New Ferguson International Center and global initiatives enrich student success, research, service

Indiana University is a global institution, home to a diverse international community that enriches student experiences, enhances research excellence, and serves Indiana and beyond.

Offices and programs that support our growing community of international students and our students who study abroad began moving into IU Bloomington’s new Stephen L. and Connie J. Ferguson International Center last week. This state-of-the-art facility will soon unify IU Global under one roof to provide exciting new opportunities for students and faculty. Students participating in study abroad have returned to pre-pandemic numbers, and IU’s array of international programs is having a worldwide impact.

IU’s Global Gateway Network continues to expand opportunities for international research as well as partner and alumni connections in China, Europe, India, Mexico, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. For instance, in September, faculty from the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at IUPUI led an intensive two-day symposium on biomedical informatics and human-computer interaction at the IU India Gateway. Programming attracted participants from 13 institutions across India, strengthening international relationships while facilitating transformative new research.

IU helps foster incredible innovation, investment, and growth in Indiana and around the world. The Hamilton Lugar School’s Institute for Korean Studies exemplified this in its recent partnership with the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance and other local and international leaders. Samsung SDI and Stellantis N.V. created an electric-vehicle battery-manufacturing facility in Kokomo. The Institute for Korean Studies is supporting this international business venture by consulting on intercultural understanding and connecting it to a local workforce with Korean language skills. With operations scheduled to launch in 2025, this partnership will create 1,400 jobs for Hoosiers and attract over $2.5 billion in investment.

I am grateful to our global community for their significant contributions on our campuses and around the world, which advance student success, research, and intercultural engagement in Indiana and beyond. 

Pamela Whitten

President
Indiana University