On May 18, Rutgers Global hosted a graduation ceremony for a special group of 10 graduating students—7 students from Afghanistan and 3 students from Gaza—who completed an exceptionally challenging journey to obtain their degrees from Rutgers University. As Vice President for Global Affairs Rick Garfunkel noted in his opening remarks, “The strength and resilience needed to reach this achievement is nothing short of astounding. And this is why we are gathered together today—to honor this journey.”

Rutgers University is proud to announce that 12 students from across its New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden campuses have been awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for the Spring 2026 cycle. Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Gilman Scholarship supports students of limited financial means in pursuing study or internship opportunities abroad, helping to foster cross-cultural understanding and prepare the next generation of globally engaged leaders.
 

At the Global Appreciation Dinner in April 2026, Neha Tehmas, a senior majoring in Public Health at Rutgers, shared her reflections on participating in the Global Health Practicum program in Tanzania in January 2024. Here are her remarks from the event.

I went to Tanzania on a Global Health Practicum in January of 2024, where I shadowed nurses and physicians in a variety of different hospital departments, got to know the nursing students at the University of Dodoma, executed nursing simulations with them, and helped train them in Stop The Bleed.
 

Rutgers University is strengthening its engagement in Ghana through a growing network of academic partnerships, faculty collaborations, student opportunities, and community-centered initiatives that reflect the university’s broader global strategic vision. At the heart of this work is the newly formed Ghana Working Group, a cross-campus collective of faculty and administrators organized by Rutgers Global and headed by Assistant Vice President Ji-Yeung Jang and dedicated to coordinating and advancing Rutgers’ activities in the country.
 

The Rutgers Global Student Volunteer Corps (SVC) is a vibrant group of Rutgers students who assist the Rutgers Global Programming & Events team each year in conceiving, planning, and executing fun and engaging campus events that serve to promote global awareness and cross-cultural understanding. The volunteers, who submit applications and interview with the team before being selected, help with all aspects of events, including planning, set-up, management, and more. These volunteers gain important benefits from joining the SVC, such as enhancing their intercultural communication skills, growing both personal and professional networks, learning how to work with teams, and gaining some excellent resume-building experience. 

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.  
 

Rutgers Global offered a new faculty-led study abroad program this winter called Egyptian Art: Ancient, Islamic, and Modern. This short-term program took place between semesters in January and was led by Rutgers-Newark faculty member Professor Alex Seggerman as part of a course she taught in the fall. The on-campus course covered the history of art in Egypt, including ancient sphinxes, Coptic textiles, medieval Islamic mosques, modern urban developments, and the contemporary graffiti of the Arab Spring. In January 2026, the students traveled to Egypt for ten days, staying in Cairo with a day trip to Alexandria, and visited ancient sites including the Pyramids of Giza and the King Tut treasures at the new Grand Egyptian Museum, as well as other heritage sites with diverse religious backgrounds like the Ben Ezra Synagogue, the Coptic Hanging Church, and Ibn Tulun Mosque. 

Rutgers University’s recent engagements across South Korea marked a significant step forward in strengthening academic, research, and industry partnerships in one of the world’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems. In December, a delegation of faculty and executive staff traveled to South Korea to explore opportunities for future collaborations with academic, industry, and government entities. Through meetings with leading universities, research institutes, and industry partners, the Rutgers delegation deepened existing relationships and laid the groundwork for new collaborations spanning student mobility, faculty research, industry engagement, and translational innovation. 

Rutgers Global was pleased to welcome distinguished alumnus Dr. Shams Eldien Naga to campus in January, celebrating his enduring connection to Rutgers University and his international impact as a leader in architecture, urban planning, and design. Dr. Naga, who earned his Master of Science in Urban Planning from Rutgers University in 1986, is Founder and Chairman of the DHB Group and NAGA Architects, Designers, and Planners, which operate across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and the United States. During his visit to Rutgers, Dr. Naga met with key faculty and staff from the Rutgers School of Engineering, the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, the Rutgers University Foundation, and Rutgers Global.  

Rutgers University-New Brunswick once again has been named a top producer for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, with 11 undergraduate and recent graduates receiving the grants in the 2025-2026 academic year. “Our students’ ongoing success in earning Fulbright grants illustrates once again the Rutgers edge,” said Rutgers President William F. Tate IV. “Again and again their grit and perseverance are matched by exceptional intellect and curiosity.”