Florida State College at Jacksonville announced July 12 it is receiving a $28,272 federal grant to help students study abroad.
The Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students Grant is from the U.S. Department of State’s Capacity Building Program for U.S. Study Abroad.
FSCJ is one of 26 colleges and universities in the U.S. selected from 132 applicants, to create, expand, and/or diversify American student mobility overseas in support of U.S. foreign policy goals, the news release said. It is one of five community colleges to receive a grant and the only institution in Florida.
“FSCJ is committed to providing extensive educational and cultural experiences for our students and we are honored to be selected to receive this grant,” FSCJ President John Avendano said in the release.
“Study abroad opportunities are life-changing experiences that help students grow, not only educationally, but professionally and personally, and we look forward to expanding these options for our students.”
The IDEAS Program increases the capacity of accredited U.S. colleges and universities to implement study abroad programs for U.S. students.
Grants are used for activities such as developing new international partnerships and programs, training faculty and staff, internationalizing curriculum, creating resources to engage diverse student groups in study abroad and creating virtual exchanges.
“Americans studying abroad serve as citizen ambassadors by building relationships within their host communities, demonstrating American values, and countering stereotypes,” said Heidi Manley, USA Study Abroad Chief, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, in the release. “They also gain critical job skills abroad that in turn benefit their home communities.”
Visit https://www.fscj.edu/academics/center-for-international-education for information about international studies.