Connecting People, Places and Programs
In the Institute for Global Initiatives (IGI), we are committed to enhancing global understanding for faculty, students, staff and the community at large. Started in 2007, the Institute serves Gainesville State College by helping to advance international programs and develop a stronger appreciation for diversity in every part of the globe. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to collaborate in scholarship, teaching, and community programs. Students have opportunities to build their global competence both academically and through extra-curricular programming. Visiting scholars learn about our community, while helping us learn more about theirs. Professional development opportunities with an international focus provide the entire community with opportunities to develop global understanding. International arts and cultural programs provide learning opportunities for faculty, students, staff and the community.
Global competency is a necessary skill for our graduates’ success. Brustein, writing for the Institute of International Education, identifies the skills that comprise global competence as “the ability to work effectively in international settings; awareness of and adaptability to diverse cultures, perceptions and approaches; familiarity with the major currents of global change and the issues they raise; and the capacity for effective communication across cultural and linguistic boundaries.” The Institute for Global Initiatives facilitates the development of these skills through academic and community programs and initiatives.
Inviting the native curiosities of faculty, staff, and students to go outside the walls of the college, we develop individuals who better understand themselves and the world. Building on a ten-year history of successful study abroad programs and outreach programs to the diverse Northeast Georgia communities, we believe that IGI integrates with every unit of our campus to facilitate interconnections that bridge cultures, develop connections, and deepen our understanding of each other.
