Category: Featured News
Biomedical engineering collaboration with Japanese university returns to Carolina
October 15, 2024At UNC-Chapel Hill, students and faculty have opportunities to participate in enriching international academic exchange — sharing ideas, methods and perspectives on global challenges. One of these exchanges involves biomedical engineering education and research with Nagoya University. The “Convolution of Informatics and Biomedical Sciences on Global Alliances (CIBoG) Summer Biomedical Engineering (BME)” program took place Sept. 8-15. Students and faculty from Nagoya University in Japan traveled to North Carolina for the program, the second time UNC-Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University (NC State) have organized it with Nagoya University’s WISE (World-leading Innovative and Smart Education) doctoral program. The BME … Read more
Diplomacy Week 2024 connects Carolina students with global affairs experts, careers
October 15, 2024Every year, Diplomacy Week brings thought leaders in global affairs, national security and diplomacy to Carolina to engage with students. This year, the fourth Diplomacy Week took place Oct. 7-11, 2024. More than 500 students participated in lectures, panel discussions and presentations which introduced students to skills, careers and current events in foreign affairs. Photo by Huth Photo. “Carolina’s Diplomacy Initiative — including Diplomacy Week — introduces students to some of the world’s grand challenges,” Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Chief Global Officer Barbara Stephenson said. “As they learn about shared global challenges, they explore solutions, practicing skills like … Read more
Global Heel: Gracie Young
October 14, 2024Carolina, Jordanian students amplify women’s stories through photography Gracie Young ’26 was at a film studio in Amman, Jordan, listening to a local female producer when she began to understand the importance of women’s empowerment within the arts, a growing outlet for creative expression in the Middle East. This year, Young participated in the “Raise Your Voice” program, a two-way exchange between UNC-Chapel Hill and American University of Madaba (AUM) in Jordan. The program was organized by UNC Global Affairs and funded by the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan. The Morehead-Cain scholar, originally from Chapel Hill, traveled to Jordan in … Read more
American diplomat reflects on service in Africa in Diplomatic Discussion
October 14, 2024The continent of Africa has experienced sustained economic growth for more than a decade; however, according to retired U.S. Ambassador Geeta Pasi, due to pandemics, recent military coups and deteriorating security in certain regions, this growth has slowed. Pasi remains optimistic that African governments can accomplish an economic resurgence by harnessing the potential of their rapidly growing population and critical natural resources, as she argued in a recent Diplomatic Discussion. Pasi served as U.S. ambassador on three occasions — to Djibouti (2011-2014), Chad (2016-2018) and Ethiopia (2021-2022) — and as principal deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau for African Affairs … Read more
Annual Whistle-Stop Tour showcases Carolina’s Global Guarantee to new students
September 17, 2024Every year, Carolina’s Weeks of Welcome helps Tar Heels, both new and returning, transition to campus life. For the third year, UNC Global Affairs and the Study Abroad Office co-hosted the Global Whistle-Stop Tour to showcase the resources, programs and departments that deliver Carolina’s Global Guarantee — the University’s promise that a global education is available to every Tar Heel. The event took place on Wednesday, Aug. 28, in the Florence and James Peacock Atrium in the FedEx Global Education Center, and more than 200 students attended. “I hope the Whistle-Stop Tour helps students get acquainted with the many ways … Read more
Diplomatic Discussion speaker advocates for globalized economy
September 16, 2024For decades, liberalism, free trade and globalization have dominated U.S. foreign policy. According to Daniel W. Drezner, the bipartisan consensus that has reinforced this policy approach has unraveled in recent years. Drezner, a distinguished professor of international politics at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, spoke at this year’s first Diplomatic Discussion on Wednesday, Sept. 11 in the Nelson Mandela Auditorium at the FedEx Global Education Center. UNC Global Affairs and the Global Research Institute organized Drezner’s visit around the question: “Whither Globalization?” Past Diplomatic Discussions speakers — such as U.S. Ambassador Katherine Tai, the U.S. Trade Representative, … Read more
Carolina career coach advises Tar Heels on jobs in foreign affairs, federal service
September 13, 2024In January, Robert Morris joined Honors Carolina as a professional development and career coach. He specializes in advising students interested in diplomacy, foreign affairs and government, and he holds a Federal Advisor Certificate which demonstrates an advanced level of expertise in the federal hiring process. His insights and coaching are available to every Tar Heel. With 12 years of experience supporting college students and their career goals, Morris provides students with feedback on their resumes, advice on navigating USAJOBS.gov and security clearances, and tips on professional networking. Students can schedule time to meet with him one-on-one. Morris ensures Carolina students … Read more
Transatlantic students, cadets welcome four-star general to Chapel Hill
September 9, 2024In a rapidly changing world, NATO remains critical to the global security architecture. Now 75 years since its founding in 1949, the alliance experiences new challenges and continues to ensure the collective defense of its 32 members, according to General Christopher G. Cavoli. On Thursday, Aug. 29, Carolina students welcomed Cavoli to campus. UNC Global Affairs, Carolina’s ROTC, the Department of Political Science and the Center for European Studies (CES) worked together to host Cavoli, who serves as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and commander of U.S. European Command. He is the top U.S. general in Europe and oversees all NATO military operations in Europe. Cavoli … Read more
America’s research universities remain one of our greatest strengths
August 27, 2024On June 25, U.S. News & World Report released the 2024-2025 global rankings for universities around the world. Of the top 30 institutions, 20 are from the U.S. (up from the previous year) and nine are from the UK, Australia, Singapore and Canada. One university is in China. I am proud to say, too, that UNC-Chapel Hill remains in the top 50. I speak often to civic organizations, like World Affairs Councils and others, and I never fail to mention these rankings. They, along with similar rankings not based in the U.S., conclusively capture America’s standout strength in higher education. … Read more
Global Heel: Zheyu Huang
August 24, 2024In May 2023 at 4:30 a.m., Zheyu Huang, ’23, woke up before sunrise to marvel at the cityscape of Guanajuato, Mexico from his hotel room. He sat on his balcony in the dark, waiting for the “blue hour”— a time where light and shadows are softest — to come. Just before dawn, he took a photo, which eventually he would submit to the 2023 Carolina Global Photography Competition. At the time, Huang was an international student at UNC-Chapel Hill from Wuhan, China, studying business and computer science. He also was interested in photography. So, every year on his way to … Read more