In 2023, Merche Gimeno Rico asked Paloma Rodriguez to collaborate on a COIL for Staff project. A year later, they implemented a successful program and shared it with the world in person in Valencia! Representing UF at CEU Cardenal Herrera University through the power of COIL/ Virtual Exchange were Sebastian Rodriguez Natali, Yanina Morero, Tate Quinones, Abel Gilbert, Jennifer North, Paloma Rodriguez, and Mabel Cardec. (Patricia Alba and Zully Rivera, who are also part of the UF COIL for the Staff cohort, could not travel.)
Recently, the article “Developing Professionals to Meet the Needs of the Global Campus Through Virtual Exchange for Staff” by Rodriguez and published by NAFSA (Association of International Educators), the world's largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange, has increased the visibility of the COIL for Staff at the national and international level.
This week, the UF International Center is pleased to host the CEU/Valencia partner delegation: Ivan Christmann, Monica Salvador Marí, Sara Matoses Jaén, Juan Ignacio Roca Knowles,Merche Gimeno Rico, Halyna Zubrytska and Agnes Castillo Ramón.
“I am immensely grateful to our CEU Cardenal Herrera University partners, who have also been gracious hosts and wonderful organizers of a COIL for Staff symposium,” said Rodriguez. “I am elated to have shared this experience with a very talented group of colleagues from the University of Florida and the University of Florida International Center.”
UFIC is looking forward to continuing to work with CEU Cardenal Herrera University on documenting the benefits of this powerful practice and is excited to receive them at UF this week.
"We also appreciate the great leadership at UF from Marta L. Wayne and from Álvaro Antón Antón Jordi López Ramon Deborah Chicharro Alcántara at CEU Cardenal Herrera,” concluded Paloma Rodriguez in a LinkedIn post.
To be continued!
