Global Educator Opportunity (GEO) Fellowship

Global Educator Opportunity (GEO) Fellowship

Expanding Global Learning Across Grounds
Buckminster Fuller map

Global Educator Opportunity (GEO) Fellowship

Expanding Global Learning Across Grounds

GEO Fellowships provide faculty support to create international learning experiences for undergraduate students across Grounds, enhancing the global dimension of the UVA curriculum.  

GEO Fellowship Goals

  • Create global learning experiences on (and near) Grounds for undergraduate students through existing or new course development.
  • Develop learning opportunities that expand student skills for current and future global servant-leadership: enhanced cross-cultural communications; hands-on experience with international project-based collaborations; and innovative and ethical engagement with developing technologies.  
  • Support and recognize faculty committed to enhancing the international dimensions of their teaching - and their students’ learning.
  • Establish a cross-disciplinary community of GEO Fellows to cultivate opportunities for local collaboration and idea-sharing, with the aim of enhancing global engagements across Grounds.     

GEO Fellowship Support

GEO Fellowships provide financial and pedagogical resources to: 

  • integrate global perspectives into existing undergraduate courses through applied learning 
  • facilitate deeper understanding and active engagements with global issues on Grounds 
  • develop new courses grounded in global perspectives  

GEO Fellowships support multiple course-based teaching activities, including, but not limited to: 

  • inviting international scholars/advocates as guest lecturers/co-creators 
  • developing assignments/modules - or a new course - with a demonstrable global focus 
  • creating and supporting student-driven projects with global components 
  • local projects and programming linked to international topics 
  • domestic US course-integrated travel with a global dimension 
  • costs associated with Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) or virtual exchanges, including funds needed to develop syllabi or course modules with synchronous or asynchronous global components/international assignments 
  • other innovative ideas that promote global engagements on and near Grounds  

Eligibility 

Applications are open to all full-time academic appointees across all schools and units of UVA and UVA’s College at Wise: general faculty, tenure-track, and tenured. Graduate students and part-time instructors are not eligible. Several faculty may apply for joint funding for a collaborative activity/project, with each recipient integrating global learning experiences into their own course.  

Award Amount 

Maximum $10,000 USD.

Deadline

Applications due: TBD

Awards announced: TBD

 

Questions? Please check these FAQs or write to [email protected].

FAQs

I don’t teach a globally-focused subject – am I still eligible? Yes, if you have an idea for an international collaboration, activity, or other global engagement as part of your undergraduate course. GEO Fellowships support internationalizing the curriculum across all UVA fields. All courses are eligible – and encouraged.

Can I use the funding for summer salary? Yes, but summer salary is capped at 50% of the total award.

Can I use the funds to invite an international speaker? Yes, but please keep in mind that the best proposals will have more developed engagements than a single guest lecture. You may want to consider an in-person visit following several weeks of virtual exchange or a collaborative assignment created with the invited international speaker and their students. Funding can be used to provide an honorarium, travel expenses, etc. for your guest but please note that UVA Global is not responsible for making the travel or other logistical arrangements.

I will need money each year I include this global engagement in my course/offer this new course – what should I do? The current award provides confirmed financial support through 2025 only. Please keep this in mind and consider a global engagement requiring a one-time, up-front set-up cost with low- or no-funding needed to sustain. If additional funds are secured for future years, you are welcome to apply for continued funding.

What can I do with this funding? GEO Fellowships focus on internationalizing existing or new undergraduate courses. If your proposal enhances undergraduate teaching, offers students new or enhanced insights into our global interconnectedness, and can be financed within the amount of the award, there are few limits as to what is possible.

Further questions? Please contact [email protected].

GEO Fellowship Application

Send ALL information requested below in a single pdf to [email protected].

GEO Fellowship application deadline: TBD

Applicant Information       

  • Name: 
  • Department/Program: 
  • Email: 
  • Phone:  

Course Information

  • Course Title: 
  • Course Number (if an existing course): 
  • Semester/Year (to implement revised or begin new course): 
  • Number of Students anticipated:  

Select one of the following:

Existing Course: Please include the current syllabus for the course you propose revising.  

New Course: If you are proposing a new course, please include a max. 450-character course description.

Purpose of Funding (select all that apply):

  ☐ speakers/course collaborators        

  ☐ project/course development & implementation, including travel and/or summer salary        

  ☐ course-integrated travel with students        

  ☐ COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) or Virtual Exchange activities        

  ☐ other (please specify):  

Please Respond to Each of the Items Below:

Amount of Funding Requested (10K USD max): Please note - summer salary is capped at 50% of the total award.  

Description of Proposed Global Activity: Provide a detailed description of the activity/ies you plan to implement. Include the objectives, the global component(s), and how it will enhance and internationalize the course.   

Expected Global Outcomes: Explain the expected outcomes for students and how the activity will deepen their global engagement and understanding.  

Budget, including Budget Breakdown: Provide a detailed budget, including justification of how the funds will be used. Include all anticipated expenses.   

Timeline: Outline the timeline for the proposed engagements/new course development, including key dates and milestones.   

Assessment Plan: Describe how you will assess the effectiveness of the engagements in achieving the intended outcomes.

If Applicable:

Sustainability: If the proposed revisions OR new course global components require funds after 2025 to sustain, please outline a plan for obtaining additional support or reducing costs to continue the engagement.

Previous Experience: Provide details of any previous experience you have in internationalizing your course(s) or relevant global experience related to your teaching.  

If proposing a new course: Please attach a statement of support from your Department/Program Chair.

Additional Information: Include any additional information pertinent to your application.