Branches

International

The International branch of UH Global welcomes students and visiting scholars from around the world to study and work at the University of Houston.

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Learning Abroad

Learning Abroad facilitates travel across the globe through a number of international learning opportunities, including faculty-led programs, traditional study abroad programs, research opportunities, internships, volunteer opportunities, non-credit experiential learning programs, service learning programs, and exchange programs.

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Global Initiatives

The Global Initiatives office facilitates collaborations around the world through strategic partnerships, scholarships, and grants.

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Global Citizens Credential

Want to learn more about the GCC? GCC's information sessions for fall 2018 will be:

Purpose

The Global Citizens Credential (GCC) allows students to enhance their degrees with a set of core competencies that will distinguish them as global citizens. These core competencies are identified as global knowledge, global engagement, and global responsibility.

Students interested in completing a GCC should click the button below to register:

REGISTER NOW!

Upon completion, you will be able to:

• Obtain knowledge of cross-cultural and cross-national issues.
• Develop skills and competencies to effectively form relationships and perspectives.
• Acquire competency in written and oral communication in at least one foreign language.
• Explain the main problems faced by certain countries or regions of the world.
• Understand the ways countries embark in their quest for growth and development.
• Analyze some of the conceptual frameworks used to understand the globalization process.

Eligibility and Criteria

The GCC is open to any UH undergraduate student in good academic standing reflected by a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or above, and who is not facing any disciplinary action.

The GCC is based on five categories:

1. Global Courses
2. Learning Abroad
3. Language Proficiency
4. Global Scholarly Work
5. Intercultural Activities

The student needs to demonstrate involvement or participation in a variety of categories and earn at least 10 out of a possible 16 points in order to receive the GCC. More information about how points are calculated can be found below. After earning 10 points, the student is also required to participate in a Capstone Symposium. To verify the total points earned, students should complete a ‘Verification of Completion’ form by clicking the button below:

Verification of Completion

Global Courses (2 or 4 points)

2 points - Successful completion (C or higher) of two upper-level global courses from the approved list of global area courses. The course list is not exhaustive and students can provide their course syllabus to UH Global for any course(s) they believe meets the requirements.

List of Approved Courses

4 points – Successful completion of any explicitly international or global studies major/minor.

List of Approved Major and Minors

Learning Abroad (2 or 4 points)

Students are expected to participate in a learning abroad experience with a UH academic program overseas (e.g. faculty-led, reciprocal exchange, or affiliated program) or with a documented professional activity abroad (e.g. internship, research, service learning, or volunteerism).

2 points – For an academic or professional learning experience abroad lasting 7 days or less.

4 points – For an academic or professional learning experience abroad lasting more than 7 days.

Language Proficiency (2 or 4 points)

2 points – Successful completion of two sophomore-level (intermediate) classes with at least a “B” or two junior-level (advanced) classes with at least a “C” foreign language courses taken either at UH or as part of a language immersion program where UH credit is awarded; OR if a student already speaks a language other than English, the student can take a placement exam or have his or her proficiency determined by a UH faculty member.

4 points – Successful completion of any language major/minor.

List of Approved Courses

Global Scholarly Work (1 or 2 points)

Students can fulfill the requirements for this category either locally, throughout the U.S., or abroad. Students must provide written documentation as proof of participation, such as an email verification by the event organizer or supervising professor/staff member.

1 point – Attendance or participation in two conference, seminar, symposia, or workshop that involves a global, multicultural, or international dimension.

2 points – Participating in an undergraduate research experience on any subject with an international focus for a minimum of four weeks or authoring or co-authoring a scholarly work with international collaborators such as foreign embassies, multinational enterprises, non-governmental organizations, or research and development institutes.

Fall 2018 Global Scholarly Events

Intercultural Activities (1 or 2 points)

Students can fulfill the requirements for this category either locally, throughout the U.S., or abroad. Students must provide written documentation as proof of participation, such as an email verification by the event organizer or supervising professor/staff member.

1 point – Active participation by attending at least two multicultural, global, or international events.

2 points – Taking a leadership role in an on- or off-campus international organization or event.

Fall 2018 Intercultural Activities

Capstone Symposium

The Capstone Symposium is the final step of the GCC and students must complete it prior to their graduation date. Students can register for a Capstone Symposium once they have completed or are close to completing the minimum number of points (at least 8 points). UH Global typically offers 2-3 Capstone Symposium options every semester. Students can register for a Capstone Symposium by clicking the button below:

Sign up for a Capstone Symposium

Upcoming Capstone Symposium dates:

All Capstones will be held in the UH Global office in Ezekiel W. Cullen Building, Suite 101 unless otherwise noted.

Scoring Matrix

Recognition

Upon successful completion of the requirements for the GCC:

• A notation on his or her academic transcripts
• A certificate (a $25 charge will be added to your account by the Registrar upon completion)
• A cord to wear at the graduation ceremony

Media Relations

Press Releases

• UH Students Selected as Boren Scholarship Recipients
• UH Conference Highlights European Energy Issues - Southern Gas Corridor 
• Provost Short Champions Alliance Between UH and Swansea University 
• Swansea University Scholars Showcasing Research at UH
• UH Funds Scholarships for Students to Study in China
• UH to launch Passport for Coogs' Initiative
• UH Hosts President of Croatia during recent visit to U.S.
• Provost approves scholarship fund to stregthen study abroad participation

Media Placement

• UH Chinese Studies Major Receives First Place in  Hanyu Qiao
• Istoé Dinheiro - BBR Texas Report 
• Azerbaijan Center - Quarterly Newsletter Jan - March 2015

Global News

• UH to host first three days of Swansea University Texas Showcase October 26-28, 2014
• UH strengthens ties with Swansea University with MOU signing 
• UH signs MOU with University of Zagreb in Croatia 

Resources

SharePoint log-in

Process for Establishing International Affiliations

Any formal collaboration such as a Memorandum of Understanding, an Articulation Agreement, or a Contract between UH and a foreign institution requires the endorsement of UH Global, the Office of the Provost and, if necessary, the Office of the General Counsel before it can be implemented. The Process for Establishing International Affiliations assists UH faculty and administrators through the required steps in establishing formal collaborations.

Global Faculty Development Fund

The Global Faculty Development Fund (GFDF) was established to further faculty involvement in the globalization process of the university. This Provost initiative will increase both the assortment and quality of UH’s global programs by helping faculty to defray the costs of engaging in innovative global activities.

• Global Faculty Development Fund Guidelines
• Proposal form
• Memo to Deans and Department Chairs

Germany Today 2018: Getting to know Germany’s Universities of Applied Sciences

German Academic Exchange Service’s “DAAD” information tour “Germany Today” is designed to give participants a broader overview of Germany’s higher education landscape. During this tour, June 17 – June 23, 2018, a special focus will be on German Universities of Applied Sciences. Interested faculty members should contact Jaime Ortiz at jortiz22@central.uh.edu to participate.

Erasmus+ Faculty Mobility Grant

Swansea University is offering Erasmus+ faculty mobility grants for faculty from Texas Strategic Partnership universities to undertake short teaching visits to Swansea University.

UH Global Advisory Committee

FAQs

What is Global Strategies and Studies?

Global Strategies and Studies – commonly referred to as GSS is the centralized global leadership team at the University of Houston. GSS facilitates resources and assistance for all global operations at the university, and functions as a clearing house for all formal university international business. International Student and Scholar Services, Learning Abroad and Global Initiatives reside under GSS.

What does International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) do?

ISSS facilitates all aspects of accepted incoming international students, faculty and dependents coming to the university. This includes providing visa and support services related to a student’s non-immigrant status while attending the university. More information on International Student and Scholar Services.

What does Learning Abroad (LA) do?

LA facilitates all aspects of preparing and processing student undertaking an overseas learning program, including reciprocal exchange with partnership institutions. More information on Learning Abroad.

What does Global Initiatives (GI) do?

GI provides support services to university faculty and staff by furthering strategic engagement with the international community through outreach both locally and overseas with the Houston area consulate general offices, international centers, organizations, schools and clubs, and business and university partnerships, among others. It is prmilarily involved with the operational activities such as international recruitment, program management and marketing operations, and global opportunities assessment associated with raising the global profile of the university. More information on Global Initiatives

What is a Memorandum of Understanding?

Commonly referred to as an MOU, a Memorandum of Understanding is the formal agreement between UH and another entity, typically with a foreign institution of higher education, that allows the two parties to enter into a protective state for the sharing of ideas, research, faculty and staff exchanges, and allow for free discussion on the development of specific programs. This is typically facilitated at the college level and approved at the provost level.

What is a Memorandum of Agreement?

Commonly referred to as an MOA, a Memorandum of Agreement is the formal and legal articulation of specific programs, research or directives that are the result or extension of an MOU with the same entity. An MOA is typically facilitated by GSS and approved by  UH Legal Affairs. Some other variations are defined as Articulation Agreements (AA) or Addendum to a Memorandum of Understanding, which are also used for the legal articulation of specific programs, research or directives, among others. 

What is the process for establishing an international institutional partnership?

Instructions on establishing an international institutional partnership.

For any additional questions not answered here, please contact Global Strategies and Studies at gss@uh.edu.