UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives is committed to advancing UCF’s international focus, profile, and engagement and support domestic and international bilateral relationships and partnerships. GPII conducts the following activities and initiatives:
Distinguished Lecture Series: GPII oversees the Lester Mandell Endowed Distinguished Lecture Series, which brings several high-profile speakers to UCF each year. Speakers provide insightful discussion for students, faculty, and the community at large.
International Lecture Series: GPII facilitates numerous international expert visits to UCF each year. Visitors participate in events open to students, faculty, and the public. They frequently engage in-depth with the UCF community, resulting in partnership opportunities with fellow universities and prominent think tanks.
Outreach: GPII conducts ongoing outreach to create international opportunities for UCF, utilizing its network of contacts across the globe. GPII helps develop outreach strategies for specific countries, regions, or topical issues.
WUCF Global Perspectives Show: WUCF TV’s Global Perspectives is a weekly interview show which brings together authors, journalists, diplomats, and activists to share their view of the world to Central Florida. Co-hosted by GPII Executive Director David Dumke and broadcast journalism instructor Katie Coronado, Global Perspectives dives weekly into topics of worldwide importance and local impact.
Puerto Rico Research Hub: Led by prominent scholar Dr. Fernando Rivera, the Puerto Rico Research Hub investigates the Puerto Rican population and demographic trends to better inform public policy. Additional areas of emphasis include bilingual training, disaster response, and recovery, and partnerships in the community. The Hub develops partnerships with academic and community organizations in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the nation. It also serves as a bridge to the wider Caribbean and Latin America.
Middle East Studies Program: The Middle East Studies Program works with regional partners across the Middle East-North Africa Region. MESP sponsors a speaker series and co-hosts annual dialog conferences. The Program has also supported a wide range of faculty and student-led projects.
Morocco Initiative: Partnering with the 50,000-strong Central Florida Moroccan-American community, and Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI), GPII has launched a Morocco Initiative – which facilitates discussion, debate, and awareness about culture, history, public policy, economic development, U.S.-Moroccan relations, and sustainability.
Diplomacy, Peace and Security Studies Program: DPSS cooperates with campus and community partners to sponsor or co-sponsor public discussions featuring top speakers, panels and other presentations; encourage scholarship and research; and work with partners worldwide.
Terrorism Studies: Focuses on public education, evaluation and research about terrorism/counter-terrorism issues, trends, and policies by sponsoring public discussions featuring top speakers, panels and other presentations, encourages scholarship and research.
Isle of Man Small Countries Program: The Small Countries Program is a cooperative undertaking between UCF and Isle of Man’s Small Countries Financial Management Centre (SCFMC). The program seeks to build upon and complement the vision of the SCFMC in underscoring and addressing the unique challenges of small countries, with a special focus on the Caribbean.
The Center for the Study of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery: The Center seeks to expand the understanding of human trafficking in a comprehensive, interdisciplinary context, and search for solutions through coursework, research, distinguished speakers, student fellowships, survivor scholarships, partnerships, international professional exchanges, and community engagement.
The India Center: GPII supports the School of Politics, Security and International Affairs and College of Sciences on projects related to the India Center. This includes identifying unique opportunities for UCF, facilitating public discussions involving prominent speakers, panels and other meetings.
Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Program for Strategic Research and Studies: PMBF sponsors public presentations by distinguished scholars and practitioners, student fellowships and research activities. The program seeks to advance public awareness and knowledge about the United States-Saudi Arabia relationship, including bilateral relations, security, culture, and the economy.