Dr. Consuelo Stebbins Assistant Vice-President for Internationalization
Internationalization has been an institutional priority at the University of Central Florida since the early 1990s. The university community recognizes the importance of providing an education that prepares its students to compete - and lead - in a world that is complex and interrelated. In order to achieve this goal, the university must ensure that an international dimension permeates all its activities, from teaching and learning to campus life. In today’s world, internationalization is part of what we all do. Beginning with the General Education program, whose theme is global climatic change to majors within the colleges, internationalization is now part of the curriculum at UCF.
The Provost established the Office of Internationalization in 2007 to facilitate coordination among all units and to serve as a catalyst for achieving the University’s initiatives for Internationalization. During its first year, the office is leading the University in its creation of a comprehensive Internationalization Plan to ensure that students who graduate from UCF are globally competent in their disciplines. Development of the plan is a collaborative effort among the colleges, departments, and research centers and is open to the entire community.
To strengthen the university’s international goals, the Office of Internationalization serves as the clearinghouse for joint international programs and works closely with departments, colleges, and centers, to establish new partnerships with institutions abroad. To promote collaboration and efficiency in internationalization, the Center for Multilingual Multicultural Studies (CMMS) and the Office of International Studies (OIS) now report to the Office of Internationalization.