Category: Featured News
UNC’s Diplomacy Initiative hosts live recording of prominent podcast
February 9, 2024Brussels Sprouts co-hosts discuss upcoming Russian presidential election On Wednesday, Jan. 31, before the start of the latest Diplomatic Discussion, Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Chief Global Officer Barbara Stephenson welcomed Carolina students and faculty and said, “We’re doing something different tonight, and I’m excited about it.” The Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs has organized several Diplomatic Discussions on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including the recent visit from Estonia’s ambassador to the U.S. Kristjan Prikk. And the latest event furthered this conversation in a format entirely new to the Diplomacy Initiative: a live podcast … Read more
At the Forefront: Ambassador Prikk explains Estonia’s response to Russia’s war in Ukraine
February 8, 2024Aggression as a tool of statecraft cannot be rewarded in the 21st century, Kristjan Prikk, the ambassador to the United States from the Republic of Estonia, said during a Diplomatic Discussion on Thursday, Jan. 25 in Mandela Auditorium. “This is not just about Ukraine,” Prikk said. “We know that this is about whether the next aggressions will even happen, or whether the message to current and would-be aggressors is, ‘Don’t you even think about it.’” Prikk speaks during his Diplomatic Discussion. (Photo by Walker Winslow Stephenson) Prikk’s speech was the first Diplomatic Discussion of the spring semester. It was co-hosted … Read more
UNC delegation completes unprecedented visit with American, Japanese leaders
January 16, 2024Carolina, Japan strengthen relationships, prepare to tackle challenges The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Japan have fostered a meaningful relationship for more than a century. In 1893, Shinzaburo Mogi of Tokyo arrived at Carolina as UNC’s first international student. In 1951, after the atomic bomb damaged the library at Hiroshima University six years prior, UNC sent books to replenish its inventory. In 1952, the first cohort of Japanese Fulbright scholars reached the U.S., and some of those students attended UNC. In 2011, Hiroshima University presented UNC with four roof tiles that survived the atomic bomb as an … Read more
Global Heel: Kat Goodpaster
January 12, 2024Passion for Russian language propels the academic, professional journey of UNC’s Russian Flagship Program Assistant Director From Global Scholar to assistant director of the Russian Flagship Program, Kat Goodpaster has prioritized pursuing a global education and helping others navigate the intricate web of international learning. Growing up, Goodpaster’s family found joy in learning new languages and expanding their global knowledge, a foundation that would lead Kat to excel in her future career path. “We have a large multiethnic family so language learning is something that we take very seriously,” said Kat’s father, Jeremiah Goodpaster. “With it comes a deeper understanding … Read more
Carolina Asia Center trains Fort Liberty soldiers
January 8, 2024UNC faculty provide meaningful expertise to soldiers in Asian language, culture, history The Carolina Asia Center (CAC) is sharing UNC’s expertise on East, Southeast and South Asia with students on campus in Chapel Hill and with the U.S. military. As one of six area studies centers at Carolina recognized as a National Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Education, the CAC is tasked with outreach that makes deep knowledge on Asia accessible for various audiences beyond campus. One aspect of this work has been providing training and education opportunities for soldiers from Fort Liberty, one of the world’s largest … Read more
The Politics of Climate Change in Africa
December 6, 2023Africa faces serious economic, diplomatic and environmental challenges because of climate change, but three experts each gave reason for hope during a panel discussion in Mandela Auditorium on Nov. 15. The event was the latest in UNC’s Diplomatic Discussions series, which provides Carolina students with inside perspectives on the world of foreign policy. Bisa Williams served on the panel, and is a retired career diplomat and the former U.S. ambassador to Niger, who currently serves as the Knott Distinguished Visiting Professor in Carolina’s Peace, War and Defense curriculum and senior fellow at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs. She … Read more
Connecting Indigenous Youth in Ecuador and North Carolina
December 5, 2023International exchange builds connections between Indigenous students from across the world. In a new international exchange between UNC-Chapel Hill and the National University of Chimborazo (UNACH) in Ecuador, Indigenous students from both universities are connecting with each other and thinking of ways to engage to positively affect their communities. The program, “Hearing from a New Generation: University Support for Indigenous and Rural Youth,” is organized by the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs and co-led by Rudi Colloredo-Mansfeld, professor of anthropology, and Luis Alberto Tuaza, vice rector of research, engagement and graduate studies at UNACH with funding from … Read more
Carolina Is a National Leader in Study Abroad, Ranking 13th among U.S. Universities
November 30, 2023In its commitment to providing a global education for all students, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked 13th among U.S. institutions sending students abroad for academic credit during the 2022-23 academic year, according to the 2023 Open Doors Report on International Education Exchange. The annual report, published Nov. 13 by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in Washington, D.C., is a comprehensive resource for data on international students and scholars in the U.S. and U.S. students studying abroad for academic credit. Carolina also ranked 14th and 15th for participation in semester-long and short-term study abroad programs, respectively. … Read more
Bringing Carolina’s International Community Together
November 14, 2023Students form a new organization to create a space for cultural exchange, professional development and general support for international students. When Jim Appiah, a senior from Ghana studying Chemistry, and Satvik Chethan, a junior from India studying business and information science, first came to Carolina as international students, they struggled to adjust. Like most international students that choose to study at universities in the United States, opening a bank account, securing a visa, registering for classes, finding housing, getting a SIM card and everything else they had to do upon arriving was unfamiliar and completely overwhelmed them. Appiah’s journey … Read more
Brexit, Trade and a New Era for Transatlantic Solidarity
November 13, 2023Former U.S. Ambassador Charles Ries, a leading expert on the formation of the European Union, outlined the future of transatlantic relations in a visit to UNC-Chapel Hill on Oct. 25 as part of the university’s Diplomacy Initiative. In his remarks, Ries told more than 225 Carolina students and faculty that the U.S. and its allies in Europe are experiencing a strong moment in transatlantic solidarity. The event was the latest in a series of Diplomatic Discussions focused on the changing dynamics of international trade. “The Russian invasion of Ukraine is awful,” he said. “The silver lining of that crisis and … Read more