For its development, success, and continued growth of its English Adventure Program, the University of Guam Professional and International Programs office (PIP) received the Innovation and Excellence in International Education Award by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) in a ceremony on October 30 in Miami, Florida.
 
The AASCU award program honors member institutions for excellence and innovation in several major areas of campus life and leadership, and because of its public-private partnerships; financial benefit to the University; and most importantly, its cultural and educational development for both local and international students, AASCU chose to highlight and honor UOG’s English Adventure Program.
 
“Innovation at America’s state colleges and universities is focused on advancing the quality of the educational experience for their students and the distinction of their institutions in service to their communities,” said AASCU President Muriel A Howard. “The programs for which these universities are being honored will inspire not only their AASCU colleagues, but all of higher education.”
 
“Receiving the AASCU award in International Education is a huge honor,” said Professional and International Program’s Director Carlos Taitano. “We’re a small institution in a very remote place in the Pacific, and to be nationally recognized for all of our hard work means a lot. It is a badge of honor that we can now take to all of our partner institutions and show them that we are a world-class program.”
 
The University of Guam’s English Adventure Program (EAP) offers short-term English and culture programs to cohorts of students from schools and universities in Asia. In 2008, 518 international students participated in the program. In 2015, EAP grew by 925 percent, with over 5,000 students attending. Just this fall, Taitano says nearly 4,000 international students will attend the program.
 
By leveraging the University’s proximity to Asian countries and partnering with institutions in South Korea and Japan looking to expand their study abroad opportunities, PIP has been able to market the UOG as a destination campus. PIP has also established a travel scholarship that provides UOG students with funds for educational exchange with 24 partner universities in Asia.
 
“Because of the two-way exchange, we now have more international students coming to the University, and our students can also earn credit from other institutions in Japan, Korea, and China,” Taitano said.
 
For more information on the English Adventure Program, contact Carlos Taitano at (671) 735-2600 or visit www.uog.edu/pip.