In today’s work environment, the ability to communicate and collaborate across cultures is critical—especially as more and more graduates accept remote and hybrid positions that straddle borders and time zones. That’s why UVM’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) has been actively seeking to develop innovative ways to provide students with access to intercultural and global competencies.

To that end, on November 3, 2023, the UVM Provost’s office approved the UVM Global Tech Experience, a new program within CAS focused on global experiential learning. Scheduled to launch in spring 2024, the fully online program will do the crucial work of increasing access to intercultural and global competencies for all UVM students—without requiring them to travel.

“We are thrilled to bring the Global Tech Experience to the UVM community,” said William Falls, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. “The skills students will gain from this program align beautifully with the College’s set of Core Competencies and will have a big impact on their applications for both internships and jobs after graduation.”

UVM CAS is partnering with Podium Education to provide the Global Tech Experience. Students who participate will be guided through both asynchronous and synchronous coursework, building competencies in essential industry tools like Tableau, Shopify, and Python, and applying learning through workplace simulations and training modules.

By bringing together peers from 50+ countries and over 75 universities to work on real-world projects from companies like SpaceX, Spotify, Intel, and the Grammys, as well as nonprofit organizations and NGOs, the program provides students with the opportunity to work collaboratively on big issues alongside colleagues from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

“Through our work with the Global Tech Experience, we are providing students with unique opportunities to gain valuable work experience,” said Michael Campbell, General Manager of Intel’s Education Division. “This authentic project and offering gives undergraduates a chance to work on real-world challenges, and Intel is helping students build essential skills that will open doors to exciting career opportunities.”

Through the UVM Global Tech Experience, students will be given the opportunity to add coding, analytics, and marketing skills to their post-graduation repertoire through one of four tracks: Digital Marketing, Coding for Web, Data Analytics, and Coding for Data. The program, worth four elective credits (CAS 1990 OL3), will also provide up to three micro credentials for industry tools that students can add to their resumes and LinkedIn.

“Offering credit for programs like these is one way in which we’ve been able to help students understand the value of building career skills alongside academic achievement, so they’re thoroughly prepared to enter an increasingly global workforce,” said Paul Deslandes, Associate Dean for Student Success in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Interested in participating? Enrollment for the UVM Global Tech Experience is open now for spring 2024.