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Story: Lisa Solly
When Dr. Mark Davis took the helm of the University of West Alabama’s international program in 2014, he wanted to bring the world to UWA and offer the world to his students.
Davis said before the pandemic halted international travel, more UWA students than ever were planning to study abroad, but rebuilding a strong program had been a challenge. That’s why he’s excited about his new unique program at UWA, which aims to enhance students’ academic experiences and shape a more interconnected future. These new scholarship opportunities are aimed at incoming high school seniors and current UWA freshmen. To be considered for this prestigious scholarship, applications must be submitted by April 15, 2024.
High school seniors interested in studying abroad are invited to apply for this scholarship. The scholarship includes two round-trip international flights (up to $6,000) to anywhere in the world and prepares students for international exchange with partner universities through campus-based programming and faculty. Led the opportunity for study abroad. According to Davis, UWA currently has more than 25 partners around the world.
New students at UWA can also apply to the Global Scholars Community Scholarship program, which guarantees participation in an enriching program that contributes to academic and professional development. This includes up to $3,000 in travel expenses to a UWA affiliated study abroad destination.
Mr Davis insists recruiting international students to UWA is not a problem. “The struggle is that study abroad fosters collaboration, exchange of ideas, and connection with other world-class scholars, fosters academic rigor, healthy competition, and fosters a global mindset before you even step foot.” “It’s about getting students to understand or accept that it opens doors for them,” he said. on our campus. ”
Two UWA students, fourth-year student Carlyn Rawls and second-year student Madelyn Brasher, know first-hand how life-changing studying abroad can be. During her year in France, Rawls not only had the opportunity to visit some of Europe’s most popular cities, but also met people from all over the world and learned about new cultures and worldviews.
Brasher was part of a small group of students who went to Ireland in the fall of 2023, and she says the trip has made her life richer and more fulfilling.
“Exploring the world outside of Alabama has given me a new perspective on life that I never would have imagined otherwise,” Brasher said. “Although the focus of this trip was on academics, I got to try amazing food, visit surreal geographic regions, and have unique conversations that made me even better. It was very fulfilling.”
Rawls added: “Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and everyone should do it if they have the chance.”
Growing up in Southern California allowed Davis to meet people from all over the world, but he admits that’s not the norm in most parts of the rural South. As head of international programs at UWA, he wants to expand far beyond the university’s physical boundaries and help students understand that studying abroad is not that far away.
“Through the Global Scholars Community Scholarship, we hope to place students at UWA’s partner universities around the world, including partner universities in Western Europe, Japan, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, China and Vietnam.” he said. , “But we can also help with faculty-led study abroad programs.”
For more information about UWA’s new Global Scholars Community Scholarship and the application form, please contact Dr Mark Davis at mdavis@uwa.edu.
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