Northeastern Illinois University is one of only nine universities in the Western Hemisphere to be awarded a grant from the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund.
The goal of the fund, sponsored by Santander Bank, is to increase the number of U.S. students studying in the Western Hemisphere to 100,000, and the number of students from Latin America and the Caribbean studying in the United States to 100,000 by the year 2020. The initiative enhances hemispheric competitiveness, increases prosperity and prepares a more globally competent workforce.
Northeastern was selected for its partnership with Universidad Tecnológica de El Salvador, Universidad Católica de El Salvador and Instituto Tecnológica CentroAmericano, all located in El Salvador.
“We are pleased to be a part of such an important program that will give our students firsthand experience working in an increasingly global environment,” said Lawrence N. Berlin, Ph.D., director of Northeastern’s Office of International Programs. “This program speaks directly to Northeastern Illinois University’s commitment to diversity, community, and empowerment.”
Through the InCaMPUSES program, Northeastern will target low-income and first-generation students as well as students belonging to underrepresented groups in higher education from its McNair Scholars Program for an opportunity to spend two weeks at the host institution, where they will be exposed to a unique international academic experience. Students will take a research class focusing on the comparison of higher educational systems between the United States and El Salvador, as well as visit different types of institutions in the host country. All students will then participate in a research symposium in both countries during which they will present their individual as well as shared research with colleagues and faculty.
This competition was open to higher education institutions in all countries throughout the Western Hemisphere and to all fields of study. The winning institutions will create new innovative partnerships that will increase student mobility to and from Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States.
“Congratulations to the winners of the Santander Bank Round of the Innovation Grant Funding,” said Roman Blanco, CEO, Santander Bank, N.A. “We are delighted to have creative program proposals that will help to increase student exchanges between the United States and countries in the Western Hemisphere. For today’s new generation of leaders, a global perspective is essential. The awards demonstrate that higher education institutions are inspired to meet the challenges of academic exchanges and will work collaboratively with transnational colleagues to do so.”
