International initiatives

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is a hub for connecting international initiatives across research, teaching, and community engagement. Our faculty’s expertise and longstanding global partnerships facilitate cross-border
collaborations that inform educational and social praxis research. Our ties are based on our capacity to coordinate projects with international universities, NGOs, local partners, and organizations, like the ones described below. The strategic regions are spaces where our college has visibility and creates opportunities for our students, faculty, and community partners to engage in cross-cultural learning and research.

South America Strategic Region

Brazil
A partner of ours since 2016, the Federal University of Espirito Santo (UFES) is situated in Vitória, Espirito Santo. CEHD and UFES have been actively collaborating over the past few years to develop faculty, work on research projects, exchange knowledge and resources, build capacity, encourage student mobility, and engage teachers, educators, and stakeholders in professional development. In September 2018, CEHD sponsored an interdisciplinary faculty delegation to attend the 5th World Conference to Combat Economic, Racial, and Ethnic Inequality, providing an opportunity to leverage strong institutional relationships. It is noteworthy that since that time, three UFES graduates have pursued graduate degrees at the University of Minnesota, and UFES faculty, students, and local partners have visited our college to collaborate with our faculty. A Brazil study abroad program is also offered in cooperation with UFES, Indigenous communities, and local schools for TRIO and Indigenous students interested in cultural diversity, politics, and education.

Central Asia Strategic Region

Kazakhstan
Since 2021, the University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) has strengthened its longstanding connection with Kazakhstan through strategic and sustainable collaborations in education. CEHD has established a customized Visiting Scholars Program, launched partnership projects with multiple higher education institutions across Kazakhstan, and created a CEHD faculty residency program. Since 2022, CEHD has hosted 39 visiting scholars
from over 20 educational institutions across various regions of Kazakhstan. The program offers a structured approach that builds research capacity and fosters innovative teaching through one-on-one mentoring with CEHD faculty, course enrollment, academic seminars, workshops, and individualized research planning. In alignment with CEHD’s commitment to reciprocal engagement and global partnerships, the college has also facilitated multiple delegation exchanges — sponsoring visits to Kazakhstan and hosting delegations from Kazakhstani institutions such as the Center for International Programs, Eurasian National University, and South Kazakhstan University to strengthen institutional relationships and deepen mutual understanding of educational systems, people, and cultures.

Southeast Asia Strategic Region

Cambodia
As a result of a UMN faculty-led visit to Phnom Penh in 2018, funded by the Global Signature Grant, we have formed ties with the Cambodian NGO Khmer Vulnerability Aid Organization (KVAO), a non-governmental organization supporting the
resettlement and re-entry of the deported population (see details on the website: kvao.org). Our college was first contacted in 2016 by Cambodian refugee families in Minnesota seeking assistance for their loved ones who were returned to Cambodia because they were not U.S. citizens, despite arriving as young children and babies as refugees. The grant funded an interdisciplinary research project, Ambiguous Loss: Family Separation Among Cambodian American Families.
Laos
We developed a partnership with Big Brother Mouse, a school located in Luang Prabang, Laos, to support innovative educational practices and cross-cultural exchange. Since its opening in September 2020, the school has fostered a dynamic learning environment that integrates traditional teaching with interactive, play-based approaches to promote creativity and critical thinking. This partnership reflects CEHD’s commitment to global engagement and experiential learning, offering students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in an international educational setting while contributing to the development of equitable and engaging teaching practices in Laos.

Europe Strategic Region

The International School Leaders Association (ISLA)
The International School Leaders Association (ISLA) is a cross-national organization that brings together educational leaders from Europe and the United States to discuss relevant educational issues within their respective contexts. Members of this group would benefit from each other’s experiences to examine various approaches to promoting the economic and social advancement of minority, refugee, and immigrant youth. Leaders’ reunions occur every two years in the participating countries.

If you're interested in a partnership between your institution and CEHD, contact Marina Alexio at aleix001@umn.edu.