International education and its invaluable relevance

Melody Buckner, associate vice provost for digital learning and online initiatives at the University Center for Assessment Teaching and Technology (UCATT) and associate professor of practice in the College of Education, recently received a Fulbright International Education Administrative Award. This international exchange program is funded by India and the United States government. It is designed to build educational relationships—a mission that deeply resonates with her. Her recent trip to India gave her a firsthand look at the global influence and interest in American-based higher education, as well as a strengthened appreciation for how important international relationships can be for our globally connected societies.

During her time abroad in India, Buckner visited a medical school that expressed strong interest in U.S.-based educational resources. A U of A colleague in Emergency Medicine has packaged a curriculum that might appeal to the Indian school’s administrators, because “It’s American- based, it has research and scholarships behind it. They might be interested in providing this curriculum to their students.” The experience underscored the global demand for collaborative academic innovation and the value placed on educational exchange.

Buckner sees the Fulbright Program as a vital bridge between institutions and cultures, particularly because it emphasizes research, collaboration, and global accessibility—aspects of U.S. higher education she believes are worth sharing. In India, she saw firsthand how much international partners value building academic relationships with U.S. institutions. “They admire the structure, the research, and the innovation that Fulbright helps make accessible,” she shared. She believes Fulbright creates opportunities to expand those partnerships in ways that benefit both sides.

Buckner believes international experiences offer students and educators alike a chance to broaden their perspectives and become more thoughtful, critical thinkers. Whether through Fulbright, study abroad programs, or personal travel, she says, stepping outside one's comfort zone builds empathy, adaptability, and understanding.

“You may speak different languages, eat different foods, but at the end of the day, we are all here to learn something. The foundation of who we are is often very similar.”

Buckner’s interest and scholarship in digital environments for learning was an area she wanted to explore during her India experience. She found cell phones to be a large part of the Indian culture, but online education is still coming of age in India. The residential experience and physical interaction are perceived to be more valuable and of a higher quality than a digital learning environment. However, the was interest in collaborating virtually with American Universities via a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) model, which allows students and professors to connect online through projects and discussions as part of their coursework.

Buckner hopes people will seek out international experiences and relationships, whether through educational programs, service opportunities, or simple travel. “Get a passport,” she encouraged. “Leave the country. Explore. It’s sometimes hard, but probably the most rewarding thing you will ever do.”

The Fulbright IEA Awards are fully funded opportunities for U.S. higher education administrators to participate in intensive two-week seminars abroad to learn about other countries’ higher education systems. Participating in a Fulbright IEA seminar is a prestigious opportunity that opens doors to collaboration with colleagues and students worldwide. Campus resources are available for applicant support. Contact Danielle Barefoot, Research Development Services, to get started.

This story was originally published at research.arizona.edu/development.