Goal Three: Position Emory as a university known for its global impact

Strategy 1: Accelerate global engagement through intentional action in priority locations abroad

Emory faculty are working in more than 140 countries worldwide. Many of these activities began organically through individual faculty collaborations, which facilitate fruitful partnerships at the individual level. However, this ad hoc approach can also result in missed opportunities for Emory due to lack of awareness or untapped networks. To accelerate its global activity, Emory seeks to coordinate its collaborations. As demonstrated by some of Emory’s peers, an intentional international focus can attract greater recognition and external resources. This approach will necessitate a comprehensive range of activities, from strategic on-the-ground interactions abroad, to effective campus-based coordination, to administrative support for faculty working internationally.

Initiative 1: Develop and implement country-based initiatives for strategic engagement, beginning in Brazil, China, Ethiopia, India, and South Korea

While not exclusive, geographic focal points offer opportunities for Emory to maximize its impact abroad in areas that are particularly ripe for future engagement. These locations are aligned with Emory’s mission and strengths and increase its ability to expand global activity in the future. Each location has a unique profile of engagement. Through a phased implementation, GSI has been forming planning and advisory groups to help coordinate institutional approaches to these priority locations in conjunction with campus experts, governmental representatives, and Emory leadership. Brazil: Emory has over 40 faculty working on issues relating to Brazil, with particular strengths in Brazilian history, public health issues, and Portuguese language instruction. Emory has taken into account the Brazilian government’s significant investment in education through programs like Science without Borders and other grant-based funding sources and is paying attention to existing partnerships with institutions such as University of São Paulo and with funding agencies like FAPESP. To inspire and support faculty research collaborations, Emory has partnered with Fulbright Brasil for a five-year agreement to bring senior Brazilian scholars to Emory for a semester of teaching and research. The first Fulbright Brasil scholar will arrive on Emory’s campus in calendar year 2017. China: Chinese students make up 41 percent of international students at Emory and 7 percent of the overall student body. Emory has more than 85 faculty conducting China-related research and scholarship, and China is the third-most common destination for Emory faculty traveling abroad. Among foreign scholars who co-author publications with Emory faculty, China is the no. 3 country of origin. Since designating China a priority location, Emory has deepened its ties with Nanjing University, primarily in the area of research collaboration and conference presentations. In FY2016, Emory also signed an agreement with Hanban to fund a tenure track position in the Department of Sociology. The Confucius Institute Assistant Professor in China Studies will join Emory in the fall of 2016. Ethiopia: Whether improving maternal and newborn health through a community-oriented model or training health professionals and residents in Addis Ababa’s major hospitals, Emory’s strength in Ethiopia comes from its health collaborations, but isn’t limited to the health sciences, as numerous faculty have projects in areas such as anthropology and law. More than 30 Emory faculty work on issues relating to Ethiopia, making it a top destination for Emory faculty, with over 130 faculty trips each year. Since the launch of the global strategy, Emory has significantly strengthened its relationship with Addis Ababa University (AAU). As part of an agreement signed in FY2016, Emory’s Woodruff School of Nursing will work with AAU to develop a nursing PhD program at AAU over the next five years. Emory is currently exploring opportunities for hosting Ethiopian scholars at Emory to inspire new collaborations and broaden the disciplinary scope of its engagement. India: India ranks as the top destination for Emory faculty with work abroad with over 140 faculty working on related topics. India is the no. 5 international destination for Emory travelers, with over 175 trips each year, and Indian students represent the third-largest population of international students and the second-largest visiting scholar population. Strong engagement through the health sciences, humanities, and business positions the university well for future expansion and collaboration, while the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative, which brings together Eastern and Westerns scientific approaches, gives Emory a unique programmatic tie to India. In FY2016, Emory formed a faculty advisory committee to identify next steps for strategic institutional partnerships in India. In FY2017, Emory hopes to sign agreements that will foster collaborative research. Emory will also continue to cultivate a strong relationship with governmental contacts in the U.S. and India that can help position Emory for future growth. South Korea: Emory’s connection to South Korea dates back to 1893 when Yun Chi-ho became Emory’s first international graduate. Since then, Emory’s South Korean student population has grown to over 393 total students in 2015, making Koreans the second largest international student group on Emory’s campus, which has resulted in a strong alumni chapter in Seoul with many prominent and distinguished alumni. South Korea represents one of the most promising destinations for development opportunities. Emory also has unique political ties to the country, as former University President James Laney served as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea in the 1990s, and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter helped diffuse the nuclear situation in 1994. In FY2016, Emory signed a partnership agreement with Yonsei University to facilitate future collaborations between Emory faculty and Korean colleagues. The first projects will be funded as a result of this agreement in FY2017.

Strategy 2: Communicate Emory’s ongoing transformation into a university with global impact and reach

Emory is already a global university in its reach and scope. However, the university’s international work is often under-recognized on campus and in the wider community, both in the U.S. and abroad. To increase awareness of this work, Emory must actively promote its global impact through coordinated efforts.

Initiative 1: Rebrand the office of international affairs as the Office of Global Strategy and Initiatives (GSI)

To underscore the university’s commitment to focused global engagement, the Office of International Affairs has been rebranded as the Office of Global Strategy and Initiatives. This rebranding more closely reflects the office’s mission and better positions it to address global opportunities and challenges on behalf of the university.

Initiative 2: Promote the university’s international activities to increase recognition of Emory

Emory should better coordinate efforts to publicize its global work to develop awareness of the university’s strengths within our campus community, around the U.S., and in priority locations abroad. Broader recognition of Emory will magnify the impact of our global activities.

Strategy 3: Facilitate and steward conditions for synergy among groups engaging in international work within the Emory and Atlanta communities

The Halle Institute for Global Learning was founded on the principle that greater cross-cultural understanding occurs when people meet face-to-face. Emory believes this principle holds true within communities as well as across them. Opportunities abound to strengthen existing relationships and foster new connections around global work within the Emory community and the broader Atlanta community. The Halle Institute and GSI should provide opportunities for local people and groups engaged in global work to come together and explore possibilities for collaboration.

Initiative 1: Partner across emory’s nine schools and associated units to further internal awareness of and opportunities for international collaboration

There are faculty across Emory’s nine schools and associated units who are conducting global research in the same region who may not know of each other. Likewise, there are staff who are recruiting and supporting international students and facilitating educational experiences abroad whose paths may never cross. Working within their distinct administrative structures, people whose professional interests align may or may not be aware of each other’s work. GSI and the Halle Institute should facilitate opportunities for these faculty and staff to meet, share information, and collaborate.

Initiative 2: Strengthen relationships with Atlanta-based diplomats, global NGOs, companies, and community groups

Emory has a unique advantage in being located in a thriving metropolitan city with many international connections. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest passenger airport in the world, with over 100 million annual passengers connecting with nearly 80 international destinations in more than 50 countries. Atlanta is home to a diplomatic corps encompassing 26 nations, 16 Fortune-500 companies, several research universities, and world-renowned NGOs like CARE and the American Cancer Society. Historically, Emory has not fully explored potential partnerships with these and other globally-connected entities. Emory should partner with relevant consulates, organizations, companies, and communities in Atlanta to make the city—and Emory—an international destination.