Haenicke Institute for Global Education

Haenicke Institute for Global Education
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5245 USA
(269) 387-5890

Six Pathways to Global Engagement

Discover opportunities to expand your academic horizons through international collaboration, research, and cultural exchange programs designed for WMU faculty and emeriti.

 

Western Michigan University (WMU) maintains formal agreements with over 100 international partner institutions, creating opportunities for faculty to conduct research, teach, or offer expertise abroad. These pathways are supported by university-endorsed programs and travel protocols designed to enhance global engagement.

Key Resources

  • Fulbright Grants: These include semester, academic year, and short-term opportunities in more than 135 countries. WMU provides institutional guidance such as proposal coaching and liaison support through its Fulbright Faculty and Scholar page.
  • Short-Term Faculty Exchange: These reciprocal teaching and research residencies range from two to six weeks and are offered in partnership with select universities abroad. Learn more via the faculty exchange resource page.
  • Timothy Light Faculty Research Grant: Offers up to $4,000 to support research, creative work, or field studies focused on Greater China. Details are available at the Light Center’s grant information page.
  • Faculty Guest Lecture for Global Partners Abroad: Provides up to $8,000 in travel funding for short-term guest lecturing opportunities at key WMU partner institutions. Visit the guest lecture program page.
  • Employee International Travel Guidelines: WMU-sponsored travel must be registered and follows university travel insurance and risk protocols. Access details on the employee travel information page.

The IEFDF provides small grants to support WMU faculty professional development in international education (e.g., global collaboration, curriculum enhancement, travel related to international work, etc.). Applications are submitted online and routed to your department chair for electronic approval.

Key Resources

Note to applicants: After you submit the form and enter your chair’s WMU email, an approval request is sent to your chair automatically. Your application is forwarded to the review committee only after chair approval.

Through Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), WMU faculty can co-develop and co-teach courses with international peers, allowing students to engage in cross-cultural collaboration without leaving campus.

Key Resource

  • Global Classrooms Collaborative Grant: Faculty can apply for funding to support the design and implementation of globally integrated courses. Application details and training schedules are available on the Global Classrooms page.

Each year, WMU recognizes outstanding faculty and staff contributions to internationalization in teaching, research, creative activity, or service.

Key Resource

WMU’s internationalization initiatives promote global thinking across academic programs, administrative processes, and student services.

Key Resources

Faculty may host international scholars and professionals on campus through WMU’s structured invitation process.

Key Resources

Announcement

Global Engagement Award — Nominations due April 15
The Global Engagement Award Committee is seeking nominations for the University's Global Engagement Award. This award will be for contributions to the global engagement of the university and to its students, faculty and staff; to our knowledge and understanding of global affairs; and/or to communities and stakeholders locally or abroad.  

There will be two awards, one for faculty and one for staff.  

For faculty, contributions may be in the realm of teaching and other instructional activities, research and creative activities, service and/or outreach.  

For staff, contributions may be for activities that support and enhance the units’ global engagement. These activities can include supporting students studying abroad, department inclusion of international students, support for international visiting faculty, and/or support for faculty international engagement, among other activities. 

The award shall be for an accumulated record of global engagement, not one or two activities. A substantial portion of achievement will have been while in service at WMU.

Nominate now

Spring 2022 Award Recipient

  • Dr. Gregory Veeck, Professor of Geography, Environment and Tourism

Spring 2020 Award Recipient

  • Dr. Chensheng He, Professor of Geography, Environment and Tourism

Spring 2019 Award Recipients

  • Dr. Sisay Asefa, Professor of Economics
  • Dr. Jim Butterfield, Professor of Political Science
  • Lauren Carney, Director, Kalamazoo Promise Scholars Program

Spring 2018 Award Recipients

  • Dr. Jennifer Harrison, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
  • Barb Caras-Tomczak, Coordinator of Student Support Services and Academic Advisor

Spring 2017 Award Recipients

  • Dr. Zahir Quraeshi, G.W. Haworth Chair of Global Business and Director, Global Business Center, Haworth College of Business
  • Ann Ganz, Senior Study Abroad Specialist, WMU Study Abroad (retired)

Internationalization Initiative

Western Michigan University is committed to providing all students with meaningful global learning experiences. In 2016, the Faculty Senate officially adopted the Internationalization Initiative, “Internationalizing the Student Experience: Preparing Students for a Globalized World.” This framework shapes WMU’s ongoing commitment to global engagement in academics and campus life.

What Is Comprehensive Internationalization?

The American Council on Education defines comprehensive internationalization as “a strategic, coordinated process that seeks to align and integrate policies, programs, and initiatives to position colleges and universities as more globally oriented and internationally connected institutions.”
Learn more from the American Council on Education
WMU’s Three-Part Approach

WMU is committed to increasing and enhancing study abroad programs, enabling more students to benefit from transformative global experiences.

The university actively recruits and supports international students, enriching campus diversity and fostering cross-cultural learning.

WMU integrates global and intercultural perspectives across the curriculum and student life, ensuring that all students develop the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a globalized world.

WMU’s approach to comprehensive internationalization is guided by key framework documents. For more details on the strategy, development, and goals of this initiative, explore the following PDFs:

WMU Framework for Comprehensive Internationalization

Outlines the university’s overarching strategy for aligning policies, programs, and initiatives to advance global engagement.

2016 Internationalization Initiative: Internationalizing the Student Experience—Preparing Students for a Globalized World (PDF)
Presents the initiative as adopted by the Faculty Senate, with a detailed explanation of the three-part approach and intended outcomes.

Faculty Guest Lecturing Opportunities with Global Partner Universities

The Haenicke Institute for Global Education is seeking interested faculty to apply as guest lecturers for our global partner universities abroad.   

HIGE is announcing two opportunities to visit with our partner universities for guest lecturing, including a financial incentive for travel and expense reimbursement. 

UNIBE in Santo Domingo is a WMU Global Hub, reflecting a strategic partnership focused on student mobility, academic cooperation, and internationalization initiatives. WMU maintains multiple dual-degree programs with UNIBE across business, engineering, and arts and sciences.

Program Details

  • Location: UNIBE, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • Duration: Approximately one week, including travel
  • Proposed Time Frame: WMU Spring Break Week (March 4–8, 2024)
  • Financial Support: Flight, hotel, and per diem; up to $6,000

WMU–UNIBE Dual Degree Areas

  • Haworth College of Business: Accountancy; Advertising and Promotion; Finance; Food and Consumer Package Goods; Integrated Supply Management; Marketing; Sales and Business Marketing
  • College of Engineering and Applied Sciences: Civil Engineering
  • College of Arts and Sciences: Psychology

Additional institutional information: Click here

WMU maintains a longstanding dual-degree partnership with Jakarta International College (JIC). This guest lecturing opportunity allows faculty to teach JIC students who may later enroll at WMU through established academic pathways.

Program Details

  • Location: JIC, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Duration: Approximately two weeks, including travel
  • Proposed Time Frame: Any two-week period from the end of the Spring semester through the Summer I session break
  • Financial Support: Flight, hotel, and per diem; up to $8,000

Dual-degree program details are available through HIGE’s partnership resources.

To apply for consideration, faculty must submit a letter of interest that includes:

  • The program opportunity of interest (UNIBE or JIC)
  • Proposed guest lecture topics
  • Availability during the program’s time frame
  • Faculty contact information

Submission Deadlines

  • UNIBE – Spring 2024: December 1, 2023
  • JIC – Summer 2024: February 1, 2024

Submit letters of interest via email with the subject line “Faculty Guest Lecture” to:

oiss-info@wmich.edu

HIGE will respond to all submissions within 30 days of each deadline.

Faculty selected for guest lecturing will meet with HIGE staff for planning and preparation. HIGE provides institutional materials, cultural and logistics guidance, and coordination assistance to support successful engagement abroad.

Contact

Haenicke Institute for Global Education (HIGE)

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5245

Phone: (269) 387-5890

Email: hige-info@wmich.edu

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