CASNR Announces Spring 2024 Global Learning Hub Series

The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Global Learning Hub is excited to announce another semester of globally themed programming for students, faculty, staff and the broader IANR community in Spring 2024. With a focus on a broader definition of what a “global” experience means, the events and opportunities will include a mix of information about physical travel opportunities, in-person events, and hybrid programming.

“It’s more vital than ever that our students expand their minds, skills and professional networks in the global space…it’s a way to have an edge the global workplace,” said Brianne Wolf, who leads efforts for global learning and engagement strategies for CASNR.

Kicking off February 28, Wolf will share with the University community and educators statewide about the unique professional development opportunity through the World Food Prize Foundation and the Global Teach Ag Network called the Global Guides program. To accommodate teacher schedules, two information sessions will be offered: one at noon and the other at 8:00 p.m., both online.

“Access to global learning opportunities for all our students is also our priority,” said Wolf. “So you’ll see that our events are ones that explore not only physical mobility/travel options, but also ways students can learn, grow and network here in Lincoln as well as in a virtual capacity.”

The CASNR Global Learning Hub is excited to announce the creation of a community of practice for faculty and staff dedicated to global learning. Members can look forward to monthly programming and communications focusing on ways to bring global opportunities to students, including lower-cost or free travel opportunities, online collaborations between student groups/classes (more on this below) CASNR Global Learning Hub events, study abroad, and other methods focused on increased access.

This semester, join us for three sessions as part of our “Global For All” Mini-Series, an introduction to the COIL: Collaborative Online International Learning methodology. One may know this as virtual exchange, virtual mobility or other terms, but the idea is the same: bringing students together across cultures to address complex problems through collaboration. While it may seem daunting, it doesn't have to be as massive of an undertaking as it might seem, and has a wide range of ways it can be incorporated into student learning. 

Global For All Series (Part of the CASNR Global Community of Practice) 

Session 1 will provide an introduction to COIL, how it can increase access and inclusivity to global learning, and provide some exciting areas for immediate collaboration (March 13, 12:00 p.m. on East Campus, location TBA) Register here for more information. Session 2: A North American Collaborative Effort: hear how students in Thomas Franti classes work together with McGill University students in Montreal exploring ecological engineering across borders and cultures (April 3, 12:00 p.m. online) Session 3: Hear from Patricia Perez de Leal as she has bridged Nebraska and Zamorano University students to collaborate across borders and languages (April 30, 1:00 p.m. online).

March 4-8 will see a confluence of two weeklong observances: Sustainable Development Goals Action and Awareness Week, and Green Career Week!

SDG Action and Awareness Week (March 4-8) events: 1) Take part in an SDG Expert session with a local and global professionals making impact on the SDGs, including local expert Natalie Sehi speaking about her work with Nebraska Extension impacting food security (March 4 at noon), Global Expert Florencio Venté Coha a Colombian youth leader and impact entrepreneur (March 5 at 11:00 a.m.), and Global Expert Bevon Charles of Grenada, agriprenuer-farmer and CEO of Akata Farms (March 6 at 9:00 a.m.). 2) Sustainable Development Goals Scholars Program Information Session: Open to students curious about the co-curricular program and badges March 6, 12:00 p.m. 

CASNR Global Learning Hub and Green Career Week (March 4-8): Hear from some of our amazing international alumni about what they are doing in jobs across agriculture, food, and environment in the U.S. and around the world! Featured alumni include Dr. Angela Bastidas at Syngenta Mexico; Dr. Jorge Venegas at Pairwise Latin America (U.S.); Raissa Urujeni at the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute in Rwanda; Constanza Avello Lefno at La Agencia Chilena para la Inocuidad y Calidad Alimentaria, ACHIPIA (Chilean Agency for Food Quality & Safety); Dr. Heena Puri at Impetus Agriculture (U.S.); Dr. Deborah Montezano at Corteva (U.S.) and Leslie Cancio at the Department of Science and Technology XI- PSTC Davao del Sur (Phillipines). Want to add your story? Contact Brianne! See our videos on social media (X and Instagram) and follow #GreenCareerWeek for more!

Meet the Young Leaders of the Americas: March 20. Hear a lightning round of micro-pitches from these exemplary young founders and executives from across the continent here while they participate in a U.S. Department of State-funded professional exchange with Lincoln businesses adn nonprofit organizations. Mico-pitch round begins at 4;00 p.m., networking at 4:45. Contact Brianne to be added to the invite list. Campus community is welcome, especially students!

Brazil Tropical Bio-Based Systems Summer School Info Session March 21, 12:00p.m. Take advantage of a unique opportunity to explore tropical biobased ag systems alongside peers from around the world, hosted by longtime UNL partner the University of São Paulo ESLAQ.  Hear from one of last year's selected participants, Charlotte Brockman, on the amazing experience. Register here.

CELEBRATE CASNR: Month of April. As part of Celebrate CASNR (formerly CASNR Week), the Global Learning Hub is excited to again host a Global Professional Cafe, where members of the university and broader community gather to network and visit around common knowlege of a language (or desire to learn). Look out for this invitation and the highlighted language (previous Cafe events have gathered speakers of Swahili, Spanish, and French thus far) soon. Are you a speaker of a language other than English and interested in being a campus host for one of these events? Contact Brianne. 

Additional international events:

• IANR/Ag Research Division Global Engagement Workshop: Assessing Survey Results & Ideating Next Steps: 

        March 4, 9-11 am, East Campus Union, Arbor suite (Zoom version 12-2pm) 

        March 5, 2:30-4:30 pm, East Campus Union, Arbor suite

• Yeutter Institute of International Trade and Finance – International Trade Minor Week Events (see the recap here).

Have upcoming global events you’d like to see featured here, on our website, or on social media? Contact Brianne.