Global Currents Blog

  • Examining U.S. Education Policy Effects and Inequities – A presentation at the 2026 Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) conference in San Francisco

    by Donna C. Tonini, MBA, Ed.DJul 22, 2026 4:00 pm

    The 70th Annual Conference of the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES),  “Re-examining Education and Peace in a Divided World,” was held 3/28/2026 – 4/1/2026 in San Francisco, highlighting pressing global and local concerns across regions experiencing division and conflict, including the U.S., with No Kings protests and rallies coinciding with conference programs. 

  • CGS Connections: Reflecting on Relationships with Think Tanks

    by Donna C. Tonini, MBA, Ed.DJul 13, 2026 5:45 pm

    CGS has spent the past year developing connections with think tanks through increased engagement with thought leaders at the On Think Tanks (OTT) School for Thinktankers’ conferences. Dr. Tonini, Associate Director of The Center for Global Studies, reflects on the 2025 and 2026 annual School for Thinktankers’ conferences and provides insights on prominent scholars, projects, and research in the field of think tank creation and strategy. 

  • An Economic Perspective on Korea’s Hagwon System

    by Jieun KimJun 30, 2026 8:15 pm

    Korean students spend a significant amount of time and energy at hagwons, and the social consequences are serious.

  • More Than New Friends, “Framily” For Life

    by Sandra McAnanyMay 18, 2026 10:00 am

    How I Became a Sponsor

    In early 2023, I read an article about Kyle Varner, a doctor in Spokane Washington who had sponsored over 40 Venezuelans through a humanitarian parole program and reached out to him via social media to find out more.  When I commented on his post on Facebook, my messenger started flooding with messages from individuals and families in Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua who were looking for sponsors through the new Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela (CHNV) humanitarian parole program.  I met with Kyle virtually, learned the steps involved, and wanted to sponsor a few people.  After exchanging messages with individuals online and not knowing any of them, I decided to sponsor four single women who were working hard in Venezuela, displayed resilience and focused on having a safer future.  I added the mother of one of the four when I realized she would be all alone in Venezuela if her daughter left. For me, this was an opportunity to make a true commitment to immigrants after being an informal advocate for years. ...

  • CGS Faculty Honored for Excellence in Instruction

    by Jasmine CarruthMay 8, 2026 12:30 pm

    CGS is proud to celebrate the achievements of these Center for Global Studies faculty affiliates and congratulates them on their Campus Awards.

  • From Illinois to the UN: CGS Affiliate Professor Lisa Hinchliffe on Information Integrity

    by Jasmine CarruthMay 4, 2026 4:45 pm

    Professor Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe of the School of Information Sciences, Coordinator for Research Professional Development at the University Library, and CGS Affiliate, recently addressed the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on the topic of libraries and information integrity.

  • Convening Global Perspectives: CGS’ Inaugural Global Policy Forum

    by Jasmine CarruthApr 30, 2026 12:15 pm

    The Center for Global Studies (CGS) hosted a successful two-day Global Policy Forum (GPF) on April 14th and 15th, 2026. With almost 100 registrants, this forum spotlighted student presenters from over a dozen departments, covering academic areas such as political science, human rights, climate resilience, and sustainable development. 

  • Exploring Global Studies through a Global South Lens: CGS Fall 2025 Event Roundup

    by Shoutao WuDec 17, 2025 10:45 am

    In the Fall 2025 semester, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Center for Global Studies (CGS) focused its programming lens on the Global South, hosting nine lectures that collectively engaged various global challenges across broad geographical contexts, and diverse fields and scholarship.

  • Center for Global Studies Highlights Climate Leadership in Multinational Student Competition

    by Dr. Leon LiebenbergDec 8, 2025 3:15 pm

    Urbana, Illinois – The Center for Global Studies (CGS) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign proudly celebrated the achievements of students from around the world during the 5th annual Reimagine Our Future sustainability competition held on December 6, 2025. CGS has supported the competition since its inception, advancing its mission to foster global perspectives on sustainability, climate resilience, and interdisciplinary innovation. 

  • Who gets to speak for Iran? Global Media, Regime Narratives, and an Ignored People

    by Vesal RazavimalekiDec 8, 2025 1:15 pm

    Iran might be the most lied-about country on Earth. You may assume I’m talking about crude axis of evil stereotypes – headlines that reduce Iran to terrorists, turbans, and uranium. Those, as it happens, are real, but they are not what I find most dangerous.

    The real distortion is subtler, more insidious, and far friendlier to the Islamic Republic itself. It’s the story that says: Iran is changing; the regime is quietly moving away from theocracy; secular youth and clerics are converging toward some pragmatic middle. In this story, the state and the people are blurred into one complex society that just needs time, sanctions relief, and a bit of gradual reform.