SEMO selected for national Gilman grant to link study abroad, careers
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) — Southeast Missouri State University has been selected as one of 10 institutions nationwide to receive a Gilman Pioneering Institution Grant to support a new initiative connecting study abroad experiences with career readiness.
The $10,000 award from the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program will fund a project aimed at helping students translate international experiences into practical workforce skills, particularly in fields influenced by artificial intelligence.
More than 100 colleges and universities applied for the competitive grant.
The initiative will allow students studying or interning abroad for a semester or longer between fall 2026 and spring 2027 to participate. Students will complete guided research tied to their academic and professional interests, examining how technology and innovation are shaping their fields in both the United States and their host countries.
Participants will receive stipends to support experiential learning activities, including interviews and site visits, and will document their work through video storytelling to build career-focused portfolios.
“Our proposal focused on helping students make clearer connections between their time abroad and their long-term career goals,” said Aven Pacha, study abroad coordinator at SEMO.
“This initiative gives students the tools to explore how AI is shaping their field, no matter their major, and to articulate that experience in a meaningful way when they enter the job market.”
The Gilman Program selected SEMO’s proposal based on innovation, industry connections and alignment with national workforce priorities.
Kevin Timlin, executive director of International Education and Services, said the grant builds on ongoing efforts to expand access to study abroad and increase its impact on student success.
“Study abroad has consistently been shown to increase a student’s likelihood of persisting to graduation, and it’s an experience employers value,” Timlin said.
“This grant allows us to make these opportunities more accessible while also adding a structured learning component that helps students maximize the academic, personal and professional benefits of their time abroad.”
University officials said the initiative will also provide additional financial support and strengthen efforts to connect global experiences with career preparation.
