The Education Abroad Office is a GoAbroad Innovation Award finalist for the Innovation in Alumni Engagement Award category. The nomination is in recognition of the partnership between the SAO and USC Connect and their work with the Graduation with Leadership Distinction (GLD) in Global Learning program.

USC Connect developed GLD to enhance its mission of helping students engage with campus and the community. There are four pathways students can take in order to receive GLD on their diploma: Community Service, Global Learning, Professional and Civic Engagement and Research.

The Global Learning pathway is sponsored by the SAO and allows students to connect their study abroad experience to their on-campus classroom learning, enhancing their time abroad even upon returning to the U.S. To receive GLD in Global Learning, students must complete a total of at least 12 weeks in a study abroad experience and participate in global and cultural enhancement activities on-campus. Many of these activities are hosted by International Student Services at USC and therefore give participants a chance to interact further with international students at USC. Students who are interested in working toward this pathway are directed to the Education Abroad Office to find programs appropriate for their interests and that will help to fulfill their academic requirements.

The Education Abroad Office at USC has been a finalist in at least one category every year since the GoAbroad Innovation Awards were introduced in 2011. The office won the 2013 Innovative New Program Award, 2014 Innovation in Access & Equity Award and 2015 Innovation in Marketing & Digital Media Award.

The GoAbroad award recipients will be announced at the annual NAFSA: Association of International Educators conference, at which Education Abroad Office staff members will be in attendance. The award recipients are voted upon by the Innovation Awards Academy, which is made up of leaders in international education. Members come from various institutions in the field, including program providers and universities.

While at the NAFSA conference, attendees will also conduct and attend workshops and meet with other educators and professionals in the international education field. This year’s conference will be held from May 29^th through June 3^rd in Denver, CO.

For more information about education abroad programming, contact the Education Abroad Office by calling 803-777-7557, visiting us at Close-Hipp Suite 453 or browsing our website.