The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has been selected as one of 10 institutions nationwide to receive a Gilman Pioneering Institution Grant, a new initiative from the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program as part of the America250 celebration.
Funded by the Institute of International Education in partnership with The Forum on Education Abroad, the program awarded $10,000 grants to a select group of institutions working to strengthen the connection between study abroad and career readiness. In addition to funding, the initiative includes professional development and training, positioning participating campuses as leaders in expanding access to global learning.
At UTC, the grant will support “STEM Global Career Pathways: Helping UTC STEM Students Turn Study Abroad into Career Success,” a program designed to help students understand how global experiences translate into career opportunities in STEM fields.
The initiative will provide structured support before, during and after study abroad, along with career-focused workshops, résumé and interview preparation, and engagement with industry partners and alumni. It will also connect students to global employers—both abroad and locally—to help them better understand how their field operates in an international context.
“This grant will help us connect STEM-focused students’ career readiness and global international activities,” said Dr. Takeo Suzuki, senior international officer and executive director for the Center for Global Education.
While the grant serves as seed funding, Suzuki said the goal is to create a program that helps students—particularly those who may not have considered studying abroad—see how their work fits into a global workforce.
“Some students have never been out of the United States. They don’t see what they can do or how they can do it,” Suzuki said. “We want them to visit international companies so they can connect the dots.”
The program is a collaboration between the UTC Center for Global Education and partners across STEM programs, including the College of Engineering and Computer Science. It is expected to serve 20 to 30 students annually.
“This is about connecting what we do in global education with workforce development and the local community,” Suzuki said. “We want students to think locally and act globally, and it’s a message that’s not only well received here, but recognized nationally.
“With the 2030 Strategic Plan, this is fit for where the University is heading.”
Rather than a traditional course, the program will function as an enrichment experience based on building global competency and skills such as problem-solving, adaptability and cross-cultural collaboration.
Suzuki emphasized that this kind of experience can set students apart.
“Students can use this experience to show global competency on their résumé,” he said. “When they go into a job interview, they can say they completed a program funded by the U.S. Department of State, giving them something meaningful to talk about in interviews and helping them stand out as future leaders.
“We’re hoping this can open the door for them to the next thing that they may have never thought about.”
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