In the spring of 2016, I embarked on an amazing travel opportunity with Semester at Sea. Semester at Sea is a study abroad program sponsored by an American university that travels across oceans to multiple countries by ship. The ship is our home and the world our classroom. I traveled to Eastern Asia and areas of Africa. My itinerary included Japan, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, Mauritius, South Africa, Ghana, Morocco and then docking in Southampton, London. By the time I returned home, I had traveled to 17 different countries over the course of five months. Rather than cultural immersion, I experienced cultural comparison.

Howard Kerr, a native Iowan, 1960 graduate of the UI, and former naval commander and advisor to U.S. presidents, has been named the 2016 recipient of the International Impact Award. UI Provost Barry Butler and Associate Provost and Dean of International Programs Downing Thomas will present the award to Kerr at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 17, as part of the television/radio/internet program WorldCanvass. Also appearing on WorldCanvass to discuss the challenges and opportunities offered by increasing internationalization in higher education will be Ellen Hazelkorn, policy advisor to the Higher Education Authority, Ireland, and Barbara McFadden Allen, executive director of the Big 10 Academic Alliance. The program takes place in the Recital Hall of the Voxman Music Building from 7:30-9:00 p.m. No tickets are required and the public is invited to enjoy a pre-show reception from 6:30-7:30.

Are you an undergraduate or graduate student interested in a total immersion summer language program, all expenses paid? Please join us for two events to learn more about the Critical Language Scholarship Program.

On October 13 - 15, 2016, the University of Iowa will host scholars, experts, and researchers from around the world as part of the 2016 Provost’s Global Forum, “The Nation, the State, and the Global Redefinition of Self-Determination.” Events include: - Barkan Memorial Lecture - WorldCanvass

The Center for Asian Pacific Studies will host two evenings of bilingual readings next week with International Writing Program writer-in-residence Shibasaki Tomoka.

The UI offers resources specifically geared toward international students to help them transition to life on a U.S. college campus.

The University of Iowa is home to one of seven King Sejong Institutes in the country. The institute is a South Korean government-funded program that aims to spread the culture and language of the country throughout the world. Two of the seven institutes are on university campuses, the UI and Auburn University.

Hello everyone! Greetings from mystical Ireland—a land steeped in tradition and natural wonders, with Subway restaurants around every corner.

I was lucky enough to grow up in the suburbs of Kansas City in a very nice area. Being the daughter of an American and a Filipino, I’ve grown up living in the American culture while celebrating the Filipino every chance I get. If anyone knew how important it was to understand, respect, and appreciate other cultures, it would be me. I’ve had opportunities to travel to the Caribbean area multiple times for vacation, but I’ll admit that my experience with the different cultures never passed a superficial level. I may have seen all of the beautiful sights a country has to offer, but all I was seeing was just another beach. I was so excited to get the opportunity to redeem myself and be completely immersed in the Italian culture, one I’ve had little to no experience with.

Professor Joann (Jo) Eland, PhD, RN, FAAN, passed away on Sunday, September 25, 2016. Jo taught in the College of Nursing at the University of Iowa for 41 years. Her colleagues, friends, and family describe her as a mentor, teacher, advocate, philanthropist, photographer, and even a second mom. As a mentor, Jo demonstrated humility, empathy, and ceaseless compassion. As a philanthropist, all knew of her unlimited and unwavering generosity. As a teacher, Jo embodied and inspired student nurses to be their very best, and her knowledge and passion for children’s pain management was reached globally—including extensive work taking undergraduate nursing students to India, to collaborating with international colleagues in Italy.