We hope the spring semester started well for everyone. At Global Programs, we continue to be energized by the resilience of our community during these challenging times, and by the increasing ability of our students and faculty to travel safely to many areas around the world. We are encouraged by the growing interest of our students to study away from campus, as well as by recent efforts to create new opportunities to study overseas and send students again to suspended locations. For instance, after nearly two years of closed borders due to the pandemic, BU Sydney welcomed students back for in-person programs this semester and several longstanding academic partners have expressed interest to reengage.

Equally exciting, we were delighted to welcome a large number of new and returning international students and scholars to Boston for the spring semester. We look forward to supporting these individuals throughout their academic career at BU. In this issue, we invite you to read about some of the ways BU students and researchers are making their mark in climate research, social science, and public service internationally. Additionally, we spotlight a biology student who completed the BU Madrid Science Program on her path to applying to medical school.

These opportunities for exchange and learning among a diverse and varied global perspective and lived experiences make our entire University community so vibrant. We’re proud to play a role in BU’s commitment to global engagement, offering enriching student mobility opportunities and preparing students to thrive in an increasingly interconnected, global environment. Expanded opportunities for studying abroad are launching; take a look at new programs for AY2022/23 in Cape Town, South Africa and Santiago, Chile, and stay tuned for news regarding renewed opportunities in Germany, France, Ecuador, and New Zealand as the pandemic reaches a level allowing for greater interaction. In spite of the pressures of the pandemic, our collective adaptability and resilience in this moment is heartening. We hope you enjoy the global activities and stories highlighted within. We often hear about the life-changing impact that international education has on a student, and how these opportunities and memories are rooted in a sense of place – whether at a BU site abroad or on our Boston campuses. Despite the pandemic’s affect, we remain steadfast in our commitment to international education.

Sincerely,
Willis G. Wang
Vice President and Associate Provost for Global Programs