Creating Awareness Center for Global Learning prepares students for international careers

In the nearly three decades since Oklahoma State University founded an office dedicated to studying abroad, OSU has sent over 15,000 students on high-impact global learning programs.

Building on OSU’s long history of international engagement, the Center for Global Learning (CGL) strives to significantly increase the global focus and competitiveness of its students, faculty and staff.

As a part of its 25th anniversary in 2021, the Study Abroad and National Student Exchange office announced its rebranding to the Center for Global Learning and the creation of the Center Model to expand strategic efforts across campus focused on increasing accessibility for more OSU students to not only study abroad, but also to intern abroad, participate in international service-learning projects and conduct research overseas.

The CGL’s primary mission is to address global challenges through international education and prepare students to serve as visionary leaders in their lives and professional careers. The mission is accomplished by connecting students with discipline-specific academic experiences abroad; engaging them in activities that strengthen individual global competencies; and providing them opportunities to develop the skills and cultural understanding necessary to effectively address global challenges and advance not only the state of Oklahoma but potentially the world.

In addition to high-impact learning for students, the CGL orients itself around significant global initiatives such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, a key strength of the university and a priority area for OSU’s new strategic direction.

The CGL has set goals to develop its internal capacity and capability to triple student participation in study abroad. Currently, only 5% of OSU students graduate with study abroad experience, and the center will seek to increase this to 15% per year through the restructuring of faculty-led programming.

Additionally, it will focus on summer academic programs and increasing domestic student exchanges with other institutions in the United States, Canada and U.S. territories.

“The CGL is focused on leveraging global education opportunities and our unique ‘Cowboy Culture’ in cultivating graduates who influence the nation and transform the world,” said Dr. Jeff Simpson, OSU Global assistant dean. “A core component of the new OSU strategic plan is the development of an ideal graduate.

“There is no better way to become a more professional, responsible and engaged citizen than to spend time outside your comfort zone immersing yourself within diverse communities around the globe.”

For more information, visit global. okstate.edu/studyabroad/