AZI presents first study abroad summit
Students who have completed study abroad programs answer audience questions at the conclusion of the first U of A Study Abroad Summit for faculty and staff on March 9, 2026.
Daniel Carreon / Arizona International
In April, Arizona International hosted the university’s first Study Abroad Summit, kicked off by President Suresh Garimella and open to all U of A faculty and staff to learn more about helping students pursue study abroad and developing new programs.
The event was designed to support the university’s goal of ensuring that every student graduates with high-impact co-curricular experiences, including study abroad. Three learning tracks formed the core of the event:
- Faculty Engagement, covering leading faculty-led programs and curriculum integration, with faculty panelists sharing insights from their experiences leading programs and mapping curricula.
- Advising Resources, Financial Access and Travel Literacy, focused on helping academic advisors support students with information on study abroad scholarships and applying other forms of financial aid, plus the basics of international travel requirements.
- Marketing and Recruitment, offering practical strategies, core messages, and ready-to-use ideas that colleges and other units across the U of A can use to help increase study abroad participation through the moments they already own.
In opening remarks, U of A chief International Affairs Officer and Dean of Arizona International Jenny Lee thanked audience members for their partnership in that goal, adding, “You are the ones who can do this. It's your creativity and your energy that we need.”
Garimella echoed that sentiment, noting that the U of A goal of dramatically expanding study abroad participation “takes a village” and pointing out the importance of the unseen coordination at the foundation of study abroad, like figuring out academic equivalencies so that undergraduates can study abroad while still completing their degrees on time.
Signaling the university’s commitment to supporting every level of program support, Faculty Affairs Vice Provost Andrea Romero took the occasion to announce a new university-level award honoring faculty involvement in study abroad.
The award will recognize not just faculty who take students on programs but also those focused on curriculum integration and other behind-the-scenes work that makes study abroad achievable for every student.