As graduation approaches this May, Joie Jarilla is reflecting on a Rutgers journey defined by creativity, global exploration, and a commitment to helping others find their place in the world. Jarilla, who will earn her degree in Information Technology and Informatics (ITI) from the Rutgers School of Communication and Information (SCI), has built her academic path around web design and user experience. But it’s her work beyond the classroom, particularly through her study abroad experience in South Korea, that has shaped her aspirations in powerful ways. 

Rutgers Global is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Rutgers Global Grants. These grants are intended to support faculty international engagement by helping initiate engagement and collaborative research, international partnerships, and new educational initiatives. The modest seed grants are offered for full-time Rutgers faculty from all campuses, including tenured, tenure-track, and clinical faculty. This year, there were four categories of grants: (1) Global Health, in collaboration with the Rutgers Global Health Institute, (2) International Collaborative Research, (3) Faculty-Led Study Abroad, and, new this year, (4) Korea University-Rutgers University co-funded Collaborative Research. 

Rutgers University and Seoul National University (SNU) have launched the Visiting Graduate Student Program for the SNU Graduate School of AI Semiconductor, a structured research immersion initiative hosted by the Rutgers Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). Rutgers successfully hosted its first SNU students this year: Dayoung Chun and Jihoon Kim. The doctoral candidates spent six months in the Rutgers ECE labs, attending lab meetings, engaging in one-on-one mentorship sessions with faculty, taking part in collaborative research discussions, and contributing directly to ongoing projects.