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Office of Global Engagement

UNMC Global Engagement Recap, 2021

Courtesy of the UNMC Office of Global Engagement

The Origins of Global Engagement

Since the first international student enrolled in the 1890s, UNMC has been committed to education and initiatives on a global scale. For over 120 years, UNMC has been involved in global initiatives and education in various capacities. In 2020, the merging of multiple campus units into the Office of Global Engagement (OGE) has enabled the university to more effectively impact the international arena. The following units that were engaged in international activities and service merged to create the OGE:   
 

  • Asia Pacific Rim Development Program (APRDP): developed and managed partnerships in education, research, and clinical services between UNMC and the Asia Pacific area.
  • International Business (formerly UNeMEd International): developed international business opportunities in collaboration with UNMC colleges and Nebraska Medicine. 
  • International Health and Medical Education (IHME): supported international partnership development, provided visa sponsorship expertise and services for students, international visitors and clinical observers, and managed education abroad programs.
UNMC Global Engagement Recap, 2020

Courtesy of the UNMC Office of Global Engagement

ACE and Internationalization

In 2019, UNMC completed a two-year mentorship under the American Council on Education (ACE) as a member of the 15th Cohort of the ACE Internationalization Laboratory. Upon completing the laboratory, the Office of Global Engagement (OGE) released a report summarizing two years of international strategic planning and asset mapping and offered recommendations for moving forward. The OGE implemented the recommendations of the laboratory by aligning OGE resources to better support the academic mission of the UNMC campus, through providing support services to international students, scholars, and visitors; developing opportunities for global learning experiences and study abroad programs; and pursuing strategic partnerships of interest to the UNMC community. UNMC and other academic health centers have effectively coordinated these disparate global activities to both ensure the integrity of support programs and services and represent UNMC’s “face to the world” as a unified vision. To that end, one of the major recommendations in the ACE Report was to establish a UNMC internationalization advisory committee representing academic units across the UNMC campus. This advisory committee was established in fall 2020. 

UNMC Global Engagement Recap, 2019

Courtesy of the UNMC Office of Global Engagement

Why Global Engagement?

Global Engagement is a strategy for addressing and better understanding the global dynamics and connections that affect and mold our campus and community. UNMC benefits from global engagement by creating a diversified workforce through academic enrichment and increased international reputation through research, innovation, and academic excellence. Students and scholars are welcomed from diverse nations and cultures and contribute to a rich tapestry, both on campus and within the Omaha community. All of UNMC benefits from the new perspectives that come from working and studying in a diverse global community. 

UNMC also serves as a national and international resource through its Global Center for Health Security, its partnership in the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training & Education Center, and the National Center for Health Security & Biopreparedness Training Center. iEXCEL (Interprofessional Experiential Center for Enduring Learning) also promotes experiential learning to achieve the vision of global leadership in improving human performance and effectiveness in health care.