Welcoming international students, administering scholarships, and inspiring cultural understanding across campus
International students experience collaborative research at UC Santa Cruz through the ISRP
To expand and enhance globallyfocused research and engagement at UC Santa Cruz, the Division of Global Engagement in collaboration with faculty hosts welcomed a cohort of eight international student interns during the summer of 2023. These enthusiastic undergraduate students embarked on a transformative journey as they participated in the International Summer Research Program (ISRP).
The faculty who hosted student interns were David Lee of Computational Media, and Raquel Prado and Ju Hee Lee of Statistics. The student interns came from Amrita University in Coimbatore, India, Seoul National University in Korea, and the University of Leeds in the UK.
The ISRP at UC Santa Cruz is a testament to the university’s commitment to comprehensive internationalization by providing students with a rich and diverse educational experience. This program not only invites students to campus but also cultivates an environment where the exchange of ideas is celebrated. Feedback
from both the students and their faculty hosts was again very positive. The new environment, out of the rhythm of their coursework, allowed student interns to enjoy diving deep into research. Many showed a high level of independence, driving their research projects, and all felt it was an enriching experience.
“I see ISRP as facilitating synergistic collaborative experiences for faculty research labs and students”, said David Lee. “It provides students with the ability to have mentored research experiences, and faculty with the ability to explore directions outside of what they have funding for. I think it also benefits the campus community through the exchange of cultures and the establishment of relationships and collaborations.”
One of the hallmarks of the ISRP is the emphasis on building interactions not only among students but also with UC Santa Cruz faculty, postdocs, and graduate students. These relationships provide a foundation for students to explore future opportunities for graduate study and careers in research.
International students selected to receive 2024 Sara Matthews Scholarship
Administered by the Division of Global Engagement, this scholarship is granted to deserving undergraduate international degree-seeking students of Sophomore or Junior standing at UC Santa Cruz to help with educational costs.
The 2024 Sara Matthews Scholarship recipients are Harini Girija Machiraju, Elina Pratap Singh, and Chloe Won.
“This year’s Sara Mathews Scholarship recipients stood out for their contributions to cross-cultural engagement and their spirit of collaboration on our campus. The Selection Committee also recognized them for their keen awareness of social issues and their efforts to explore possible solutions within their academic fields,” said Catherine
Murphy, international student advisor and Sara Matthews Scholarship committee chair. “We were glad to award these students, who on top of it all excel academically as well. Congratulations!”
From the estate of Sara E. Matthews, scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, are awarded during spring quarter.
Bicentennial Ambassadors program advances engagement with Mexico through hybrid STEM instruction
The Division of Global Engagement and the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development (CIED), hosted a group of 24 students from the
state of Querétaro for the Bicentennial Ambassadors program, a hybrid 4-week course that ran from October 23 through November 17, with the first two weeks of the program delivered virtually and the last two weeks delivered in person on campus.
The program, a joint effort between the U.S. Embassy in Mexico and the state government of Querétaro, was created to celebrate 200 years of diplomatic relations between Mexico and the United States. The goal of the program was to advance collaboration with Mexico by providing a rich academic and cultural experience through student-to-student engagement and to strengthen ties between UC Santa Cruz and Universities in Querétaro.
The program consisted of classroom instruction focused on STEM, sustainability, and entrepreneurship with co-curricular activities to provide cultural enrichment. One popular activity saw students from Querétaro engage with UC Santa Cruz students to help them practice the Spanish language. Mary Carmen Alvarafo Portillo, a student from Polytechnic University of Santa Rosa Jáuregui, found that the program added new dimensions to learning.
“The entrepreneurship and sustainability program has been a wonderful experience that has expanded our theoretical and empirical knowledge. We learned more about the culture, new places,
Querétaro Bicentennial Ambassador students visit UC Santa Cruz.
and new people who became new friends,” said Portillo. “For me, that means personal growth, new experiences to tell, and a new path to discover.”
Students worked on a business model, culminating in a team presentation of a pitch deck that had all the elements for Silicon Valley investment. Edgar Javier Osorio Reyes, a student from Aeronautical University in Querétaro, saw personal enrichment and academic value in the program.
“This program stands as one of the most profound experiences I have encountered,” said Reyes. “From receiving lectures from prominent figures in the field of entrepreneurship to exploring remarkable locations in California, my worldview will be significantly enriched.”
Nada Miljkovic, UCSC Lecturer and Project Manager for CIED says students reveal a deep commitment to sustainable solutions and community impact, cultivating innovative business ideas from upcycling retired airplanes to addressing issues such as ocean pollution and women's safety.
“Over the course of a month, I had the pleasure of teaching a group of highly motivated students from Mexico, providing them with 80 hours of intensive instruction on Entrepreneurship and Sustainability,” said Miljkovic. “Collaborating closely with local entrepreneurship educators, their ideas and project proposals included an ecotourism program in Veracruz, Mexico and a physical therapy clinic catering to low-income studentathletes.”
UC Santa Cruz was invited to submit a proposal and was one of only two U.S. universities selected to host the Bicentennial Ambassadors program, which was administered by the Mexico City Fulbright Office, known as the U.S.-Mexico Commission for Educational Exchange (COMEXUS).
UC Santa Cruz provides international travel support to campus community
UC Santa Cruz is now providing expanded services to faculty, staff, and students traveling internationally.
Michael Price, Global Travel Security Manager, was hired last year in the Division of Global Engagement. This new position provides assistance with pre-travel preparation as well as support while abroad.
Price’s focus is on anticipating potential risks specific to location and activity type, and developing risk mitigation plans, faculty briefings, and expanded educational resources for students.
“As a university with a global footprint and growing portfolio of international agreements, it is vital that international travel for faculty, staff, and students is a secure, safe, and supported process,” said Michael Price, Global Travel Security Manager at UC Santa Cruz. “Implementing simple and convenient travel safety plans will also help provide beneficial learning and research experiences for everyone at UC Santa Cruz.”
One of the simplest ways to gain access to travel resources and support is to register your travel, as required by UC Santa Cruz for all university business-related travel and outlined in the International Travel section of the
Global Engagement website. Registering travel is a quick and simple process that provides many benefits to travelers, including location-specific alerts for safe and reliable travel, access to travel insurance and emergency contact information, and timely assistance in the event of a crisis, including emergency evacuation if necessary.
The campus community is encouraged to become familiar with the important travel resources available at UC Santa Cruz.
Michael Price is the Global Travel Security Manager at UC Santa Cruz.
Data & Trends
Exploring international teaching and learning through figures, patterns, and insights
International students participate in Welcome Back Monarchs Day at Natural Bridges State Beach.
International Student Services & Programs
ISSP provides visa and immigration advising to F-1 and J-1 international students. International students are determined by citizenship and visa type, in accordance with UCOP. This includes some students who attend UC Santa Cruz on visa types other than F-1 or J-1. Data includes fall, winter, spring, & summer quarters. ISSP also designs and provides orientation programs, events, and activities to foster intercultural learning, build community, and support cultural adjustment. By supporting international students, ISSP advances campus internationalization.
The data below is from the fiscal year calendar (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024).
The following international programs support all students at UC Santa Cruz.
Academic Success
• Graduate Preparation Program
• Pre-Arrival Orientation Modules
• Beyond Orientation Workshops
• Intro to U.S. Classroom Culture
• Master’s Programs Education Fair
• STEM Career Series
• Beyond OPT Workshop
Cultural Engagement
• International Student Orientation
• International Education Week
• Global Mentorship Program
• Graduate Peer Mentoring Circle
• Intercultural Workshops
• Student Leadership Series
• Community-Building Events
Special Customized Programs
• Bicentennial Ambassadors Program
• International Summer Research Program support
• Innovation, Science, and Justice Program support
Number of Degree-Seeking International Students (F-1/J-1 Visas)
439
Undergraduate Students
1,023
Students by Division (Fall 2023)
Undergraduate Arts: 5%
584
Graduate Students
Total International Students Served
Baskin Engineering: 32% Humanities: 1%
Physical & Bio Sciences: 9%
Social Sciences: 22%
Undeclared Majors: 33%
Graduate
Arts: 4%
Baskin Engineering: 63%
Humanities: 4%
Physical & Bio Sciences: 17%
Social Sciences: 12%
Number of International Programs & Attendance
69
Undergraduate Programs
65
Graduate Programs
110
Total Programs
3,829
Total Program Attendees (Duplicated, fall - summer)
914
Total Unique Program Attendees
73
920+ Student Engagement
Active ISSP Newsletter Subscribers Graduate Preparation Program (GPP) * (summer 2024)
2,693
179
Followers on ISSP Social Media
Students Attending International Orientations (fall, winter, spring, summer)
* GPP, in collaboration with Graduate Division, is a four-week course offered to international graduate students prior to fall.
Trends
Regional diversity
We continue to see a healthy showing of international undergraduate and graduate students from China and India as our first and second largest populations. Students from the Middle East–particularly Jordan, Kuwait, Israel and Armenia–have entered into the top 10 places of origin for undergraduate students. Graduate students have seen an increase in student numbers from South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey, as well as Mexico and Japan.
After graduation
The number of international students obtaining work authorization (OPT/STEM OPT/AT) to gain practical training in their major/field has jumped 30% from the previous year.
International Faculty & Scholar Services
IFSS provides immigration advising and facilitates and monitors immigration compliance for international faculty, scholars, and researchers within a complex, ever-changing regulatory environment. Additionally, IFSS provides orientations, training, programming, and cultural adjustment support. By supporting international faculty and scholars, IFSS advances campus internationalization.
The data below is from the fiscal year calendar (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024).
Regions of Origin
Africa: 3%
Americas: 12%
Asia: 49%
Europe: 34%
Oceania: 2%
Duration of Stay
12 + months: 68%
6 to < 12 months: 15%
3 to < 6 months: 8%
1 to < 3 months: 9%
Divisional Affiliation
Arts: 5%
Engineering: 26%
Humanities: 9%
Physical & Bio Sciences: 45%
Social Sciences: 10%
Other: 5%
Other = Graduate Studies, Chancellor’s Office, Division of Finance, Operations and Administration, Information Technology Services, Student Affairs and Success, Division of
Number of International Faculty & Scholars
Total International Faculty, Researchers, & Staff Served
Trends
Regional Diversity
We saw a modest increase in faculty and scholars from Asia and Africa.
Longer Duration
The majority of faculty and scholars are invited and commit to join UC Santa Cruz for longer appointments: They typically remain for 12 or more months.
Hosting interns
We are seeing more interest in hosting student interns at UC Santa Cruz.
Global Learning
Global Learning provides students with the opportunity to graduate with global experience, promotes an internationalized campus that cultivates an understanding of our diverse global community, and encourages students to engage with other cultures to broaden their perspective and involvement in the world.
Examples of Global Learning opportunities at UC Santa Cruz include:
UCSC Global Learning programs
• Faculty-led Global Seminars
• Partner Programs
• Global Internships
• Global Classroom
Other UC and non-UC programs
• UCDC Washington
• UC Sacramento (UCCS)
• UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP)
• Other UC Study Abroad
• Independent Programs
The data below is from the academic year 2023-2024 (including summer 2024).
Students Abroad by Region
Africa/Middle East: 7%
Americas: 9%
Asia: 17%
Europe: 63%
Oceania: 4%
Terms Away From UCSC
Summer: 46%
Quarter: 42%
Two Quarters: 8%
Year or more: 4%
Participation by Division
Arts: 12%
Engineering: 10%
Humanities: 10%
Physical & Bio Sciences: 11%
Social Sciences: 57%
Participation by Class Level
Sophomores: 11%
Juniors: 40%
Seniors: 49%
Program Enrollment
685 Domestic Programs 76
761
Participation by College Students
(Fall 2023 - Summer 2024) International Programs
Total Enrollment
Trends
Participation growth
• Increase of 32% in total participation from AY 2022-23.
• Increase in number of students participating for one quarter (during academic year).
• Significant enrollment increases from AY 2022-23 in Global Seminars (6%), UCDC (24%), UCCS (120%).
Wide range of disciplines
• Expansion of program options has resulted in increased student participation from a range of academic disciplines.
• Top majors include: Art, Business Management Economics, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Environmental Studies, Film & Digital Media, Legal Studies, Politics, and Psychology.
College 9
Cowell
Crown
John R. Lewis
Kresge
Merrill
Oakes
Rachel Carson
Porter
Stevenson
International Partnerships
The Division of Global Engagement promotes international cooperation in advancing the teaching, research, and service mission of UC Santa Cruz by seeking out and facilitating the development of partnerships between UCSC and universities, foreign government agencies, and non-profit organizations around the world.
Partnerships are formalized through agreements proposed and established with the sponsorship and support of UC Santa Cruz faculty. For detailed information about partnerships, agreements, and other forms of international collaboration, see the GlobalConnect database.
Delegations
The Division of Global Engagement facilitates delegation visits to and from UC Santa Cruz to enable dialogue between highlevel institutional leadership, faculty, and staff in support of new collaboration development for research and teaching, and other campus internationalization initiatives. In academic year 2023-2024, the following delegation activities took place.
India
April 2024: Baskin Engineering Dean's delegation to India Institutions visited:
• Ashoka University
• IIIT Hyderabad
• IIT Delhi
• IIT Kanpur
• IIT Madras
• Shiv Nadar University
Mexico
November 2023: Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) Rector's delegation to UCSC
February 2024: UCSC Chancellor's delegation to Mexico Institutions visited:
• National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions (ANUIES)
• National Polytechnic Institute (IPN)
• National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)
• Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM)
• Mexican Agency for International Cooperation and Development.
• U.S. Embassy/COMEXUS/Fulbright Office
• Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav)
• Secretary of Science & Technology, Mexico City (SECTEI)
• National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI)
May 2024: UCSC faculty delegation to Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC)
June 2024: Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (UADY)
Rector's delegation to UCSC
South Korea
March 2024: Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)
Distinguished Professor for Global Affairs visit to UCSC
May 2024: Kyung Hee University, Provost for External Affairs visit to UCSC
United Kingdom
April 2024: UCSC Faculty Seminar Away Institutions visited:
• Queen’s University Belfast
• University of Bristol
Partnership Agreements
Map data reflects existing and new partnership agreements established or in development as of the end of the 2023-24 academic year.
* Newly established in AY 2023-2024
** In development in AY 2023-2024
Americas
Colombia
• University of the Andes (UniAndes) Chile
• Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile) ** Mexico
• Tecnológico de Monterrey **
• Universidad Autónoma de Baja California **
• Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán **
Asia
India
• Amrita University
• IIT Delhi **
• IIT Kanpur
• IIT Madras **
• Shiv Nadar University **
Japan
• Kyoto University
• Osaka University *
• Rikkyo University
• Sophia University
• University of the Ryukyus
• University of Tokyo
Korea
• KAIST
• Korea University
• Seoul National University
• Sungkyunkwan University
Singapore
• Nanyang Technological University **
Oceania
Australia
• University of Melbourne
Europe
Denmark
• Aarhus University
• Technical University of Denmark
France
• ISARA-Lyon
• Sciences Po Toulouse *
Germany
• Heidelberg University
Ireland
• National University of Galway **
Italy
• University of Padua
Netherlands
• Leiden University **
Norway
• University of Bergen
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Spain
• Autonomous University of Barcelona
United Kingdom
• University of Sussex
• University of Bristol
• University of East Anglia
• University of Exeter *
• University of Leeds
Africa
Kanya
• Co-operative University of Kenya
Trends
Deepening faculty engagement
• Increased faculty engagement in partnership development through multi-disciplinary and reciprocally-organized delegation visits (Faculty Seminar Away).
• Discovery conversations among faculty become in-depth discussions (IIT-UCSC Research Symposium).
• Exploring external funding through organizations like UC Alianza, Erasmus in the EU, U.S. Embassies around the world, and others, to seed collaborations and continue enabling robust faculty engagement in partnership-building efforts.
New regions
• New opportunities for partnerships are driven by connections developed through high-level travel to India and Mexico.
• Engagement in Latin America, with partnerships in Chile (student exchange) and Argentina (Global Classrooms).
