Volume 107 | January 2022
OGA Newsletter
The Office of Global Activities (OGA) is dedicated to connecting MSW students to international social work opportunities through fundingspecial programs, academic resources, internationalized curriculum, and arranging faculty and student exchanges at partner institutions.
Welcome back and Happy New Year!
Welcome back students! We hope you all had a relaxing and restful winter break. All of us from the Office of Global Activities hope that the new year brings you success and prosperity. Wishing you all a wonderful 2022!
Spotlight: FLAS Fellowship application due 1/15!
FLAS Fellowship application due 1/15!
The Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) provides tuition and stipend to students studying designated foreign languages in combination with area studies or international aspects of professional studies. The deadline for fellowship applications is this Saturday, January 15.

The final drop-in advising session will be this Thursday, January 13 from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT. More information on info sessions, drop-in advising, and the application materials can be found on the FLAS Applicant Resource Page

The estimated institutional payment for an academic year 2022-2023 fellowship is $18,000 for a graduate student. The estimated institutional payment for a summer 2022 fellowship is $5,000 for graduate and undergraduate students.
Events
Date: Monday, January 10, 2022 from 10:00 - 11:30 AM EDT (3:00 - 4:00 PM GMT)
Brief Description: “The distribution of migration opportunities globally is deeply unequal, with nationals of some generally wealthy, stable, states benefitting from far greater migration opportunities than those from poorer, or unstable ones. An examination of any individual state's migration controls also often reveals problematic patterns of disadvantage. Contemporary migration controls frequently disadvantage women, racial and religious groups, and those whose sexual orientation, gender-identity or family status departs from the nuclear hetero-norm. To many, it is unsurprising that discrimination is rife in migration laws and controls, given that these practices reflect nationalist, colonial, and postcolonial projects of racialized and gendered exclusion and subordination. And yet, with a few notable exceptions the question of the legality of discrimination at borders is underexplored.” (Briddick, C. and C. Costello (2021). "Introduction to the Symposium on Undoing Discriminatory Borders." AJIL Unbound 2021, 115: 328)
This seminar discusses the circumstances in which these inequalities, within and across states, are legally discriminatory.
Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2022 from 12:00–12:50 PM EDT
Brief Description: Join Education and Equity in a Global Society in discussing how educational technology can be leveraged to expand meaningful learning opportunities for refugee and displaced populations. How do open education resources get adapted to local contexts and needs, and what role do displaced peoples have in this process? What kinds of innovations are needed and how can they impact refugees' future employability? This event is remote.
Date: Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 6:00 PM EDT
Brief Description: Based on the struggle of young people in Goma (Northeastern Congo) against the prevailing Western reporting about war and misery, Stop Filming Us investigates how these Western stereotypes are the result of a skewed balance of power. Stop Filming Us creates a cinematic dialogue between Western perceptions and the Congolese experience of reality. Virtual viewing followed by a panel.
Announcements
Global Independent Study applications due 1/16!
Global Independent Study (GIS) applications are open and the deadline is rapidly approaching! All GIS applications are due by 11:59 PM EDT on January 16, 2022.

Global Independent Study is a student-initiated opportunity to design a global social work project abroad. Students from all pathways and curriculum tracks are eligible to apply and can receive 1-6 elective credits.

However, please note that a limited number of grants will be available for Summer 2022. Due to COVID-19, applicants will need to carefully consider numerous factors to determine if travel is feasible, including potential impacts of the new Omicron coronavirus variant. See "Considerations for Planning International Travel during COVID-19" and the U-M Travel Designations list for more guidance.

Upcoming drop-in advising session:

Wednesday, January 12 from 12:00 - 2:00 PM

No registration necessary. The final drop-in session will take place in Room 3668D (OGA suite conference room).
Professional Opportunities
Application Deadline: Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Brief Description: The International Institute Student Fellowships (IISF) are designed to support University of Michigan students, regardless of citizenship, who are enrolled in a degree program and wish to participate in internships or conduct research abroad.  
Application Deadline: Tuesday, March 1, 2022 (Rolling admission)
Brief Description: The Ottawa Internship Program is designed to provide a first-hand learning experience in Canadian government through placement with a Member of Parliament or Senator in the capital of Canada. Students will work in a parliamentarian's office for a period of five weeks. This program is open to graduate and undergraduate students from all majors and all colleges at U-M.
Application Deadline: N/A
Brief Description: The International Rescue Committee is seeking a Program Officer, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) for an Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) program, Switchboard. Switchboard is a one-stop resource hub for refugee service providers in the United States. The Program Officer, M&E will be responsible for maintaining and updating the project M&E plan, conducting ongoing M&E, coordinating needs assessments and evaluations, supporting training and technical assistance on M&E topics, and providing M&E support to the Research, Analysis, and Learning Team. This staff person may be located anywhere in the United States.
Grant Opportunities
Deadline: Tuesday, February 15 by 11:59 PM EDT
Brief DescriptionThe LACS Tinker Field Research Grants support master’s, doctoral, and professional school students conducting preliminary or pre-dissertation fieldwork in Latin America. Research projects must be conducted in the Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking countries of Latin America and trips must last a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of four months. Awards, up to $2,500, are made based on the quality of the proposal and the academic progress of the applicant. Funds cover international airfare, in-country transportation, and some field-related expenses.
Deadline: Tuesday, February 15 by 11:59 PM EDT
Brief Description: The ASC awards student grants (up to $3,000) toward research projects or internships in or on Africa. ASC is committed to supporting students at all levels and in all fields, regardless of citizenship, to undertake research, internships, or other training activities in or on Africa. Projects may be for any length of time, with a project start date between May 1 in the calendar year the application is submitted and April 30 of the following year. In light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, travel to the continent may or may not be feasible. Alternative approaches such as virtual internships are welcomed.
Deadline: Rolling
Brief Description: The International Center offers a grant opportunity to help student organizations and University departments recognize the diversity of the U-M international student population through special events and programming. Organizations and departments should apply at least 14 days in advance of their event (the earlier, the better). Grants amounts will vary based on the submitted budget and the availability of funds.
Deadline: Rolling
Brief Description: Subject to availability of funding, awards will be made to faculty, students, and staff presenting Africa-focused papers or serving as chairs or discussants for Africa-focused sessions at regional, national, or international conferences. Priority is given to applicants who have not received prior ASC funding and to projects focused on Sub-Saharan Africa.
Deadline: Rolling
Brief Description: The U.S. Department of Education provides a variety of grant opportunities. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines vary.
Resources
To find previous OGA Newsletter volumes, click the OGA Newsletter Archive.
Email [email protected] if you have any questions.