I. Overview

Each semester, a select cohort of domestic and international undergraduate students will be selected to participate in the Global Fellows Program. Participation in the program requires a one-semester commitment with up to 4 hours of work weekly.

As a Global Fellow, you will attend eight (8) intercultural and leadership development training sessions and support several global programs and events on campus. You may occasionally be called upon to liaise with visiting international scholars, Fulbright Scholars, and foreign delegations to develop leadership and diplomatic skills. You’ll also complete a final service project at the end of the program.

This is a nonpaid volunteer position. After completing the program, you will be awarded a certificate of completion endorsed by the Duke International Student Center (DISC) and the Office of Global Affairs (OGA).

II. Program Requirements

*Note: Requirements are subject to change. All Global Fellows will receive the finalized schedule and expectations before the Welcome Retreat at the start of each semester.

  1. Attend the Global Fellows Welcome Retreat at the start of the semester
  2. Attend eight in-person intercultural and leadership development training sessions over the course of the semester. The two-hour trainings are typically bi-weekly and take place on Fridays, and lunch is provided. It is an expectation that Fellows will be able to participate in all trainings for the full amount of time.
  3. Complete and log 10 experiential learning hours with DISC, OGA, and/or other global programs and offices at Duke.  Some examples of experiential learning opportunities:
    • Participate in the Spanish Conversation Club (Monday evenings)
    • Participate in Global Café
    • Participate in the Duke Language Partner Program 
    • Attend campus events hosted by the Duke Identity and Culture Centers
    • Attend cultural celebrations and events in the Triangle area
    • Liaise with visiting international scholars, Fulbright Scholars, and foreign delegations to develop leadership and diplomatic skills [availability to be determined]
  4. Write an incoming reflection paper to set goals for your time in the cohort and reflect on your existing intercultural/global leadership experiences (prompts will be provided)
  5. Write a final reflection paper to share reflections on your Global Fellows experience and personal leadership journey (prompts will be provided)
  6. Design, propose, and complete a final service project to support Duke’s international community. Possible ideas include:
    • Developing a handbook or resource guide for international students
    • Social media campaign
    • Organizing and hosting an event
    • Proposing and designing a new program
    • Creating a video
    • Writing an op-ed or news article that raises awareness of global programs, communities and issues at Duke and beyond
    • And more!
  7. Develop and present a 5-10 minute presentation outlining your initial project proposal, methods, outcomes, and reflections on your final service project

III. Expected Outcomes 

The Global Fellows Program helps participants:

  • Deepen their intercultural and leadership skills by serving Duke’s international community.
  • Increase their awareness and understanding of other cultures and languages.
  • Adopt pluralism in their life by recognizing how different perspectives arise from various cultural backgrounds.
  • Identify and understand their own cultural preferences and worldview.
  • Learn effective strategies to communicate and work across cultures.
  • Develop transferable skills to leverage in a job search or graduate school application.
  • Strengthen their resume with a strong service and civic/global engagement component, demonstrated by the Global Fellows certificate.