Advancing Global Engagement: UNI’s Strategic Partnerships and the Peru Collaboration
Foreword by Carolina Coronado-Park, Director - Office of International Engagement
In today’s interconnected world, universities are no longer defined by geographic borders. Developing strong international partnerships has become a strategic priority for higher education, enriching academic life while preparing students and faculty to engage meaningfully in a global society.
At the University of Northern Iowa, we have more than 80 partners across 29 countries. Although the Office of International Engagement, the Study Abroad Center, and the International Admission Office oversee different aspects of these agreements, we all share the same goal: promoting global opportunities for students, faculty, and the community. For students, these partnerships are transformative. Study abroad programs, dual degrees, virtual exchange, and short‑term academic experiences cultivate global competence, intercultural communication skills, and adaptability; qualities which are increasingly valued in today’s labor market.
From an institutional perspective, international collaboration also expands research capacity and global visibility. Multinational research teams are better positioned to address complex global challenges and access international funding opportunities. Beyond academics, these partnerships foster mutual understanding, respect, and trust among cultures, contributing to more inclusive campuses and stronger global networks. Organizations such as the Organization of American States (OAS) and UNI have been collaborating to promote the benefits of studying at a comprehensive public institution in the Midwest among Latin American countries.
Ultimately, intentional and well‑aligned international partnerships allow universities to fulfill their broader mission: educating globally minded citizens and advancing knowledge for the public good. For institutions like UNI, these partnerships are essential.
Dr. C Kyle Ruddick's Reflections on UNI’s Expanding Partnership with Peru’s Universidad de Piura
In an interview with Dr. C. Kyle Rudick, Professor at Communications and Media Department, he speaks about international engagement with a clarity that makes one realize that global partnerships are central to the UNI Communication & Media Department’s mission.
“International students and global partnerships are essential to the success of the whole university as well as the Department of Communication and Media,” he explains. For him, the value flows in both directions. UNI offers “hands-on experiential pedagogy and cutting-edge technology,” while international students bring “a host of experiences and knowledge that broaden the minds and values” of everyone on campus. This mutual enrichment is not abstract. It shapes how UNI students learn to navigate a world where every profession requires cultural fluency.
Every interaction with international students is an opportunity to learn how to be a better friend, coworker, colleague, or manager
A Partnership Rooted in Shared Learning and Lasting Academic Impacts
Dr. Rudick’s recent visit to Universidad de Piura (UDEP) in Peru offered a vivid example of what these collaborations can become. He describes UDEP as “an amazing institution with amazing professors and staff,” and the conversations he had there, particularly around their developing MA program in Communication and Media, were energizing.
The exchange wasn’t limited to administrative insights. Dr. Ruddick was deeply inspired by the creative and scholarly work of UDEP faculty. He highlights documentary filmmaker Samuel Alfonso Urbina Tuma, whose films about Piura are gaining festival attention, and Arturo Guillermo Leon Ferreyros, who recently earned a competitive fellowship to pursue doctoral studies in Spain. “They are just a couple of the outstanding faculty at Piura that I had the pleasure to meet and learn from,” he says.
For Dr. Rudick, the UNI–UDEP partnership aligns seamlessly with UNI’s Strategic Plan, especially its commitment to “enrich Iowa and beyond.” He sees enormous potential in welcoming Peruvian students to the Cedar Valley and in sending UNI students and faculty to Peru in return.
These exchanges are already bearing fruit. Dr. Rudick’s own presentation at UDEP grew out of a collaborative research project with UNI students Adrianna Cruz and Catherine Palczewski on Marca Perú and national branding, an idea he says he “would not have thought to pursue without Adrianna’s experience and knowledge.”
If there is one message Dr. Rudick hopes the UNI community takes from the Peru initiative, it is the importance of stepping beyond the familiar.
Connect with international students on campus and pursue study abroad opportunities. Take classes in a foreign language or even just download an app and start learning. Anytime you put yourself in a place that feels a little out of your comfort zone, it’s a good indicator that you are growing.
Looking Ahead: A Global Vision for UNI
What excites Dr. Rudick most is the long-term impact these partnerships can have on the Cedar Valley and the state of Iowa. “We have such a great quality of life here, and it will only get better as we develop international partnerships that grow and sustain our communities"
His enthusiasm reflects a broader truth: international engagement is not simply about travel or cultural exchange. It is about preparing students for a world where global understanding is a professional necessity and a personal asset.
