Berkeley International Group
Staff attendees of the Berkeley International Group spring social in 2024.
Global Engagement Office and BIG staff leaders Chris, Cynthia and Ashley attend the Spring 2024 BIG social.
March 2024 International Education at UC Berkeley: Community Building and Career Pathways panel event
The Berkeley International Group (BIG) is a registered People and Culture staff organization community of practice facilitated by a volunteer staff leadership team from international-related units. The Global Engagement Office provides some administrative and operational support to BIG, including hosting this website.
Staff with interests in international education and global affairs are invited to collaborate and participate in informal discussions related to the international work we do across UC Berkeley. BIG typically hosts 2-3 events per semester, often in partnership with different units on campus, as well as a bi-monthly book club.
Our goals are to:
- Uphold UC Berkeley's Principles of International Engagement by striving to create a welcoming environment for our international community, and fostering a campus climate that encourages cross-cultural understanding for all staff, students, faculty, visitors, and scholars from around the world.
- Convene UC Berkeley colleagues with professional interests in international education, intercultural learning, global affairs, and international exchange, and serve as a community to share knowledge and strengthen Berkeley’s international activities and operations.
- Strengthen professional and personal connections among UC Berkeley’s international education stakeholders, enhancing cross-unit collaboration and providing a space to share best practices, innovations, and challenges.
- Provide professional development and networking opportunities for staff at all levels, encouraging collaboration across decentralized units. We prioritize access and relevant content that supports the growth and advancement of all staff dedicated to strengthening Berkeley's international community, global partnerships, and international operations.
Get involved!
To receive announcements of future BIG events, please add yourself to the bConnected list. Please note this group is intended for UC Berkeley staff and is not open to the general public or students.
If you would like to host a future BIG meeting or have a suggested topic or event, please email our leadership team at berkeleyinternationalgroup@berkeley.edu.
History:
Founded in 2014, and originally run solely by the Global Engagement Office (GEO), since 2019 the Berkeley International Group (BIG) has been a registered Staff Organization Community of Practice, a People & Culture initiative that brings together staff with similar professional interests and serve as a community to share knowledge and offer professional development. Joining relevant communities of practice allows staff to continue to develop and broaden their skills, as well as meet people who have similar personal and professional interests. BIG became a staff organization in order to broaden and diversify our campus reach and leadership team. Since then, our reach has grown to 400+ staff international educators and enthusiasts!