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Global Initiative

MIT is changing the world. Become a partner.

Researchers who are driven to find the most gifted collaborators and the most intriguing ideas must be prepared to look far beyond their own backyards. Some of the most challenging problems are in the world’s laboratory, and that’s also where some of the best answers are to be found.

That notion is at the heart of the MIT Global Initiative—a bold, multidisciplinary effort that facilitates the international flow of ideas and resources. Developed with input from stakeholders all over the world, the Initiative will continue to grow and strengthen MIT’s relationship with its international partners. The Institute currently supports a range of activities in over 115 countries. However, the agenda now being advanced will be far more ambitious, integrated, and influential, and its benefits will literally reach around the world.

Now is the time to build on the intellectual intensity—and excitement—of MIT’s Global Initiative. The Institute is connecting people with the ideas of the future, and invites you to become a partner.

Sample activities

• International research, work, and public service opportunities for MIT students: An MIT education must foster the knowledge, skills, networks, and perspectives gained through direct contact with individuals from other countries and cultures. The Institute plans to increase student participation in international research, work, and public service programs to 85% over the next five years.
• The MIT China Fund for Innovation supports research and educational partnerships that will be ambitious and global in scope, and not necessarily focused solely on China or the U.S. The funding will also provide travel grants for students and faculty from MIT and from participating Chinese institutions to facilitate collaboration and exchange.
• The Endowment for Chinese Language and Cultural Studies: For scholars with international aspirations, foreign language training and cultural studies are essential to their academic preparation. The Endowment would have the combined impact of expanding the breadth of China-related coursework offered and increasing the number of Chinese language classes.
• The MIT-China Grand Challenges for the 21^st Century Symposium: The initial symposium, to be launched in June 2009 in China, will bring together MIT faculty and students and their collaborators to discuss sustainability. Future symposia will examine brain science, global management, water resources, and other similarly complex and global problems.
• The MIT China Forum is part of a broader effort to foster ties with the Greater China region. Attendance at the monthly forum has been overwhelming, with topics covering economic reform, the Chinese legal and regulatory environment, the state of Taiwanese industry, and journalism.
• Executive Education: MIT faculty members are world-renowned experts in management, business, real estate development, and urban planning. They remain close to practice through hands-on involvement and experience as consultants, advisors, executives, entrepreneurs, investors, and board members. MIT will work with companies throughout the world to strengthen leadership capacities and engage executives in high-impact learning experiences.
• Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (JPAL): Launched in 2004, JPAL pioneered the use of controlled trials as a means of gauging the effectiveness of anti-poverty strategies. The Lab today includes 18 faculty-level staff members; topics under study include health, education, indoor air pollution, government corruption, and the optimal use of micro-credit.
• The MIT Trust of India was established to foster collaboration between MIT and institutions in India to educate students in science, technology, management, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the world. The Trust will focus on goals such as research, student financial aid, internships, technology exchanges, faculty exchanges, consortia, and associated activities.
• The MIT-India Initiative Fund will provide seed funding to initiate relationships or to cover travel expenses, administrative support, outreach to faculty and students, and symposia.

Opportunities for making a difference

If you wish to make an immediate impact on MIT’s global initiative activities, please consider directing your gift to one of the following funds:

For more information, or to discuss a special gift to MIT’s global initiative, please contact:

Arundhati “Tuli” Banerjee
Associate Director of Global Initiatives
617.715.5355
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