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

Illinois International
  • Behind Alma Mater are figures of a woman representing “learning” and a man depicting “labor” joining hands. Together they symbolize the University’s motto, “Learning and Labor.” Alma Mater, the beloved bronze mother figure that has greeted generations of University of Illinois students, graces the entry way to the campus. Alma Mater, which was created by sculptor Lorado Taft, is a 10,000-pound statue depicting a mother-figure wearing academic robes, bearing a plaque that reads, "To thy happy children of the future, those of the past send greetings.” Photo taken at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. (Photo by Fred Zwicky / University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

    Application cycle opens for Global South Fellowship program

    Apr 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.  

  • Photo shows students walking in front of the College of Education on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus.

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

    Apr 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. 

  • 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 this year’s Madhuri and Jagdish N. Sheth International Alumni Award for Exceptional Achievement. In this photo she is seen posing in front of a book case and is holding up the peace sign.

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

    Apr 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. 


  • gilman logo for 25th anniversary

    Illinois named a top producer of Gilman Scholars

    Mar 13, 2026 2:00 pm

    The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is among the top producers of recipients for the Gilman International Scholarship Program, which provides merit-based scholarships to outstanding American undergraduate students with high financial need to pursue credit-bearing academic studies and career-oriented internships abroad. The scholarship opportunities equip Gilman Scholars with international experience, global networks and foreign language skills essential to advancing U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.

  • system emblem on sign

    University of Illinois System and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) issue joint call for research proposals

    Mar 9, 2026 5:30 pm

    The University of Illinois System and the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) have issued a joint call for proposals for a seed funding research program for the 2026–2027 academic year. The program will fund projects in four thematic areas: Food, Health, Water, and Energy. The overarching goal is to contribute towards solving problems related to poverty, the environment, and sustainable well-being.