Montana State kicks off second round of International Seed Grant program

BOZEMAN - Montana State University's Office of International Programs has announced the recipients of its first round of International Seed Grant Awards, which are designed to increase support for global activities across campus and foster new, innovative international programs for students.

The recipients, and summaries of their projects, are listed below.

• Instructors Anne Gibson and Marina Calabrese from the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship will develop a pilot study-abroad course in professional business communication at the University of Galway in Ireland. This program will offer students a unique opportunity to enhance global communication skills, foster intercultural competence, and build new academic partnerships with the Irish institution.

• Associate professor Wan-Yuan Kuo from the College of Education, Health and Human Development, and assistant teaching professor Bruce Barnhart from the College of Arts and Architecture, respectively, will develop MSU's first faculty-led study-abroad program in West Africa. The program aims to provide a transformative learning experience through art, design, and community service in Senegal.

• Steven Davis, assistant dean of the Honors College, will lead a study-abroad experience focusing on intercultural exchange between Indigenous students from MSU and the University of Waikato in New Zealand. This program seeks to enhance the academic success and global leadership identity of American Indian and Alaska Native students.

• Assistant Dean Jennifer Clark from the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering, will collaborate with several Irish universities to enhance students' leadership and critical thinking skills as they earn credit toward the International Engineering Certificate, an opportunity to become more marketable upon graduation.

"The Office of International Programs looks forward to successfully implementing these projects and the positive impact they will have on MSU students, the MSU community and beyond," said Janelle Rasmussen, director of the International Training and Professional Development Programs for OIP.

Applications for a second round of International Seed Grants for 2024-25 are due Nov. 15. Three to five grants will be awarded annually in early December.

More information on the application process is available on the OIP website at https://www.montana.edu/international/international-seed-grant.html.