Berkeley International Group (BIG) Events

Please join the Berkeley International Group (BIG) on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 from 12-1:30pm for an in-person panel discussion with UC Berkeley staff who work in international student and scholar advising, study abroad, international partnerships, global affairs, global research, and area studies at UC Berkeley. Participants will deepen their knowledge of a variety of global...

Please join BIG on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 on zoom from 12-1pm to learn more about visiting students at UC Berkeley. The Summer Sessions, Study Abroad, Lifelong Learning, and Extended Education (SSALLEX) team will give an introduction to the unit, describe the students that participate in various visiting student programs, including summer sessions and semester/academic year programs, and explore data trends for SSALLEX visiting student populations. The session will help UC Berkeley stakeholders understand the various opportunities and trends, as well as explain the...

Please join the Berkeley International Group on Thursday, December 1, 2022 on zoom from 12-1pm to learn more about the state of international students and scholars at Berkeley. The Berkeley International Office team and UC Berkeley's Director of Federal Government Relations will be providing an update on current trends related to international students, scholars, and employees at UC Berkeley, as well as the Federal landscape. They will review the...

Berkeley Interdisciplinary Migration Initiative (BIMI) is a partnership of migration experts at UC Berkeley who study all facets of global migration. Come and learn about BIMI's research programs and plans for international partnerships to further research on migration, and share learnings, knowledge, and opportunities for collaboration.

How does Berkeley engage with potential international partners, including transnational corporations, foreign research institutes, and quasi-governmental entities? What are best practices for partner due diligence, or knowing your partner? How do we learn about the country and its government and laws, and discover and address any concerns? With this information, how do we work out an agreement between parties?

Eric Giegerich, Director of IPIRA’s...

The Visiting Scholar and Postdoc Affairs (VSPA) office is UC Berkeley’s central resource for the campus’ postdocs, visiting scholars, and visiting researchers. Join us as the VSPA staff (re)introduces the office’s new website, shares best practices related to hosting visiting scholars and researchers at UC Berkeley, and discusses...

Can a mission to study Martian climate inspire a generation of young Arabs to pursue STEM careers? How does the UAE foster widespread female involvement in STEM fields?

Join us on May 5 at 12 PM to hear about the Amal (Hope) interplanetary probe and how this ambitious mission is driving societal, economic, and educational development in the UAE. The UC Berkeley Space Sciences Lab (SSL) is a major knowledge-transfer and educational partner in this historic endeavor, providing technical support and summer research...

Summary:

Local scholars are best positioned to identify and address challenges in their own communities and countries. The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) at UC Berkeley helps train scholars from low- and middle- income countries to lead rigorous research in their home countries and regions. Through semester-long fellowships at UC Berkeley, visiting scholars audit development economics courses, present their work at seminars, apply to competitive...

2020 was a momentous year for UC Berkeley's international students, scholars and employees. In addition to facing travel restrictions related to COVID-19, they also were confronted by an array of other regulatory changes that challenged their status in the US. Join us to learn about these policies and to hear how Berkeley International Office is working to help our international community navigate them.

How can international educators lead in crafting a vision for a post-racist world? How can they leverage the multiple tools that intercultural learning and cross-cultural communication provides to develop the next generation of anti-racist leaders? How can they work to normalise cross-cultural and intercultural diversity in the communities that they inhabit?

Recent years have witnessed a rise in the level of nationalism in many countries with tightened immigration policies and stronger governmental oversight of multinational research collaborations. At the same time, competition among countries and universities for international students has increased significantly, while the demographics of young populations in many countries are shifting. Now, the onset of an historic global pandemic, with its serious travel challenges and dramatic economic effects, raises yet another threat to the future of internationalization on U.S. campuses.

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In light of the rapidly evolving situation amid COVID-19, we understand that our colleagues are likely under stress while handling work and personal life and finding a balance while working remotely. Therefore, instead of having a presentation on regular topics related to international activities happening on campus, BIG would like to support our Berkeley colleagues by holding a presentation given by the University Health Services (UHS) Employee Assistance unit, in the hope of providing some relief to our colleagues so that they may have some professional guidance on how to take care of...

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) appeared in Wuhan, China in early December 2019 and has quickly spread across the globe, leading to the closure of borders, the lockdown of Chinese cities, fears about under-reaction (and over-reaction), and economic effects still to be seen.

A panel of experts will convene at UC Berkeley to discuss the scientific, political, societal and economic...

UC Berkeley staff and faculty are invited to attend a belated International Education Week celebration with the Berkeley International Group (BIG) on Wednesday, December 4 from 4-6pm. Join UC Berkeley colleagues with a passion for (or interest in) international education, and celebrate the end of the semester!

Light appetizers will be available; drinks are on your own.

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The Berkeley International Group (BIG) is a recognized Staff Organization Community of Practice, offering...

UC Berkeley faculty and staff are invited to attend the next Berkeley International Group meeting to learn more about two of Berkeley's Summer Sessions & Study Abroad programs including the Global Edge London program for newly admitted undergraduate freshmen and the Pre-College Scholars Summer Program for domestic and international high school students.

Jessica Bauer, Assistant Director of...

UC Berkeley faculty and staff are invited to attend the next Berkeley International Group meeting to learn more about Berkeley's first undergraduate dual degree program with Sciences Po

Amber Dillon, International Academic Specialist, will discuss what it took to make the partnership successful and challenges faced, as well as the benefits of the program to the UC Berkeley campus as a whole and the...

Anna Esaki-Smith presented "Disrupting the Diploma: The Global Rise of Short Courses," examining a growing industry-wide trend to unbundle higher education degrees and provide more flexible and modular study paths for students.

The College of Engineering reviewed its models for international collaboration, from large-scale research collaborations to visiting scholar and student programs, as well as new plans for a potential educational program to benefit students who have never been outside of the United States. Additionally, best practices and fundamental guidelines for the College of Engineering's establishment of international partnerships were shared.

In this session, CIL discussed their overall model for resident engagement, including specific examples and exercises from CIL, in the hope that participants might be inspired to try aspects that they find useful.

The degree programs under International and Area Studies are evolving, highlighted by the creation of the Global Studies major. This presentation discussed the reasons for developing the new Global Studies major, and how it will better serve the current generation of students.

Learn about SCET's global programs and international partnerships with a special focus on the "Global Startup Semester at Berkeley," a semester-long program at Berkeley where students learn about entrepreneurship and innovation.

Darin Menlove, Director of Berkeley Study Abroad, discussed UC Berkeley’s strategies for increased study-abroad participation and comparisons within the contexts of the UC system and national trends.

Presentation on the recently issued UCOP International Activities Policy, which sets out principles and high-level processes for activities conducted overseas.

The session will highlight customized symposia, workshops and networking events designed to support the career and professional development of Berkeley’s 1,600 postdocs, 1,500 visiting scholars and 1,200 visiting student researchers. Additionally, the audience will have an opportunity to comment on new policies affecting this research community.

Discussion of the Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) Consortium, research and policy outcomes, and the challenges of sustaining an international collaboration.