Global Initiatives

Photo of mini flags from different countries

At Ohio Northern University,

We seek to expand horizons through encounters with diverse cultures, people and ideas. The Office of Global Initiatives oversees the University’s efforts to provide robust international programming for students, faculty and staff, this includes coordinating study abroad, global travel, international services, and developing strategic partnerships with universities in other countries.

Expanding our Reach

Northern’s reach extends beyond Ada, Ohio to many corners of the globe, including Central and South America, Western and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.

60+ International students attended ONU in 2022
3+ Number of credits earned per student studying abroad
15 countries studied abroad for credit in 2022-23
112 students participating in credit experiential learning in 2022-23

Cultivating a Global Outlook

By infusing a global outlook into our educational offering, we produce graduates who possess a greater appreciation and understanding of our wonderfully diverse world.

“It truly is an entirely different experience to walk through the footsteps, in the same house, and same city where the holocaust took place, rather than reading it from a textbook.”

Kyle DeSana, Budapest, Hungary

Study Abroad

Through our study abroad program, ONU students can study, intern or teach English in another country. We offer experiences in many countries through our strategic partnerships with international universities and through our affiliations with international educational organizations. We also offer a number of faculty-led international programs each academic year.

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Strategic Partnerships

ONU has developed strategic partnerships with several international universities. ONU students can study at these universities for a semester or an entire year. Likewise, ONU welcomes international students from these exchange universities to campus. In addition, our partnerships include opportunities for faculty exchanges, joint research projects and other collaborative efforts.

• South Korea: Dankook University and Hanyang University (Seoul)
• Taiwan: Ming Chuan University (Taipei)
• Japan: Kansai Gaidai University (Osaka), Ritsumeikan University (Kyoto) and Kwansei Gakuin University (Hyogo)
• Finland: Aalto University School of Business (Mikkeli) and University of Eastern Finland (Joensuu)
• Netherlands: Arnhem Business School (Arnhem)
• Scotland: Glasgow Caledonian University (Glasgow)
• Spain: Universidad Antonio de Nebrija (Madrid)
• England: University of Salford/MediaCityUK (Manchester)

Student Global Travel

Hundreds of ONU students travel abroad every year through their involvement with athletic teams, music ensembles, and student organizations. During these trips, ONU students have opportunities to showcase their talents, sightsee, explore, and engage in humanitarian service.

Sponsorship Programs

We seek out sponsorship programs that bring international students to Ohio Northern University to share their unique culture with our campus community, while exploring and learning about American culture. These programs offer growth and learning opportunities right here on campus.

Syeda Fatmi came to ONU for a semester through the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program-Pakistan, through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Nilufar Abduhalilovna Vakhabova, biology faculty at Samarkand State University, came to the ONU biology department for a semester through the Faculty Enrichment Program.

Students from Novosibirsk, Moscow, and St. Petersburg, studied at ONU for one academic year through Year of Education Abroad for Russians (YEAR), funded by the U.S. Embassy in Moscow

International Services

ONU welcomes international students to campus with open arms, providing a variety of services to support their social and academic well-being. We provide support services during the admissions process and throughout an international student’s entire time at ONU.

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