People and Places
Nearly 180 students recognized for global engagement on WMU’s campus
WMU Study Abroad celebrates new, nationally competitive Gilman award winners
Student transfers to WMU for cultural exchange, plans trips to three countries
WMU, Haenicke Institute for Global Education, announce International Education Week
There is so much to learn at the global level, and if you get locked in on a certain thing or place, you miss out on so many opportunities and possibilities. The opportunity to go out into the world and meet people on a global scale is an opportunity I couldn't pass up.
Events and Activities
Global Learning at WMU organizes and delivers a core set of annual events that foster global engagement and intercultural connection. These events are fully coordinated by our team and take place each academic year—some in the fall, others in the spring. They serve as anchor experiences for internationalization on campus.
In addition to these flagship events, we actively support a wide range of cross-cultural programs, student-led initiatives, and partner events through the Global Engagement Program and campus collaborations.
Students can find many more opportunities to stay globally engaged throughout the year by exploring the ExperienceWMU platform.
130+
Global Engagement events
1,200+
international students on campus from more than 90 countries
80+
study abroad programs for students, faculty and staff
Interested in partnering with us?
Your event can count towards Global Engagement Program credit! We also provide resources, funding, staff and promotion to globally engaged programs across campus.
Global Engagement Program
About the Haenicke Institute for Global Education
Your journey at Western Michigan University is a global one. Through transformative events, immersive classes and experience-driven learning, the Haenicke Institute for Global Education connects Kalamazoo to the world—and the world to Kalamazoo. From fostering academic opportunities to showcasing cultural events and providing K-12 outreach, the Haenicke Institute promotes learning that transcends borders and takes you wherever you want to go.
Support Global Education
Meet Our Partners
At Global Learning at WMU, we believe that collaboration is essential to building a truly global campus. To amplify our impact, we work alongside internationally engaged faculty, staff, and students across campus.
Our partners include academic units, student organizations, and cultural institutions that share our mission of global engagement. Together, we co-create programs, events, and initiatives that connect students across backgrounds and disciplines.
Global News
Nearly 180 students recognized for global engagement on WMU’s campus
A crowd of 50 met at the WMU Student Center this month to celebrate the global achievements of WMU students both at home and abroad.
From China to the Midwest, WMU trustee finds a home in Kalamazoo
In the summer of 1989, Lynn Chen-Zhang left China two months earlier than planned due to rising political tensions. She was 22 years old. Today, Chen-Zhang calls Kalamazoo her home. She and her husband, Charles, have donated millions to Western Michigan University and organizations throughout southwestern Michigan.
WMU marks its place in international education
Western Michigan University’s robust internationalization efforts will be on display throughout the United States in 2025, with students and staff presenting at major international education conferences.
WMU Study Abroad celebrates new, nationally competitive Gilman award winners
WMU Study Abroad is proud to announce three new Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship recipients. The newcomers join a group of eight Western Michigan University students who were awarded the prestigious federal study abroad scholarship this fall.
Faculty-led India trip is interdisciplinary, international by design
The two-week trip, run by WMU Study Abroad in collaboration with the Haworth College of Business, the College of Education and Human Development, and the College of Health and Human Services, fuses social entrepreneurship, justice and sustainable development.
WMU welcomes more than 50 new international students this January
Of the 53 newcomers, approximately 40% are entering a graduate program at WMU, while 45% are pursuing undergraduate degrees. The remaining 15% are undertaking intensive English language instruction at the school’s Center for English Language and Culture for International Students to communicate at a level necessary to pursue a degree.
Click below to read more news of the Haenicke Institute for Global Education and Western Michigan University.