Global Summer Institute Flourishes with International Faculty  

In 2024, the Texas Global English Language Center (ELC) launched the Global Summer Institute (GSI), an innovative pilot program focused on experiential learning and cultural exploration.  

Demonstrating The University of Texas at Austin’s commitment to hands-on learning and cross-cultural dialogue, the GSI offers a rigorous 4-week academic session with course options taught by UT Austin and visiting faculty members from around the world. 

In addition to students from the United States, the GSI welcomed 155 international students from 57 institutions in China, England, Mexico, Thailand and Taiwan to the Forty Acres. Students enrolled in courses taught by seven UT Austin professors, four faculty members from nearby universities, and four visiting faculty from universities in Mexico and Argentina. This faculty cohort provided diverse academic and cultural insights that deeply enriched the program. 

“The Global Summer Institute represents an extraordinary opportunity for students around the world,” said Sonia Feigenbaum, senior vice provost for global engagement and chief international officer. “This immersive experience equips students with practical skills, brings together distinct global perspectives and forges international connections with top faculty and industry experts in a world-class academic environment.”    

International Student Opportunities  

Ultimately, the GSI’s academic, linguistic and cultural benefits amount to much more than the sum of those considerable parts. Participants select two from among 14 content courses across the fields of business, history, communications, engineering, computer science and psychology. 

Additional English language courses, taught by highly qualified instructors at the English Language Center, cover language skills including oral communication, reading, vocabulary development, note-taking and academic writing; each student chooses the language class most useful to their needs.   

“I expected to meet friends from different nationalities, and I did,” said Antonio Maya Ortiz, a student from Aeronautical University in Querétaro, Mexico. “The professional background the University gave me, the summer break, getting to know professionals with different backgrounds ... so many things to list. I loved every single second.”  

Students gain hands-on experience in their selected fields by networking with faculty members and industry experts, immersing themselves in the academic language and culture of the United States and receiving instruction on the U.S. university admissions process. 

In addition to improving their English writing and oral communication skills, participants attain the opportunity to explore UT Austin’s world-class research facilities as well as cities around Texas via campus tours and field trips.  

“In the inaugural year of the Global Summer Institute, we were thrilled to witness students and professors connecting intellectually, culturally and individually,” said Michael Smith, director of the English Language Center at Texas Global. “GSI truly exemplifies UT's slogan: What starts here changes the world.”   

A Visiting Faculty Perspective  

Among the GSI visiting professors in 2024 was Andrés Porras Gutiérrez from Durango, Mexico, who came to the Forty Acres from the Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM). After earning a bachelor's degree in educational sciences, another in religious studies and a master's in human development, he built a career in education, teaching humanities and sciences in elementary, middle and high schools across Mexico.   

The bulk of Porras’ educational work with migrant communities began in 2015, when he assisted Syrian refugees in Lebanon. For five years, he helped families integrate into the local society and transition their children into the educational system.  

In 2021, Porras returned to Mexico to work with migrants in Tijuana, and since 2023, he has worked in Monterrey, designing peacebuilding and leadership programs for civil service associations that support migrants.  

Porras’ recent work at UDEM garnered him an invitation to teach for the GSI, which allowed him to bring his unique perspective on social service and communications to inform the course titled, “Digital Empathy and Impact: Navigating Cognition and Communication for Social Good.”   

“It was a fascinating experience, and I believe it was extremely beneficial for everyone involved,” said Porras of the class. “The students developed even more than I had initially expected. I was particularly impressed by the respect and attention they showed in class.”  

Porras spoke highly of the advantages the GSI program offered to participating students, highlighting the intellectual and cultural growth he witnessed during classroom interactions.   

“There was a rich cultural and linguistic exchange,” he said. “It opened up new perspectives and broadened horizons toward different ways of seeing reality.”   

Porras acknowledged similar professional, academic and cultural gains for himself as a GSI visiting faculty member teaching on the UT campus.  

“The experience is definitely worthwhile!” said Porras. “I found the opportunity to teach at a university in the United States both interesting and enriching, as it allowed me to learn about different approaches and cultures.”   

Recruiting Future Faculty from Abroad  

The English Language Center is actively recruiting faculty for the 2025 Global Summer Institute. They invite qualified scholars from global universities across the world to teach a course in their academic specialty while experiencing hands-on engagement with the U.S. higher education system and academic culture.   

GSI visiting faculty benefit from networking with UT Austin and fellow international scholars as well as accessing the University’s world-renowned research facilities and campus libraries.   

“The Global Summer Institute is a testament to our commitment to experiential learning and cross-cultural dialogue as we prepare students for a dynamic, interconnected world,” said Feigenbaum.  

For further information about this exceptional opportunity in international education, visit the Global Summer Institute webpage.