SDSU Participates in Prestigious Internationalization Laboratory
The American Council on Education Internationalization Laboratory provides universities with the guidance to achieve their internationalization goals.
“SDSU has a unique opportunity given our regional placement on the border, and our past and ongoing commitment to international education.”
San Diego State University is one of 10 universities participating in the American Council on Education (ACE) Internationalization Laboratory — a cohort providing customized guidance and insight to achieve internationalization goals.
Through the two-year program, SDSU will be involved in a strategic, coordinated process of aligning and integrating policies, programs, and initiatives to build on existing international connections and further position the university globally.
“The global workforce is incredibly interconnected today, and universities must prepare their graduates to contribute and thrive in meaningful ways. This involves rethinking co-curricular programming, how we integrate internships and study abroad experiences with classes, and how we ensure students are more prepared than ever for success after graduation,” said SDSU President Adela de la Torre.
“SDSU has a unique opportunity given our regional placement on the border, and our past and ongoing commitment to international education,” de la Torre said. “Expanding our capacity to offer transformative learning experiences and opportunities for our students is already a key component of our strategic plan. It is also part of the fabric of the SDSU experience, where we are preparing our students to be responsible, global citizens.”
The other institutions in the program’s 18th cohort are: the University of Kansas; Baylor University; Ball State University; Albizu University in Puerto Rico; California Lutheran University; Fort Valley State University; Jigjiga University in Ethiopia; Pratt Institute; and Southern Illinois University.
SDSU’s inclusion in ACE’s prestigious program emphasizes the university’s commitment to comprehensive internationalization and preparing students for the global workforce through international academic, research and internship experiences.
As part of the program, SDSU will collaborate with other members of its cohort, develop campus committees to develop frameworks and hold regular discussions with ACE advisers.
“SDSU has a long and rich history of incorporating global perspectives into our curriculum and programs,” said SDSU Interim Associate Vice President for International Affairs Cristina Alfaro. “The SDSU community has always included students, faculty, and staff from across the globe, and we are proud of the diverse perspectives they bring inside and outside the classroom. We will leverage our engagement with the ACE Internationalization Lab to strengthen SDSU’s ability to prepare future graduates for a complex, globally-interconnected, and ever-changing world.”
SDSU’s efforts to engage in international education directly align with the university’s new five-year strategic plan, “We Rise We Defy: Transcending Borders, Transforming Lives,” which calls for SDSU, as a community-engaged, border-connected Hispanic-Serving Institution, to develop globally conscious citizens.
For the past three years, SDSU has ranked among the top 10 universities nationally for the number of students studying abroad. With 2,940 students studying abroad during the 2018-19 academic year, SDSU ranked No. 7 in the nation and maintained its No. 1 ranking among California universities.
International experiences are also available to SDSU students through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program for students who receive federal Pell Grants. In 2018, SDSU was named a Gilman International Scholarship Top Producing Institution by the U.S. Department of State.
SDSU’s Georgia Campus, the university’s proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border — with SDSU to the west and SDSU Imperial Valley to the east along the border in California — as well as SDSU’s residence and research on Kumeyaay land afford SDSU students, faculty and staff unique opportunities to engage in international research and collaboration. These opportunities are further amplified through the university’s annual RE:BORDER binational conference and SDSU’s strong emphasis on globally focused experiences within a local setting.
Since 2002, more than 150 higher education institutions have participated in the ACE Internationalization Lab.
