Illinois International News
Illinois International News is a collection of globally-focused blogs and stories from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

  • Colleen Murphy appointed Vice Provost for Global Engagement

    by Marta SchneiderAug 3, 2026 12:15 pm

    The Office of the Provost and Illinois International are pleased to announce Colleen Murphy’s appointment as vice provost for global engagement. In this role, she will serve as the university’s senior international officer, overseeing Illinois International and campuswide initiatives that promote global learning, discovery, and engagement.

  • BRIDGE Seed Fund Grant recipients announced

    by Global Communications StaffJul 21, 2026 1:45 pm

    The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Birmingham are pleased to announce the recipients of the Birmingham-Illinois Partnership for Discovery, Engagement, and Education (BRIDGE) Seed Fund Grant for the 2026-2027 Academic Year.

  • Bolashak scholars share their research, background during end-of-program showcase

    by Analicia HaynesJul 8, 2026 10:00 am

    Eighteen presentations were featured during two in-person sessions at the Bolashak 2025-2026 Research & Professional Development Showcase on May 8 inside the Illini Union.  

    The showcase was an opportunity for Bolashak scholars to share their research projects and marked the end of the 2025-2026 program.  

    Bolashak scholars Ulbossyn Ualikhanova, an instructor at Gumilyov Eurasian National University in Astana, Kazakhstan, and Aizhan Zaurbek, an instructor at International IT University in Almaty, Kazakhstan, collaborated on their research project and presented their findings on a poster cleverly titled, “The Dark Side of the Universe.”  

  • Two Illinois students compete for 2026 U21 RISE Award

    by Analicia HaynesJun 23, 2026 2:15 pm

    Two University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students are finalists in the 2026 Universitas 21 RISE People’s Choice Award for Innovation. 

  • 'The ecosystem depends on people, not just policy': 2026 Sheth International Alumni Award recipient shares wisdom during annual lecture

    by Analicia HaynesMay 14, 2026 10:30 am

    Prof. Joyce Yen Feng, the recipient of the 2026 Madhuri and Jagdish N. Sheth International Alumni Award for Exceptional Achievement, explained that sometimes the smallest actions, like talking to someone or making friends, can create the biggest change. 

    She said this following her presentation at the April 28 Sheth Distinguished Lecture, during which she described a lifetime dedicated to promoting positive, societal change in Taiwan.  

  • I-MMAS, Illinois System to host interdisciplinary online symposium on brain health, nutrition, genomics

    by Analicia HaynesMay 12, 2026 3:15 pm

    The University of Illinois System and the Illinois Mexican & Mexican American Students Initiative (I-MMAS) is hosting an online, one-day symposium from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (CDT) on Wednesday, May 20.  

    The system and the I-MMAS program are also presenting the symposium in collaboration with Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara.  

  • Illinois International celebrates International Families Day with inaugural event

    by Analicia HaynesMay 5, 2026 12:45 pm

    Several balloon “sword fights” broke out inside the Orchard Downs Community Center on April 24, as international graduate students, scholars, and their families laughed and played during the first-ever International Families Day event.

  • Global Relations, Illinois International will host ‘Fulbright Week’ starting April 30

    by Analicia HaynesApr 20, 2026 4:30 pm

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Global Relations and Illinois International, with support from the Institute for International Education, will build on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's extensive history of Fulbright participation by hosting a Fulbright Week starting April 30.  

    Fulbright Week is designed to help students, faculty, and staff learn about U.S. Student and Scholar programs. It also fosters a culture of global engagement and encourages members of the university community to pursue transformative international experiences. 

  • Application cycle opens for Global South Fellowship program

    by Analicia HaynesApr 16, 2026 10:00 am

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Applications are now being accepted for the 2026-2027 Global South Fellowship Program. 

    This fellowship, which is a Birmingham-Illinois Partnership for Discovery, Engagement, and Education (BRIDGE) initiative, enables visiting fellows to come to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or the University of Birmingham to conduct research and advance their scholarly work.  

  • Celebrating Nauryz: GET partners with Bolashak Scholars and Russian, Eastern Europe, and Eurasian Center to share Kazakh culture on campus

    by Analicia HaynesApr 10, 2026 10:15 am

    Music, movement, and the aroma of traditional Kazakh dishes filled the room inside the Levis Faculty Center on March 27 as guests gathered to celebrate Nauryz—a holiday centered on renewal, unity, and togetherness.   

    Global Education and Training (GET), the Russian, Eastern Europe, and Eurasian Center, and Bolashak Scholars from Kazakhstan organized the celebration, which felt less like a campus event and more like a family gathering.   

  • Q&A: Global South Fellow reflects on collaborations, experience gained through Illinois program

    by Analicia HaynesApr 8, 2026 9:00 am

    Abebaw Yirga Adamu, a professor in higher education and the director of quality assurance at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, said he has connected with and engaged with more people than he initially anticipated during his tenure as a Global South Fellow. 

  • Taiwan’s ‘Mother of Social Enterprise’ receives 2026 Sheth alumni award; will deliver on-campus lecture April 28

    by Analicia HaynesApr 3, 2026 12:45 pm

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Prof. Joyce Yen Feng, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumna and professor emerita in the Department of Social Work at National Taiwan University (NTU), is the recipient of the 2026 Madhuri and Jagdish N. Sheth International Alumni Award for Exceptional Achievement.  

    She will deliver this year’s Sheth Distinguished Alumni Lecture in celebration of her recognition from noon to 1 p.m. on April 28 in Room 103 at the Illini Union. 


  • 2026 International Achievement Award recipients announced

    by Global CommunicationsMar 31, 2026 10:00 am

    The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Illinois International are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025-2026 International Achievement Awards, which recognize outstanding alumni, faculty, and students whose exceptional work, service, and/or scholarship has made a significant, global impact.