Florida International University: Miami’s Global University

August 10, 2014

 

Florida International University (FIU) is a diverse, multicultural public research university, located in the heart of Florida’s international city, Miami. Students find Miami’s diversity highly attractive and the business-centric environment of the city offers students numerous internships and future career opportunities.

 

As the top school in the nation for granting bachelor’s and master’s degrees to Hispanic students, FIU shines as an example of success in its diverse student body. FIU hosts nearly 70 Brazilian students amongst several thousand international students, who are active participants in FIU’s energetic student life. The International Student Club hosts weekly social events on campus and encourages participation in the FIU community.

 

Research is at the heart of FIU and it prides itself on “actively enhancing the university’s ability to set new standards through research initiatives.” Each year, FIU is awarded approximately $200 million in grants and funding for research. FIU provides students with a wealth of opportunities to gain hands-on experience at its schools, colleges, and programs, including The College of Arts & Sciences’ marine science program, the psychology program, and the School of Computing, as well as the university’s own Information Sciences' Discovery Lab.

State-of-the-art student residence facilities accompany FIU’s advanced academics. Amongst its over 200 programs, popular undergraduate areas of focus include biomedical science, engineering, journalism, and hospitality, while notable graduate programs include computer science, public health, engineering and forensic science. As technology and innovation bring the world closer together, students need advanced skills and knowledge to succeed. At FIU, Global Learning for Global Citizenship is a key component of the education offered and helps our students become competitive in the global marketplace and Worlds Ahead of all others. All FIU undergraduates are required to take a minimum of two global learning courses before graduation, classes related to their major, which have been developed by our professors.

 

The College of Business is ranked among the five percent of elite business schools worldwide accredited by the AACSB International. U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best College recently ranked the International Business program #11 in the country. Also, new this fall, FIU will offer an international masters program in the law school.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A robust International Student and Scholar Services office ensures a smooth transition into FIU life by providing students everything from orientation to visa advising and cultural excursions. The office’s director, Dr. Ana M. Sippin, elaborated,

 

“We give students an up-close and personal look at Miami with a tour. In spring, we tour FIU’s Wolfsonian Museum in South Beach, an example of the university’s expansion throughout South Florida. In addition, Brazilian and American students enjoy the Brazilian Culture Club, where Brazilians share their culture as Americans practice their Portuguese.”

 

Florida International University also works with several Brazilian universities to facilitate student and faculty exchange. The Brazil Undergraduate Study Abroad Grant Program enables FIU students to study at the Centro Universitário (UNA) in Belo Horizonte, while UNA students have the opportunity to come to FIU. This academic partnership is one of several that strives to promote “sustainable, long-term, team-oriented community engagement projects.” In addition, as a Brazil Scientific Mobility Program host institution, FIU hopes to strengthen collaborative learning and research initiatives in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields.