A Moment with President Tomás Morales – June 2023

CSUSB has truly become an international university!

We already know that opportunities for international travel and experience benefit students and are tools in our toolkit to build their success. Providing our students with access to study abroad or to travel internationally to perform, as our orchestra did in October 2019 to South Korea, for example, are initiatives I have long supported. While COVID-19 affected the robustness of our travel programs, I look forward to them growing back even larger and stronger as our global recovery continues.

This campus has long worked to serve as a destination for international students either spending a term with us or, in fact, pursuing their entire undergraduate or graduate education here. Additionally, hosting international scholars on campus and supporting our own faculty’s opportunities to conduct research, deliver lectures or even teach for a term abroad are other ways not only to enrich our campus’ culture and broaden our students’ exposure to the wider world, they also enrich our faculty’s own academic careers.

At the start of this summer, CSUSB took a further step in growing our global footprint. On May 25-26, I had the honor of travelling to Cracow Economic University in Poland to sign a memorandum of understanding between Cal State San Bernardino and Lviv Polytechnic National University in Ukraine. This agreement will initiate international collaborative activities to promote joint educational, scientific and cultural development between our two universities.

At the core of this partnership lies a shared commitment to excellence in education and a deep belief in the transformative power of global connections. It is built upon the pillars of academic cooperation, cultural exchange and international collaboration.  By joining forces, CSUSB and Lviv Polytechnic aim to create an environment that fosters innovation, nurtures talent and expands horizons for students and faculty alike.

This collaboration will not only enrich the educational experience but also equip our graduates with the skills and perspectives necessary to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

As I shared in my remarks while in Cracow, “Together, we have the ability to transcend boundaries and overcome challenges, as we work towards the common goal of advancing knowledge, fostering mutual understanding and shaping the leaders of tomorrow.”  The shared values of excellence, innovation and inclusivity that underpin this partnership have the power to transform lives, uplift communities and shape the future.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Rector Yurii Bobalo, Professor Nazar Podolchak, Community Liaison Chris Watson, Vice President Robert Nava, Professor Mike Stull and all of the leaders, faculty and staff involved. Their unwavering commitment and tireless efforts made this collaboration a reality. I applaud and join in their dedication to providing a global education, fostering cultural exchange and expanding the frontiers of knowledge.

Know that, as a truly international university, CSUSB will continue to prioritize academic excellence, cultivate mutual understanding and work to forge lifelong connections that transcend boundaries between students, between faculty, and between faculty and students.

Until next time—