On September 1, the University of Wisconsin–Madison launched Global, Together—a 5-year strategic internationalization framework designed to guide international engagement. The framework reflects input from campus leaders and stakeholders and offers a roadmap for growing opportunities across campus and beyond. The framework’s four pillar goals aim to enhance student opportunities, develop innovative partnerships, expand global outreach across the state, and engage alumni around the world. To mark the launch of Global, Together, International Division Dean Frances Vavrus answered questions about the framework and what it means for UW–Madison.
How did Global, Together come into being?
The development of Global, Together began about three years ago. I spent much of my first year as vice provost and dean meeting with stakeholders across campus to learn about their priorities for international engagement and their goals for the future. At the same time, the International Division leadership team began working on a strategic plan to guide our work, starting with refining the division’s mission, vision, and values statements and identifying our goals for the coming years.
By summer 2024, it became clear that the vision and goals our team had developed were similar to those of many others on campus. It was at this point that the division’s internal planning morphed into something much larger, namely, a framework that would align our priorities with those of the university.
As the campus strategic framework, Forward, Together, began to take shape, we wanted to ensure the internationalization framework, Global, Together, would contribute directly to the university’s three goals for teaching/learning, research, and engagement across the state. We also included a goal to advance engagement with international alumni. So as a whole, the framework is relevant for students, faculty, staff, community partners, and alumni.
It has been very rewarding to see Forward, Together and Global, Together come to fruition in tandem to advance the work of the university at home and around the world.
What does it mean to “internationalize” a university?
There are different definitions in my field of comparative and international education.
One definition that has guided our work comes from the American Council on Education’s description of comprehensive internationalization: “a strategic, coordinated framework that integrates policies, programs, initiatives, and individuals to make colleges and universities more globally oriented and internationally connected.” Global, Together provides such a framework. It is strategic and coordinated, integrating the activities of schools, colleges, divisions, and other units on campus around four shared goals that ensure our global orientation and strengthen our international connections. Internationalization is especially important today as we prepare students for an increasingly interconnected world and pave the way for research and other forms of collaboration with leading global institutions.
Global, Together takes us to 2030. What change do you want to celebrate at its conclusion?
We have a number of activities specified for each of the four goals, and I hope we will be celebrating advancement for all of them!
At a broader level, my aim is to initiate long-lasting transformation through this strategic framework. For instance, I would like to see study abroad and study away integrated into the undergraduate curriculum for all majors so every student will have a truly unrivaled experience at UW–Madison. Global, Together has already garnered a lot of excitement about this possibility, and we are on track to celebrate a significant expansion of these experiential opportunities in each of the years ahead.
We are also poised to see more faculty and staff engaged in research with international partners through new Global, Together initiatives, and to work with more K-12 schools, colleges, and public libraries across Wisconsin. If we can spark new research partnerships and increase access to global education throughout the state, then we will have much to celebrate in 2030 with everyone who contributes to this important initiative.
What role can the campus community play in moving Global, Together forward?
The launch of the framework is just the beginning. Achieving the goals is truly a campus effort, and the activities are dynamic. We are interested in hearing new ideas for how we can connect Wisconsin and the world between now and 2030, and beyond. We will continue to update the Global, Together website with stories and information about opportunities to engage, so please check back to learn about our progress. On Wisconsin!