Get to Know Us! - Amila Tica
04/28/25

Amila Tica— "Tica, like pizza," she joked—is UFIC’s Coordinator of Exchange Student Services, advising and assisting all inbound international students studying abroad here at UF. Amila is a double Gator, with a B.A. in International Studies and English and an M.Ed. in Student Personnel in Higher Education.

Born in Germany to Bosnian parents, Amila moved to the United States when she was 5 years old. “My family escaped from the war in Bosnia and lived in Germany for 7 years—it’s where my brother and I were born. We came as refugees to Jacksonville in 2000, when our residence in Germany became tenuous.” Growing up in Jacksonville, she always was close to her Bosnian heritage, “...

Ukraine Rebuilding Initiative - A Student-Led Virtual Exchange Project
04/28/25

The Ukraine Rebuilding Initiative (URI) began as a UF student organization in August 2023 with a mission to help rebuild and heal the city of Nizhyn, Ukraine. With projects across a range of academic areas - from engineering to business to agriculture and more - the organization has attracted students of all majors who want to contribute their expertise to this humanitarian cause, some of whom also have personal ties to Ukraine and Russia. This semester, URI has launched a new virtual exchange (VE) initiative as one of its projects, with the goal of supporting dialogue between UF and Nizhyn Gogol State University students and providing a space for them to share about their respective...

UNICollaboration Releases Interview with UF and UAO (Colombia) on COIL and Virtual Exchange Strategies
04/21/25

Now on their third annual virtual exchange (VE) project implementation, Dr. Luis Mejia-Puig, Assistant Professor in the UF Department of Interior Design, and one of his VE partners, Prof. Edgar Martínez, Director of the Industrial Design Program at Universidad Autónoma de Occidente in Colombia, were recently interviewed by UNICollaboration, a European-based VE network. They describe their VE project, which requires students to exchange knowledge on their local communities so they can design building interiors for each other's contexts. 

To check out the interview and article for the full story, ...

Kazakh Delegation Explores UF Expertise in Water and Agricultural Innovation
04/21/25

The UF International Center had the pleasure of hosting four international leaders from Kazakhstan as part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) focused on “Water Resource Management.”

During their visit, the delegation met with Dr. Gerrit Hoogenboom and Dr. Vakhtang Shelia to learn about the DSSAT crop modeling system. They also engaged in discussions with Dr. Rafael Muñoz-Carpena from the UF Water Institute, Dr. Gbola Adesogan from the Global Food Systems Institute, and Dr. Nargiza Ludgate from Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

The visitors expressed great interest in UF’s research and expertise, and are enthusiastic...

Global Fellows Program Final Symposium Showcases International Research and Collaboration at UF
04/21/25

The University of Florida International Center (UFIC) Office for Global Research Engagement hosted the Global Fellows Program Final Symposium today at the Reitz Union, bringing together faculty fellows, mentors, and research experts for a dynamic morning of cross-disciplinary dialogue and global research engagement. This culminating event marked the conclusion of the 2025 Global Fellows Program, which aims to build institutional capacity for international research and collaboration.

Themed "Building Capacity for International Research and Collaboration," the symposium featured an innovative format inspired by the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Each of the 17 faculty...

International Scholars Program Graduation Ceremony Celebrates Student Success
04/21/25

On Thursday, the International Scholars Program proudly celebrated 145 Spring graduates at the ePortfolio Showcase and Graduation Ceremony. These graduates had the opportunity to present their ePortfolios, highlighting the remarkable international experiences and diverse skills they’ve gained throughout their time at the University of Florida.

Faculty, staff, and students from all corners of campus came together to celebrate these outstanding students and their accomplishments. The ceremony was...

Sharing Stories, Shaping Solutions: The Gainesville-Nizhyn Virtual Exchange
04/14/25

The Ukraine Rebuilding Initiative (URI) began as a UF student organization in August 2023 with a mission to help rebuild and heal the city of Nizhyn, Ukraine. With projects across a range of academic areas - from engineering to business to agriculture and more - the organization has attracted students of all majors who want to contribute their expertise to this humanitarian cause, some of whom also have personal ties to Ukraine and Russia. This semester, URI has launched a new virtual exchange (VE) initiative as one of its projects, with the goal of supporting dialogue between UF and Nizhyn Gogol State University students and providing a space for them to share about their respective...

UF Alumnus & Entrepreneur Sachio Semoto and President Fuchs to Address UF Graduates
04/14/25

Source: UF News

Photo: Semmoto Foundation

Sachio Semmoto to keynote doctoral commencement; Kent Fuchs to give final address at university wide ceremony

Two leaders celebrated for their achievements and warmth will be the commencement speakers at Spring Commencement at the University of Florida in May.

Sachio Semmoto, a UF alumnus and entrepreneur who founded one of the largest telecommunications companies in Japan, will address graduates at the Doctoral Commencement Ceremony at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 1 in the Stephen C. O’...

UF’s Florida Semiconductor Institute in Jacksonville to grow the statewide ecosystem
04/14/25

Source: UF News

New details about the introduction of the Florida Semiconductor Institute, or FSI, in Jacksonville were presented at Friday’s University of Florida Board of Trustees meeting. Research space for FSI is expected to open in Jacksonville as early as this fall, while UF continues design and planning for a newly built FSI facility as part of the UF Jacksonville campus.

“The Florida Semiconductor Institute will be a huge asset for Jacksonville and an enormous boost for Florida’s economy, and having FSI in Jacksonville will be a huge asset for UF,” said ...

Celebrating a Decade of Impact: UF’s 10th Annual Graduate Student Appreciation Week Highlights Global Grad Gators
04/14/25

The University of Florida is thrilled to celebrate the 10th year of Graduate Student Appreciation Week (GSAW), which will take place from April 4 to 11, 2025! This milestone event honors a decade of recognizing and supporting our incredible graduate students. This year's theme, "Grad Gators Here, There, and Everywhere!" reflects our students' global presence, the far-reaching impact of their research, and the vast opportunities available during their programs and beyond. 

UFIC is proud to participate in a week filled with engaging events, networking, and celebrations, starting with the Kickoff Station inside the Reitz Union on Monday, April 7. With swag, goodie bags, and smiling...

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