History of International Involvement

(Past and Present)

The 1980’s

UMES International Development Programs experience began in 1980, with a multi-year award to UMES by the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Title XII University Strengthening Grant Program. This six-year grant (1980-1986) was a faculty and staff preparedness program.  

Four primary activities that emerged during the decade of the 1980 s were:  

  1. Long-term overseas project technical assistance;
  2. Faculty educational exchanges, both long and short-term;
  3. Short-term overseas technical assistance; and,
  4. Participant training.

The goals and objectives set forth during the 1980’s rolled forward into the 1990’s. 

Noticeable patterns were:       

  1. The Agricultural Sciences continued to be the major focus of the long and short-term overseas project technical assistance and participant training;
  2. Non-agricultural related project activities started emerging, and the range of individual countries for project training activity were broadened.
  3. Faculty educational exchange increased drastically;
  4. Formal and informal linkage agreements were established with Africa, the Middle East and Asian Higher Education Institutions;  and,
  5. Internationalization of the campus began. 

Focus For 2000 Onward

  1. Internationalization of the curricula continues to be emphasized;
  2. Student study abroad and exchanges continue to be a priority area;
  3. International/global education continues to become an integral part of learning, discovery, and engagements; and,
  4. Our geographic area of focus has expanded beyond Africa to include Latin America and the Caribbean region.
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