Global West Virginia is a new international education consortium model established and led by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) and facilitated by a $210,000 two-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to West Virginia State University (WVSU), Bluefield State University (BSU), and the HEPC. 

The Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language (UISFL) grant program will:

• Strengthen undergraduate instruction in international studies and foreign languages at WVSU and BSU.

• Expand collaboration in West Virginia to internationalize degree programs with an emphasis on:

  • Integrating international experiential learning programs into the curriculum.

  • Increasing access for students to engage in internationally-focused internships with global companies and organizations.

  • Developing students’ foreign language proficiency at advanced levels.

During the next two years (2022-2024), we will:

• Build the foundation for the GlobalWV Consortium at WVSU and BSU.

• Expand the consortium model to include other West Virginia institutions of higher education, disciplines, and internationalization activities by:

  • Developing a “Global West Virginia Mobile Study Abroad Office” to be shared by GlobalWV member institutions that will help increase access to affordable international experiences for students and professional development opportunities for faculty.

  • Establishing a “Global Competence Certificate” to recognize the valuable global competencies our students acquire when they study or intern abroad or engage in a significant international experience during their degree study.

  • Hosting a state-level Internationalization Conference during Fall 2023 open to all West Virginia faculty and staff who are involved in international education on their campus.

Details to be announced in December 2022.

Details to be announced in December 2022.

Details to be announced in December 2022.

Details to be announced in December 2022.

The following study abroad programs are led by professors in West Virginia.  If you are a faculty member at a university in West Virginia, you may request to have your institution’s faculty-led program listed here.  Eligible programs:

• Take place 100% abroad during spring or winter break or during the summer.

• Are taught and accompanied by a West Virginia faculty member.

• Award academic credit by a U.S. higher education institution.

• Are open to students 18 years or older and enrolled at a college or university in West Virginia.

Winter Program in Florence & Rome – Marshall University

• Led by Marshall University Professor of Art, Ian Hagarty.

• Operated by the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS)

• Two-week winter program occurs over the MU holiday break from December 26, 2002 – January 7, 2023.

• The winter program in Italy is a twelve-day program that begins in the beautiful Tuscan city of Florence and ends in the country’s magnificent capital, Rome. Students spend the first five days in Florence where they are living within walking distance of the most famous museums and sites in Italy’s Renaissance capital. The program will then move to Rome where students visit and explore the Vatican, Colosseum, famous churches, and other memorable monuments.

• The early application deadline is August 1st, 2022, but students may apply up through September 15th, 2022.

• Visit the KIIS website to learn more and apply.

Winter Program in Italy – Marshall University

• Led by Marshall University Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Rosalynn Quinones.

• Operated by the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS)

• Two-week trip occurs over the MU holiday break from December 26, 2002 – January 7, 2023.

• The winter program in Italy is a twelve-day program that begins in the beautiful Tuscan city of Florence and ends in the country’s magnificent capital, Rome. Students spend the first five days in Florence where they are living within walking distance of the most famous museums and sites in Italy’s Renaissance capital. The program will then move to Rome where students visit and explore the Vatican, Colosseum, famous churches, and other memorable monuments.

• The early application deadline is August 1st, 2022, but students may apply up through September 15th, 2022.

• Visit the KIIS website to learn more and apply.

Summer Program in Argentina – Marshall University

• Led by Marshall University Professor of Political Science, Dr. Shawn Schulenberg.

• Operated by the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS)

• Four-week program during summer 2023 to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

• From the Andes Mountains to the bustling port city of Buenos Aires, Argentina embodies the richness of both South American and European cultures. Based in Buenos Aires, a fascinating urban landscape with famous streets, cafes, architecture, cuisine, music and dance, group excursions include visits to museums, outdoor markets, historic mansions, national monuments, government ministries and soccer stadiums. Courses make Argentina the focus of discussion through hands-on learning opportunities and guest lectures by local Argentine experts. Students enjoy free weekends to travel independently to other regions in Argentina.

• The early application deadline for Summer is December 1st, 2022, but students may apply for the program up through February 15th, 2023.

• Visit the KIIS website to learn more and apply.

Summer Program in Berlin & Barcelona – Marshall University

• Led by Marshall University Professor of Communication Studies, Dr. Julie Snyder-Yuly.

• Operated by the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS)

• Four-week program during summer 2023 to Berlin, Germany and Barcelona, Spain.

• The Berlin & Barcelona program takes full advantage of two diverse and vibrant cities in Germany and Spain. The program begins in Berlin, in the vibrant and centrally located Prenzlauer Berg district. Students have a unique chance to explore Germany’s thriving art, culture, and history. The program then moves to Barcelona, a cosmopolitan seaport on Spain’s Mediterranean coast. Walking through this city reveals its Roman past, distinct gothic quarter, sublime modernist expansions, and experimental contemporary architecture. Classes are divided between formal classwork, field workshops, and guided excursions that provide students direct contact with the cities, and their museums, galleries, cafés, and parks.

• The early application deadline is December 1st, 2022, but students may apply up through February 15th, 2023.

• Visit the KIIS website to learn more and apply.

Summer Program in Japan – Marshall University

• Led by Marshall University Professor of Japanese, Dr. Zeli Rivas.

• Operated by the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS)

• Two-week program during summer 2023 to visit Nara, Hiroshima, and Kyoto.

• In addition to regular classes, students will attend Japanese indigo dyeing and calligraphy workshops, and visit the educational institutions and historical and cultural sites. Note: Students should be aware that excursions may be physically strenuous and involve walking several miles at a time.

• The early application deadline is December 1st, 2022, and students can apply up through February 15th, 2023.

• Visit the KIIS website to learn more and apply.