b'OFFICE OF GLOBAL LEARNINGVIRTUAL EXCHANGEDOUBLING PARTICIPATIONNEW PROGRAM IN VIRTUAL EXCHANGE SPOTLIGHTThanks to the dedication of faculty from across theVIRTUAL EXCHANGE University, student participation in virtual exchangeTRAINING FOR (VE) doubled this year in both the number of projectsGRADUATE STUDENTSPROJECTS IMPLEMENTED NUMBER OF STUDENTSimplemented and number of UF participants in comparison 2023-2024 34 1849 The Office of Global Learning launched a new 2024-2025 to 2023-2024. The colleges with the largest participation 61 3668 and innovative program this year to help prepare numbers were, in descending order: Warrington Collegegraduate students to facilitate or co-facilitate of Business, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Collegevirtual exchange in courses they teach. Through the of Public Health and Health Professions, and College ofVirtual Exchange Training for Graduate Students, 4000 Agricultural and Life Sciences. participants expand their skills in areas applicable 3500 2024-2025 3,668to a variety of careers, including developing 3000 STUDENTS an international network, using technology for teaching and other professional purposes, and 2500 61 PROJECTSworking effectively with peers and students from 2000 IMPLEMENTED 2023-2024 1,849diverse backgrounds. With two inaugural cohorts 1500 STUDENTS this year, the program engaged 22 students from 1000 eight colleges.500 34PROJECTS 0 IMPLEMENTED continued on page 16PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED 2023-2024 2024-2025 NUMBER OF STUDENTSPROJECT SPOTLIGHTEXTERNAL GRANT AWARDED TO UF PROFESSOR FOR VIRTUAL EXCHANGEDr. Matthew J. Traum, Senior Lecturer and Instructional Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, was selected as one of the 11 awardees of the 2024 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative Award for his Hands-on Energy and Applied Thermo-fluids (HEAT) Program. This extremely competitive grant program supports virtual exchange (VE) projects between students in the U.S. and the Middle East and North Africa, reaching nearly 10,000analyzed and discussed results. They also communicated students with over $3.5 million in funding in 2024. Dr.their findings in written, oral, and video media using a Traum is the first UF educator to earn this prestigiouscombination of English and Arabic.award. Hands-on Energy and Applied Thermo-fluids (HEAT) In 2024-2025, Dr. Traum and his collaborators atProgram is implemented by the University of Florida Aswan University in Egypt implemented their VE projectand is supported by the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual twice, reaching a total of 72 UF students and 25 AswanExchange Initiative (JCSVEI). JCSVEI (https://www.University students. Before starting the exchange,stevensinitiative.org/) is a U.S. Department of States Dr. Traum shipped physical lab kits to Egypt so theBureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs program students could collaborate virtually and run hands-onadministered by the Aspen Institute.fluid mechanics experiments. Together, students built apparatuses, ran experiments, collected data, and UF International Center |13'