How UOG GLE Makes Travel Possible for Tritons

Photo courtesy of Kekoa Phaynid, a sophomore majoring in Business Administration and Vice President of the International Friendship Club (IFC).

For many college students, the idea of traveling the world can feel like a distant dream: out of reach due to factors like cost, lack of information, or fear of the unknown. However, the Global Learning and Engagement office is bridging that gap through affordable study abroad programs, scholarships, and faculty-led trips. GLE is turning travel into a tangible opportunity for growth, discovery, and perspective.

The office offers a variety of travel opportunities tailored to students’ interests and academic needs. These include semester-long exchange programs, short-term cultural experiences, internships abroad, and specialized faculty-led trips. Geena Nuque, an administrative supervisor and former UOG student, shared how the programs range from language immersion and cultural exploration in countries like Korea and Japan to teaching English abroad, fully funded.

Photo courtesy of UOG GLE. University of Guam student organization, International Friendship Club, offers a $1,500 travel scholarship sponsored by the University of Guam unit, Global learning engagement, to those who become a member of the student organization and meet volunteer requirements.

An essential part of GLE's success is its partnership with the International Friendship Club, a student organization at UOG. IFC supports GLE through volunteering and assisting in program events and outreach activities. In return, GLE provides IFC with travel scholarships awarded to members who meet specified volunteer hour requirements. This mutually beneficial arrangement has enabled numerous students to participate in international travel who might otherwise not have had the opportunity.

Global Learning Engagement has a bulletin board full of information and recent announcements about their programs, news, and opportunities, located on the 2nd floor of the Computer Center, next to their office.

Students interested in exploring travel opportunities through GLE can start by visiting the GLE office or their official website to view available programs, deadlines, and application procedures. Interested students should also consider joining IFC to access travel scholarships. IFC membership involves volunteering with GLE-related activities and meeting the required hours to qualify for financial assistance towards travel programs.

Featured Travel Opportunity: Kyung Hee University Exchange Program (2025-2026)

GLE currently offers a prominent exchange opportunity at Kyung Hee University in South Korea, scheduled for the 2025-2026 academic year. Students can choose between one semester or a full academic year at Kyung Hee’s Seoul or Global campus, enrolling in a diverse range of courses taught either in Korean or English. Eligibility includes a minimum GPA of 2.5 and proficiency requirements for those opting for Korean-taught courses. Students interested should ensure their nomination through GLE by October 30th for the Spring term or by April 30th for Fall term participation. Applications require essential documents like academic transcripts, a study plan, and recommendation letters. This opportunity promises a culturally immersive educational experience at one of South Korea’s prestigious universities.

The affordability and accessibility of these programs are major highlights. Tamara Hayashi, a GLE program assistant, explained that short-term programs often have flexible deadlines and minimal costs, such as the recent Wakayama University exchange in Japan, which costs as little as $60-70 in program fees.

For students like Kekoa Phaynid, a sophomore majoring in Business Administration and Vice President of IFC, these opportunities have life-changing impacts. Phaynid will be traveling to Japan for the first time thanks to a GLE-supported scholarship. Without this assistance, he acknowledged that the trip might have been financially impossible.

Photo courtesy of Kekoa Phaynid, back row, second from the left. Phaynid has volunteered more than 100 hours with IFC to support GLE programs such as cultural exchanges and English Adventure Programs.

“To me, this upcoming trip will be a milestone and a core memory,” Phaynid shared. "Travel is very pricey for us, so the scholarship saved us."

Another former IFC member, student, and participant, Nuque, reflected on her first GLE trip to Korea in 2015, emphasizing how traveling significantly broadened her worldview and boosted her confidence. Since then, travel has become a regular and essential part of her life, underscoring the transformative potential of GLE programs.

These student journeys are more than just trips—they’re shifts in perspective. By stepping into new cultures and environments, Tritons learn to view the world, their futures, and themselves differently. Through UOG GLE, travel becomes more than just a passport stamp; it becomes a turning point.