USA chosen to Participate in Transatlantic Mobility Program

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Posted on July 28, 2020

Lance Crawford

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The University of South Alabama is one of four institutions selected to participate in the 2020 Transatlantic Mobility Program through the French Embassy and NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the world’s largest non-profit association dedicated to international education and exchange.

The $15,000 grant will be used to establish a faculty-led program partnering with the Centre International d’etudes Francaises in Dijon, France, offering a combination of French language, culture, and business studies to increase the number of USA students studying language in France. Additionally, the grant will fund study abroad accessibility training for USA faculty to better serve students with disabilities.

“I am incredibly excited for South to receive this honor from the French Embassy as one of only four recipients nationwide,” Bri Ard, director of international education and study abroad, said.  “When Global Engagement became part of the University’s strategic plan in 2014, our intention was to increase access for South students to study abroad.  Honors like the Transatlantic Mobility Program recognize our successes thus far, while simultaneously providing more access for students.”

In May 2014, the U.S. Department of State and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated their support towards Franco-American student mobility through a joint declaration that led to the Transatlantic Friendship & Mobility Initiative. This joint declaration aims to strengthen the historic ties between the United States and France by diversifying and doubling the number of students from France and the United States studying abroad in both countries by 2025.

“It will be open to a limited number of students the first year, but the University hopes that number grows over the next four years, using the grant funding as a catalyst for a self-sustaining program,” Ard said.

While full-semester study abroad opportunities have been suspended for the fall due to the Covid-19 pandemic, interested students are invited to contact the Office of International Education for more information.

The goal is to create an affordable, quality option for students interested in studying French language, culture, and business practices.

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