Global and International Partnerships

Gain a global perspective integral to your education, research, and career

At the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, we’ve always had our eye on the world—since our founding in 1972 as SPEA, we’ve taken an international approach to public and environmental affairs, consistently providing our students and faculty with a global perspective. And we’re continuing to expand our global focus—working to ensure that you have opportunities to connect with and learn from other cultures at every turn.

We’re securing strong connections abroad with more global partnerships, collaborating on research of worldwide importance, implementing new international degree programs, creating new overseas study options—and making sure our instructors and student body represent the world—all to ensure that you graduate prepared with the global knowledge you need to lead for the greater good.

Student experience for international students

"It has become increasingly clear that the challenges facing the international community can no longer be resolved by military force. We will have to depend on resolving them through diplomacy at the state, non-state, regional and international levels."

—Ambassador Rajendra M. Abhyankar, O’Neill Professor of Practice (retired)

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International dual degrees

Select O’Neill graduate students can pursue master's degrees here and at an international partner university concurrently. We have forged partnerships with these respected institutions:

  • The University of Hong Kong in China
  • Seoul National University in South Korea

Learn more about international dual degrees

Overseas Education Programs

Participating in a study abroad program adds a deeper international perspective to your education and offers the type of real-world experience employers want.

At the O’Neill School, 30 percent of our students participate in study abroad programs and we work to continually expand our offerings and program locations. Options range from a week to a year, with study, travel, and work components. You can choose from:

  • Spring Break Abroad Programs
  • Summer Abroad Programs
  • Overseas Semester Exchanges

Learn more about our study abroad programs

Research with an international scope

Every discipline at the O’Neill School demands a global perspective. Across the world, people are working on the same challenges and we only benefit by working with each other. To that end, we are rapidly expanding our institutional partners with 18 partner universities in 12 countries including China, France, Germany, India, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Vietnam for faculty exchanges, collaborative research, and visiting scholar opportunities and ensuring the O’Neill School makes an impact at the global level.

Faculty focusing on international affairs and development

Influencing policy on a global scale

With wide-ranging expertise, our faculty members frequently consult with leaders on the world stage. Our faculty members include former ambassadors, high ranking governmental officials, and respected international policy authorities.

In 2021, USAID awarded the O'Neill School and IU Office of International Development $14.2 million to modernize universities in Vietnam—Anh Tran will spearhead the project for O'Neill.

Learn more about Vietnam Initiatives

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