Pitt Recognized for Global Engagement Efforts with APLU Gold Award

PITTSBURGH—The University of Pittsburgh was honored for its internationalization efforts and awarded the Gold Level Award for Global Engagement by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU).

“Internationalization of campuses is critically important to the success of students and our universities,” said APLU President Peter McPherson. “The pandemic is creating new challenges to advancing global learning, research, engagement, but also new opportunities.” McPherson cited Pitt as a leading exemplar of internationalization in global engagement.

“The University of Pittsburgh is committed to educating students who are world-ready—able to navigate the complexities of both their professional and personal lives with a global awareness and perspective," said Pitt Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Ann E. Cudd. "It is a great honor to be recognized by the APLU for our efforts."

The University has a host of efforts promoting global engagement, providing important opportunities to enrich the experiences of both domestic and international students, faculty, staff and Pittsburgh community members. Educational programs to K-12 schools and community college leaders emphasize international studies and world languages. Pitt also hosts the Mid-Atlantic coordinating site for the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia, covering 11 states. Additionally, the University works with local ethnic societies to host cultural events and festivals for students, faculty, staff and the wider community. Pitt also has a partnership with Carnegie Mellon University to provide mini-courses on global themes, offered to both students and the public.

“We are extremely proud that an organization devoted to advancing the work of public universities has distinguished Pitt for its excellence in global engagement,” said Ariel Armony, vice provost for global affairs and director of the University Center for International Studies (UCIS). “This prestigious award recognizes Pitt’s leadership in connecting our university and our country with the world.”

John Stoner, executive director of academic affairs at UCIS, said the APLU Gold Award is “recognition of how much we’ve been able to help drive the University community towards recognizing the value of its strategic goal to Embrace the World.”

Stoner attributed the honor to the efforts of stakeholders across all of the University’s campuses and in all of its schools and units who have been engaged in the work of advancing internationalization and promoting global engagement.

He identified three recent programs and services that also exemplify the University’s innovation in global engagement:

• Pitt to You, which matches current Pitt students with incoming international students and provides onboarding and mentorship both before the students arrive on campus and after they come to the United States;
• Global Hub, a vibrant and modern open space on the first floor of Wesley W. Posvar Hall that welcomes students as a place to gather, learn and study with a global perspective; and
• Global Competence Certificate Program, part of Pitt’s Faculty and Staff Development Program, which offers faculty and staff the opportunity to build awareness and understanding of diverse cultures while learning about University policies and resources that support its strategic goal of embracing the world. The certificate program recently graduated its first cohort this fall.

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