This story appears in the fall 2025 issue of The Torch Magazine and is part of Florida State University’s Celebration of International Education

How do communities define education beyond the walls of a classroom? Researchers at Florida State University’s Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (Anne’s College) are leading a collaborative effort to answer that question and advance understanding of the different ways people learn across cultures.

Specifically, researchers are exploring how Indigenous Maya youth communities in Belize connect their traditional knowledge with formal education systems. The interdisciplinary team is also examining how learning can be reimagined to bridge classroom instruction with more immersive learning experiences.

The project’s roots stretch back to 2021 when Ayesha Khurshid, associate professor of International and Multicultural Education in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, and Melba Marin-Velasquez, research assistant at FSU’s Learning Systems Institute and Anne’s College alumna, began working together in Mexico.

From Mexico to Belize

Khurshid and Marin-Velazquez’s initial work focused on a Maya Muslim community in Chiapas, Mexico, which has traditionally been excluded from formal education systems. “We wanted to understand what it means to be educated and what knowledge production systems and transfer processes within the community looked like,” said Khurshid, whose research strives to connect communities and families to formal schooling. “It started as a life history ethnographic project, but over time, we were very interested in collaborating with the community and building relationships.”

Through shared dialogue, they identified a need within the Maya Muslim Community to preserve ancestral medicinal knowledge that uses food as medicine.

“We partnered with a group of Maya women to course design and implement workshops led by an experienced Maya teacher to teach this knowledge. It is ancestral knowledge that they have preserved and transferred over centuries, but it is being lost because the community is moving to the city,” said Khurshid.

With guidance from an experienced Maya healer, the women participated in intensive workshops on identifying, preparing and teaching traditional plant-based treatments. Eight women received advanced training in this detailed medicinal system, including different models of diagnosis and treatment, Khurshid explained. “Now they’re designing and teaching workshops to pass that knowledge back to their broader community.”

Expanding Global Connections

That experience in Mexico laid the groundwork for how the team now approaches its research in Belize, with a focus on community needs and recognizing that learning flows both ways. Trust- and relationship-building guide their efforts to understand how Maya youth and families in Belize experience education.

The team now includes Lama Jaber, associate professor of science education in the School of Teacher Education, mathematics education doctoral graduate Anairis de la Cruz Benito, and doctoral student Jessica Qian.

According to Jaber, the project challenges traditional notions of what counts as education.

“There’s been a trend to separate these ways of learning as if formal schooling happens only in confined physical spaces within schools or institutions,” she said. “But there are also more natural ways of engaging in teaching and learning through the environment, through more emplaced ways of being, like walks in nature. Our project asks why this distinction exists, and what alternatives might look like.”

For Marin-Velasquez, the project has also rekindled a personal understanding of how learning happens beyond the classroom.

“When we look at the way we’ve been doing school, it’s often isolating; we sit in a room, we observe, we listen,” she said. “But when I think about how I was taught as a child by my grandmother, every walk was a lesson in life. She would point out plants and say, ‘This one will bloom tonight, and this is what it’s good for.’”

That early connection between knowledge and the natural world now shapes her view of education and research.

“It’s about connecting the past, the present, and the future,” Marin-Velasquez explained. “How can learning be whole if you separate the spiritual and emotional from the physical? Every place we walk holds something to teach us.”

“It’s about connecting the past, the present, and the future. How can learning be whole if you separate the spiritual and emotional from the physical? Every place we walk holds something to teach us.”

– Melba Marin-Velasquez, research assistant at FSU’s Learning Systems Institute

Those experiences have prompted the team to rethink what learning means, both within communities and within higher education itself. “As we got to know these Maya college students, we realized how thoughtful, creative, and insightful they were about being indigenous people within their own communal spaces of higher education,” Khurshid said. “They’re asking what could make higher education more conducive for Indigenous students.”

Lessons from Global Research

For the researchers themselves, the project has been transformative. “I’ve been involved in many research and professional development projects throughout my life, and I don’t think I’ve been as transformed in any project as much as I’ve been in this one,” Jaber said. “It helped me face myself more and interrogate assumptions and biases I hadn’t questioned before. It’s changing the way I think as a scholar, an educator, and a person.”

De la Cruz Benito shared a similar reflection after a recent visit brought together Maya women from Mexico and Belize for shared discussions, university visits and cultural exchange.

“Just having that space and seeing how open they were, it moved me deeply, and I have so many beautiful memories from that trip,” she said. “As a Mexican and Indigenous woman, I thought about my own community and family. It made me want to go back and have those conversations, to connect and learn in new ways.”

For Khurshid, those moments exemplify the power of international research and the importance of trust in collaboration. “It’s not merely data, it’s a connection. And that connection can make research valuable not only to academia but to the community itself,” she said.

Marin-Velasquez also noted that trust and language matter deeply when working internationally. “Even when you’re asking for their permission verbally, you have to be careful about what words you’re using and how they’re understood,” she said. “You can’t just insert yourself into a research site. You have to build those relationships so you can see with what Indigenous research calls ‘two-eyed seeing,’ where Western and Indigenous lenses combine.”

While the team’s work spans borders, its takeaways and findings extend directly back to Anne’s College. By building relationships rooted in trust, reciprocity, and shared knowledge, the researchers are strengthening what it means to partner with international communities.

The insights gained from Belize and Mexico are already shaping the team’s approach to designing learning environments that are more responsive, empathetic and connected to students’ lived experiences.

Looking Ahead

Plans are also underway for a symposium at Florida State, where the team and Maya youth researchers from Belize will present their reflections and findings.

Khurshid emphasizes that institutional support has been crucial throughout the process. The team credits Josh Newman, associate dean for research at Anne’s College, and his team, and Andrew Frank, director of FSU’s Native American and Indigenous Studies Center, for making global research efforts possible.

Meanwhile, Katherine Yaun, senior editor within the Anne’s College Office of Research, continues to support the research project in Chiapas, Mexico. Eugenia Millender from the FSU School of Nursing was also involved in the Chiapas project from 2023 to 2025.

“This work wouldn’t have been possible without the college’s support,” Khurshid emphasized. “Our collaborations began here. Internal partnerships opened doors for international ones.”

The internal collaboration is part of what has made the project so meaningful, Jaber says “We came to know each other through FSU. Ayesha and I met through serving on a student dissertation committee, and we really clicked and were interested in each other’s work. That’s the gift of the institution, creating spaces for connection.”

The post How Florida State University is reimagining learning through global partnerships appeared first on Florida State University News.

For nearly 15 years, Bhushan Dahal, a doctoral student in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences and a graduate assistant in the Learning Systems Institute (LSI) at Florida State University, has played a significant role in education reform in his home country of Nepal.

As a doctoral student in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Dahal seeks to expand his influence and contribution to the field of education, and his work at LSI on projects such as the USAID Teacher Excellence Initiative in Egypt and Transforming Teacher Education Activity in Zambia is opening doors at the international level.

“Nothing beats the excitement of working in Nepal, but now, being with LSI has broadened my experience beyond domestic projects to a range of international ones,” he said. “This exposure is invaluable, and I’m learning so much from each opportunity.”

Earlier this semester, Dahal was selected by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) as a 2024-2026 Jackson Scholar, which will give him the opportunity to engage in formal networking, mentoring and professional development opportunities to enhance his pathway to a career in educational leadership.

“As a first-generation international student who loves academia, networking and discovery, being selected as a Jackson Scholar is truly an honor,” Dahal said. “I am excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to building lasting memories and connections that will shape my journey and contribute to my vision of creating a dignified community.”

Before Dahal arrived at FSU, he was the first official employee at Kids of Kathmandu and later became the organization’s director. Through his work with the nonprofit, 11 schools have been constructed, accommodating 6,000 students and featuring computer labs, libraries, furniture and water purification systems.

“It went from being one person trying to do a few projects to being in a position where I was running an organization,” Dahal said. “It was a complete shift of responsibility.”

Things dramatically changed for Kids of Kathmandu and Dahal in April 2015 when Nepal was devastated by a catastrophic 7.8 earthquake, the worst natural disaster in the country in several decades. Nearly 9,000 people lost their lives, and another 22,000 suffered injuries.

Thanks to much of Dahal’s work in Nepal, Kids of Kathmandu was already a well-established and trusted organization. That credibility led to an influx of donations from around the world to aid in the country’s recovery. Dahal and his team immediately began developing strategies to maximize this new stream of resources from international agencies, local and national governments, and other stakeholders.

The post How an FSU doctoral student is providing schooling for thousands in Nepal appeared first on Florida State University News.

The Center for Intensive English Studies (CIES) at Florida State University aims for its students to learn English so they can succeed at any institute of higher learning in the U.S.  

Since 1980, CIES has done just that — graduating thousands of students who have gone on to excel in academia and beyond. 

CIES is a small school, with no more than 150 students each session. Located in the Hecht House on FSU’s main campus, they offer five programs: Intensive English Studies, English for Academic Purposes, TEFL Certificate-Hybrid, Summer Bridge Program and VIP English Services. 

“CIES is where students can gain all of the English-language skills and cultural knowledge necessary for success in today’s world,” said Patrick Kennell, director of the Center for Intensive English Studies. “Our community creates an immersive experience where students can learn English, make new friends, gain educational and professional experience, explore Tallahassee and incorporate themselves into American culture all at once.” 

One of the more unique opportunities that CIES offers is the conditional admission of international graduate students. If an international graduate student applies to a program and meets all the requirements except for the required level of English language proficiency, the program can offer that student conditional admission. Students admitted conditionally will study at CIES at FSU until they have the necessary English proficiency to be fully admitted into their graduate program. 

“My English has improved a lot since I started studying at CIES, as I’m able right now to write a full essay or article without struggling and without grammar mistakes,” said Shrouq Saied, a business management student from Egypt. “I can also speak with more confidence while having any type of conversation.” 

CIES staff doesn’t just teach students to read, write, speak and understand English – they also engage students to ensure their knowledge goes beyond English grammar. Activities and excursions like tubing, trips to the beach and parties allow students to use English in a variety of settings while also learning about Florida. 

At the Hecht House where CIES is located, students gather to learn, study, cook, lounge, play and bond.  

“Everyone is treated well and like family,” said Abdullah Archid, a biomedical engineering student from Syria. 

Small class sizes help teachers and staff build one-on-one relationships with each student to address their unique needs and levels of English proficiency.  

“CIES impacted my experience in America and at FSU in many ways,” Archid said. “One of the most important ways is that the professors there were always willing to help me when I was having any difficulties with my classes.” 

The small class sizes also make it easier for students to make friends and learn about other cultures.  

“Everyone at CIES helped me to understand the American culture, and they gave me a lot of advice on how to interact with Americans and FSU students,” Saied said.  

On average, CIES serves students from 20 countries per session. Currently there are students from 16 countries studying at CIES, including Afghanistan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Egypt, India, Kuwait, Mozambique, Philippines, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Venezuela. 

“My English fluency changed a lot while being at CIES,” Archid said. “Before I went to CIES, I barely spoke any English, but CIES helped me so much with improving my language and connecting me with people outside of CIES so I can keep working on it.”  

To learn more about CIES, visit cies.fsu.edu.  

The post FSU’s Center for Intensive English Studies prepares international students for success at English-speaking universities  appeared first on Florida State University News.

Florida State University will highlight its internationalization and global awareness efforts during International Education Month in November. Read more …

View the newsletter.

The post The Big Story: Oct. 30, 2023 appeared first on Florida State University News.

The Florida State University community was treated to an authentic Korean experience as the Center for Global Engagement at FSU hosted Global Café: Korea, on Friday, Oct. 27, in tandem with the FSU School of Communication’s Media, Communication, and Cultural Studies: Asia-Pacific (MCCAP) Conference. 

The inaugural conference, which took place Oct. 26-27, focused on the phenomenon of Hallyu (the Korean wave of pop culture) and its impact on the global industry and encompassed the popular Korean cultural forms that have attracted global audiences in the past decades. The menu for Global Café: Korea featured a variety of Korean food for the FSU community and conference attendees to enjoy. 

“The conference was an interactive and exciting way to learn about the wave of Korean culture from experts in the field,” said Jaejin Lee, conference organizer and associate professor in the School of Communication. “Students had the opportunity to broaden their understanding of media from an international lens and find a basis for more research endeavors on the topic.

Conference attendees gained insights into the planning, creation and marketing of popular culture as well as genre, media production, advertising and promotion practices, media portrayals and audiences’ perceptions of the Korean wave.  

New York-based journalist Regina Kim served as the keynote speaker on Oct. 26 and presented on how Korean culture swept the world. She was followed by performances by Seoula System, a Tallahassee-based K-pop dance group.  

On Oct. 27, attendees heard from closing keynote speaker KyongYoon, a professor at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna, Canada, on rethinking the cultural hybridity of K-pop.  

“People at this conference engaged with the fascinating cultural phenomenon that is sweeping the globe,” said Steve McDowell, conference organizer and the John H. Phipps Professor of Communication, and assistant provost for International Initiatives at FSU. “From K-pop dances to guest speakers from South Korea, NYC, and Canada, there were many fun ways to experience the culture firsthand.” 

After the closing remarks at the MCCAP Conference, attendees received a Korean lunch in collaboration with the CGE’s Global Café: Korea. For $10, guests received a plate of dwaeji bulgogi, ssam (lettuce wraps), bean sprout salad, kimchi, steamed rice, a yakgwa (honey cookie) and a glass of boricha (barley tea), providing an opportunity for the FSU community immerse themselves in Korean culture. The event was hosted by Global Noles, a volunteer group supporting Global Exchanges, and the Center for Global Engagement. 

“Global Café is an exciting opportunity for students to experience and learn from other cultures through food, especially as we celebrate the importance of global experiences during International Education Month,” said Cindy Green, director of the Center for Global Engagement at FSU. “The collaboration with the MCCAP conference allows us connect our campus through internationalization and highlight FSU’s international community.” 

Applications to host a Global Café in spring 2024 are now open. International and multicultural groups interested in applying should email cge-programs@fsu.edu for more information.  

To learn more about the Center for Global Engagement and Global Café, visit cge.fsu.edu.  

For more information about the MCCAP conference, visit comm.cci.fsu.edu. 

The post FSU celebrates Korean culture with inaugural conference and Global Café appeared first on Florida State University News.

Harry K. Thomas, former U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, the Philippines and Bangladesh, will speak at Florida State University on Thursday, Nov. 2, about the value of diplomacy.

Thomas’ talk serves as part of FSU’s International Education Month, a celebration that expands upon International Education Week, a joint initiative led by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education held nationally the third week of November. This event is part of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy’s Ruth K. & Shepard Broad International Lecture Series & The Center for Global Engagement’s Engage Your World Speaker Series.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, in The Globe Auditorium, 110 S. Woodward Ave., Tallahassee, Florida. A reception will take place at 4:30 p.m.

During this talk, Thomas will discuss the role diplomacy plays in the volatile political landscape in the world today.

Thomas is a Senior Kissinger Fellow at Yale University’s Jackson School of Global Affairs and spent 34 years as a Foreign Service officer. He also served as the State Department’s Executive Secretary, as Special Assistant to Secretary Rice, as Director General of the Foreign Service, and as Director for South Asia at the National Security Council and Director of its Operations Center.

For more information, visit calendar.fsu.edu.

The post Former U.S. Ambassador to speak at FSU as part of International Education Month appeared first on Florida State University News.

Florida State University will highlight its internationalization and global awareness efforts during International Education Month in November. The monthlong celebration expands upon International Education Week, a joint initiative led by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education held nationally the third week of November.

With European study centers in England, Spain and Italy, a branch campus in the Republic of Panama and more than 45 global exchange programs, FSU’s international impact is significant. This semester, Florida State welcomed its largest cohort of international students from 74 countries, including Austria, India, Japan, France and Denmark.

Events are free and open to the public and will begin Oct. 25 and run through November. Featured events include:

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 25

International Programs Study Abroad Fair
11 a.m.-3 p.m., Landis Green
FSU International Programs faculty and staff will be available for students to learn about the programs they offer. Students can also chat with professors, international study center staff and International Programs Ambassadors.

World Music Concert: Grupo Jaraguá Brazilian Ensemble and Andean Ensemble
7:30-9:30 p.m., Opperman Music Hall
The FSU College of Music presents a performance by the Brazilian Music Ensemble, also known as “Grupo Jaraguá,” and the Andean Music Ensemble as part of its World Music Concert Series.

THURSDAY, OCT. 26

MCCAP Conference: The Phenomenon of Hallyu (the Korean wave of pop culture) and its Impact on the Global Industry
5-7:30 p.m., The Globe Auditorium/Virtual
Regina Kim, a freelance journalist based in New York City, will present “From K-pop to K-dramas: How K-culture Swept the World” and student K-pop dance group Seoula System will perform.

FRIDAY, OCT. 27

MCCAP Conference: The Phenomenon of Hallyu (the Korean wave of pop culture) and its Impact on the Global Industry
8-11:30 a.m., The Globe Auditorium/Virtual
Several presentations on topics including the Korean Wave, communication, culture, advertising and promotion and audience perceptions, including the closing keynote by Kyong Yoon, professor at the University of British Columbia in Okanagan, Canada.

Global Café: Korea
11:30 a.m., The Globe Dining Room
The Center for Global Engagement will host this culturally enriching lunch hour featuring traditional Korean food. $10 per plate, cash or check only.

THURSDAY, NOV. 2

Preventing World War III: The Value of Diplomacy – A Talk by Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr.
5 p.m., The Globe Auditorium
The FSU College of Social Sciences and Public Policy’s Ruth K. & Shepard Broad International Lecture Series and the Center for Global Engagement’s Engage Your World Speaker Series present an Engage Your World event featuring Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr.

4th Global Africas Symposium: Africa and China
5-6:30 p.m., Diffenbaugh 009
The Winthrop-King Institute for French and Francophone Studies at FSU presents the fourth annual Global Africas symposium “Africa and China” to enrich the understanding of the relationship between Africa and China beyond geopolitical and economic endeavors. Duncan Yoon, assistant professor at New York University, will speak about his new book “China in Twentieth- and Twenty-First-Century African Literature” in which he explores the controversial symbol of China in African literature. Register here.

FRIDAY, NOV. 3

Global Exchanges Fair
3-5 p.m., The Globe Auditorium
Meet international students from FSU’s partner universities and FSU students who have recently been abroad as an exchange student to learn more about FSU’s Global Exchange programs.

TUESDAY, NOV. 7

17th Annual Going Global Showcase
3-5 p.m., The Globe Auditorium
This event showcases students’ international experiences around the world. Students create a poster presentation highlighting significant components of their experience abroad and share them with FSU faculty, staff and fellow students during the showcase.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 8

4th Global Africas Symposium: Africa and China
5-6:30 p.m., Diffenbaugh 128
The Winthrop-King Institute for French and Francophone Studies at FSU presents the fourth annual Global Africas symposium “Africa and China” to enrich the understanding of the relationship between Africa and China beyond geopolitical and economic endeavors. There will be a screening of Gabonese French filmmaker Samantha Biffot’s documentary “The African Who Wanted to Fly.” Register here.

“The Wonders of Egypt” talk by Dr. Farida Bad
6 p.m., The Globe Auditorium
The Center for Global Engagement and the Middle Eastern Center present a talk on the wonders of Egypt. The event will begin with a presentation and conclude with an Egyptian dessert.

THURSDAY, NOV. 9

4th Global Africas Symposium: Africa and China
2-3 p.m., Zoom
The Winthrop-King Institute for French and Francophone Studies at FSU presents the fourth annual Global Africas symposium “Africa and China” to enrich the understanding of the relationship between Africa and China beyond geopolitical and economic endeavors. There will be a discussion via Zoom with Gabonese French filmmaker Samantha Biffot about her documentary “The African Who Wanted to Fly.” Register here.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 15

Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics Open House
10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Diffenbaugh Courtyard
Faculty and students from the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics will be available to answer questions on their programs and to celebrate languages and cultures from around the world with attractions, refreshments and more.

THURSDAY, NOV. 16

CIES Meet and Greet
1-3 p.m., Landis Green
The Center for Intensive English Studies (CIES) will host a meet and greet to show others how CIES supports the academic mission and strategic plan of FSU.

The Geopolitics of the Western Balkans – A Talk by Professor Petar Kurecic
5:30 p.m., The Globe Auditorium
The College of Social Sciences and Public Policy’s International Affairs Program and the Center for Global Engagement’s Engage Your World Speaker Series present an Engage Your World event featuring Petar Kurecic, professor of political science at University North in Koprivnica and Varazdin, Croatia.

World Music Concert: Mas N Steel and Omnimusica
7:30-9:30 p.m., Opperman Music Hall
The FSU College of Music presents a performance by the Steelband Ensemble and the Omnimusica Ensemble as part of its World Music Concert Series.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 29

FRIDAY, DEC. 8

Global Scholars Showcase
3-5 p.m., Honors, Scholars and Fellows House, Nancy Marcus Great Hall
Sponsored by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement (CRE), the Global Scholars Showcase is the culmination of the Global Scholars summer, independent, community-based experience. Attendees will hear the stories of travel, community, family and adventure the Global Scholars experienced over the summer.

For more information and a full list of events, visit global.fsu.edu.

The post Florida State to celebrate International Education Month in November appeared first on Florida State University News.