Welcome to the Office of International Initiatives (OII) at Georgia State University. International Initiatives provides strategic leadership to integrate, coordinate and expand the University’s international initiatives and global opportunities for faculty, students, staff and Atlanta area colleagues to collaborate, innovate and form engaged partnerships with far-reaching impact.

OII’s leadership of global engagement has garnered national recognition. In 2023, we were named one of four institutions nationwide to receive the prestigious Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization, created to recognize overall excellence in internationalization efforts. This honor followed on the heels of an IIE Heiskell Award in 2022 for our free passport initiative. The Heiskell Award recognizes “the most outstanding initiatives being conducted in international education” nationwide.

OII coordinates study abroad programs led by faculty from all of the colleges and Atlanta and Perimeter campuses, as well as student exchanges, faculty research and teaching collaborations and wide-ranging partnerships with universities worldwide. Our special programs provide shorter-term study opportunities for international students, as well as faculty mentoring programs to meet the needs of international visiting faculty.

GSU students can start their international education without leaving campus through our virtual exchange courses and Global Scholar Distinction program. Virtual exchange is a fast-growing part of OII’s portfolio, with more than 1000 students participating in courses with virtual exchange components in the last year.  Undergraduates can earn a Global Scholar Distinction by taking coursework at GSU that helps them develop global competence. Students who earn this distinction are recognized by Georgia State University for having developed the skills, knowledge and awareness that enhance the ability to succeed in a global environment.

OII works closely with the Atlanta Global Studies Center (AGSC), established in 2018 under a Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Through AGSC, Georgia State University and Georgia Institute of Technology work together to support international awareness, global competency and language learning in higher education and K-12 public education, as well as in the broader community within the region.

Dr. Carrie Manning
Associate Provost for International Initiatives