UF receives 2026 Heiskell Award for innovative staff virtual exchange program

The University of Florida has received a 2026 Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education from the Institute of International Education for its Collaborative Online International Learning/Virtual Exchange for Staff program, which connects UF employees with international peers for professional and intercultural learning. The award recognized UF’s efforts to broaden access to global learning by engaging university staff in exchanges with professional counterparts abroad.

Unlike traditional virtual exchange programs that primarily connect students or faculty, COIL/VE for Staff brings together university employees who hold similar professional roles at institutions around the world. Through an eight-week virtual experience, participants engage in intercultural learning, professional conversations, networking and collaborative projects focused on shared challenges and opportunities.

“COIL/VE for Staff demonstrates that internationalization can happen across the entire university,” said Marta L. Wayne, dean of the UF International Center and associate provost for global engagement. “By connecting staff with international colleagues doing similar work, participants gain new perspectives, exchange best practices and develop relationships that can lead to meaningful institutional change.”

The program launched in 2024 with Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera in Valencia, Spain, and expanded in 2025 to São Paulo State University in Brazil, bringing together 29 participants. In 2026, UF expanded the program to Mexico through a partnership with the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Participants represent university functions including international education, student services, communications, human resources, finance, business operations, data analytics and recruitment. They develop projects that address shared challenges, exchange expertise and best practices or compare institutional practices and cultures.

“This award reflects the University of Florida’s commitment to making global engagement accessible throughout our university community,” said Paloma Rodriguez, director of UF’s Office of Global Learning. “COIL/VE for Staff creates meaningful opportunities for our employees to learn from international colleagues, share expertise and build lasting partnerships.”

The program also has drawn interest beyond its participating institutions. In February 2026, Rodriguez joined an international webinar highlighting COIL/VE for Staff that attracted more than 600 participants from Latin America and around the world.