Priorities

Global engagement and OVPIA

Sustained and expansive international engagement is integral to IU’s teaching, research, and service missions.

It expands the worldview of our students, both domestic and international. It facilitates the collaboration of leading researchers around the world, bringing multiple perspectives and sources of expertise together to address the critical challenges of the day. And it generates vibrant and welcoming international communities here on IU’s campuses and among Hoosier alumni in every corner of the world.

Our values

OVPIA engages with all IU campuses in alignment with their respective missions. We collaborate with and support students, faculty, staff, and academic leadership with the following value commitments as our guide.

2025 Strategic priorities

We intend to build on the university’s recent investments and achievements in international engagement, bringing assets and resources from across OVPIA’s departments to bear in responding to our changing environment and advancing our mission.

These priorities, which encompass both new projects and ongoing initiatives, will inform the development of annual
action plans.

1. Utilize IU's Global Gateway Network and our international partnerships and affiliations to increase the range and impact of teaching, research, and service at IU.

We will leverage the university’s international facilities and international relationships, directing resources and activities toward advancing the university’s key priorities in each world region.
We will facilitate the development of multilateral projects and relationships that enhance international research and learning through cross-regional collaboration.

Complete a review and assessment of activities since 2008 in each of the priority countries identified pursuant to the 2008 strategic plan.
Establish university-wide faculty advisory committees to assist in identifying and pursuing strategic opportunities and priorities with partners in each world region.
Create a grant program to provide seed funding for the development of curricular and research opportunities that utilize multiple Global Gateway offices.
Collaborate with IU’s strategic partner universities to develop joint initiatives that support robust and sustainable programs advancing the production of research on shared challenges.
Launch new collaborations with universities in emerging economies to support the implementation of solutions to key development challenges.

2. Bring internationalization home.

We will deploy all our international resources—including Global Gateway offices, international partnerships, internationally affiliated alumni, and globally mobile students—to create additional opportunities on our campuses for international and intercultural learning.
We will promote a culture on our campuses in which faculty, staff, and students incorporate international, intercultural, and global perspectives as an integral part of their daily work.

Create a grant program to provide seed funding for the development of curricular and co-curricular international and intercultural learning opportunities on our campuses.
Create grant programs to support “global classrooms” that pair classes taught at IU with those taught at international partner institutions.
Create a grant program to support the development of interdisciplinary educational experiences focusing on the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Create an International Development Fellowship program to support the involvement of IU students in the on-campus activities of OVPIA’s Office of International Development.
Develop university-wide programming for faculty and staff on intercultural learning, communication, and advising across cultural differences.
Develop and implement a “Global Connections” resource to assist faculty members in bringing foreign participants into class sessions, lectures, research workshops, and other events via remote technology.

3. Increase the visibility of IU’s global engagement and effectively communicate its value to all of the university’s constituencies.

We will develop clear and compelling messaging regarding the scope, impact, and value of IU’s global engagement, supporting the university’s internal and external communications strategy to promote IU’s leadership in global research and education.
We will inform and support the university’s state and federal advocacy initiatives that advance global learning, international understanding, and the free movement of people and ideas.
We will develop programming on our campuses that highlights the international activities of our students and faculty.

Create and implement an internal and external communications strategy to disseminate OVPIA resource information, opportunities, expertise, and policies concerning global engagement.
Create and implement a content development plan for the IU Global website that highlights the global resources of the university and the impact of our work around the state, nation, and world.
Demonstrate the importance of intercultural knowledge, skills, and competencies as they relate to career development outcomes and 21st century workforce expectations, positioning IU as a resource to support the State of Indiana and the nation as they participate in the global economy.
Organize an annual symposium on major trends and best practices in an area of global engagement such as international partnerships, international development, international teaching and learning, study abroad, or recruitment and admission of international students.
Organize an annual faculty forum highlighting activities taking place at our Gateway offices.

4. Improve the accessibility and inclusiveness of international education at IU.

We will increase the inclusive participation of students from all campuses, and of underrepresented students and majors, in opportunities for study abroad, internships, and service-learning programs.
We will bolster efforts on our campuses to recruit and retain top-quality international students from a diverse range of countries.
We will support academic departments in leveraging international partnerships and remote technology to expand the availability of their programs to students confronting mobility barriers.

Identify ways to reduce the total cost of attendance for international students with demonstrated financial need.
Partner with diversity and equity offices throughout the university to support the further diversification of participants in study abroad and other international learning opportunities.
Develop informational resources and best practice recommendations to support academic departments in increasing the delivery of certificate, non-degree, dual-degree, and joint-degree courses and programs of study to international students seeking shorter-term study experiences in the United States.
Support academic departments seeking to develop online or in-country components of degree programs.

5. Develop philanthropic and other forms of financial support for OVPIA’s strategic initiatives.

In collaboration with IUAA and IUF, develop and implement an advancement plan for international affairs.
In collaboration with IUAA, harness the active engagement of our international alumni network to support global engagement.
Secure individual, corporate, and foundation support for the International Center, the Global Gateway Network, study abroad scholarships, and need-based scholarships for international students.
Secure funding from U.S. federal and other sources to support overseas institutional development projects and curriculum internationalization initiatives.
Create an advisory board for OVPIA.

Priorities

Global engagement and OVPIA

Our values

2025 Strategic priorities

1. Utilize IU's Global Gateway Network and our international partnerships and affiliations to increase the range and impact of teaching, research, and service at IU.

Initiatives

2. Bring internationalization home.

Initiatives

3. Increase the visibility of IU’s global engagement and effectively communicate its value to all of the university’s constituencies.

Initiatives

4. Improve the accessibility and inclusiveness of international education at IU.

Initiatives

5. Develop philanthropic and other forms of financial support for OVPIA’s strategic initiatives.

Initiatives

IU Global resources and social media channels