The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has been recognized by the Institute for International Education (IIE) as the inaugural recipient of the IIE Century Medal. The IIE Century Medal is conferred upon institutions who have made unique and powerful contributions to international education in addition to having demonstrated a commitment to building a peaceful and equitable world that is enriched by the international exchange of ideas and greater understanding among people and cultures.
“The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has more than a century of leadership in global engagement, from welcoming the largest population of international students among public institutions in the United States, to recruitment of outstanding international faculty, robust education abroad programs, and multifaceted partnerships with leading institutions,” said Chancellor Robert J. Jones. “We are deeply humbled to be the first-ever recipients of the IIE Century Medal and are committed to fully embodying our role as a land grant university that serves our community, the state, the nation, and the world.”
The University of Illinois is specifically being recognized for its new global strategy, Vision 2030. Launched in late July of this year, Vision 2030 sets forth a commitment to expand and create comprehensive global learning, teaching, research and engagement opportunities for students, faculty and staff while embracing the responsibility to address emerging global trends and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“I think Vision 2030 is courageous,” said IIE’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Allan Goodman at the university’s Global Summit on October 19. “You could have easily said ‘the pandemic has changed everything’ but I think I see that it has deepened your commitment to making Illinois–the state of Illinois, the University of Illinois–a global institution, and you’re doing it the right way.”
Vision 2030 outlines five key strategies to realize being a pre-eminent public research university with a global impact, including: education for global citizenship; engagement for impact in the Global South; leadership for innovative partnership and development; education for inclusive excellence; and global excellence for the state of Illinois. For more information on Vision 2030, visit: https://publish.illinois.edu/global-strategy/.
“Fostering global learning creates the foundation for greater citizenship for everyone involved,” said Dr. Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela, Vice Provost for International Affairs and Global Strategies. “A recognition like the IIE Century Medal provides us with the opportunity to celebrate our history of global engagement while motivating the next generation of students, faculty, and staff to continue to make a significant societal impact, both at home and abroad.”
The Institute of International Education (IIE) was founded in 1919 and helps people and organizations leverage the power of international education to thrive in today’s interconnected world. IIE works closely with foundation, government, and corporate partners to develop and manage some of the world’s most prestigious educational and cultural exchange programs, including the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Program and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Language Flagship. For more information on the IIE, visit: http://www.iie.org/en.
