Beyond the Bay

• Brandon McLeod
• April 22, 2026

USF World serves as the university's hub for global engagement, supporting the Sarasota-Manatee, St. Petersburg, and Tampa campuses with programs and resources that equip students, faculty, and staff to lead and collaborate in an increasingly interconnected world. Grounded in USF's mission as a top public research university, USF World advances international research, fosters meaningful global partnerships, and expands opportunities for global learning and mobility. Through innovative scholarship, student and faculty exchanges, and community-focused initiatives, USF World strengthens USF's position as a leader in comprehensive, sustainable global engagement with impact felt locally and worldwide.

How they went

Students joined a mix of faculty-led study abroad, exchange programs, and research opportunities, including:

• USF Chile International Management - Faculty-led
• USF France Business - Faculty-led
• Ludwig Maximilians University - Exchange
• USF Quebec Corporate Mentor Program - Faculty-led
• USF in Florence Science - Faculty-led
• USF Salamanca: Spanish Language and Culture - Faculty-led
• USF in London - Faculty-led
• FUA: Summer in Florence, Session A - Faculty-led
• Akita International University - Exchange
• USF Singapore Urban Ecology - Faculty-led
• USF Greece Food and Culture - Faculty-led
• TH Köln University - Exchange
• MCOB London (Winter 2024) - Faculty-led research
• USF Costa Rica Studying and Teaching Abroad - Faculty-led
• USF Kenya Conservation and Sustainability Field School - Faculty-led
• MICEFA - Exchange
• USF in Florence Psychology/Social Behavioral Science - Faculty-led

Global EXPERIENCES FROM HOME

Not all students needed to travel abroad to gain international experience this year. Twenty-one students engaged in global learning from home through two programs: the USF Global Career Accelerator and Virtual Global Exchange (VGE) courses.

Three students participated in the USF Global Career Accelerator, a for-credit program that connects students with leading global companies. Participants gain hands-on field experience, use industry-standard tools, earn professional certifications and build an early-career network. The impact is clear: 95% of alumni report career benefits, and most say the program strengthened their degree and competitiveness in the job market.

Seventeen students joined Virtual Global Exchange courses, which pair USF classes with universities abroad for collaborative online learning. Embedded directly into existing coursework, VGE allows students to work with international peers on shared projects, building intercultural communication skills and global awareness. The model also deepens faculty partnerships and expands USF's international connections, all without requiring students to leave campus.

Faculty bringing the world to the classroom

Four faculty members led Virtual Global Exchange (VGE) courses that connected more than 120 students across the Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee campuses with partner institutions in five countries.

History and culture of beer - Brazil

Joe Askren's class connected 55 students with São Paulo State University, exploring culture through a global lens.

Arts integration - Colombia

Helene Robinson partnered with UniNorte and the Menominee Nation, giving 12 students a cross-cultural teaching experience.

Spanish III - Mexico and El Salvador

Margarita Altuna led two VGE collaborations: 15 students worked with Universidad Marista de Mérida in Mexico, and 16 partnered with Universidad Don Bosco in El Salvador.

International human rights - Germany

Jody McBrien guided 25 students in a collaboration with the University of Mannheim, connecting real-world issues to classroom learning.