Melody Buckner, associate vice provost for digital learning and online initiatives at the
University Center for Assessment Teaching and Technology (UCATT) and associate professor
of practice in the College of Education, recently received a Fulbright International Education
Administrative Award. This international exchange program is funded by India and the United
States government. It is designed to build educational relationships—a mission that deeply
resonates with her. Her recent trip to India gave her a firsthand look at the global influence and
interest in American-based higher education, as well as a strengthened appreciation for how
important international relationships can be for our globally connected societies.
During her time abroad in India, Buckner visited a medical school that expressed strong interest
in U.S.-based educational resources. A U of A colleague in Emergency Medicine has packaged a
curriculum that might appeal to the Indian school’s administrators, because “It’s American-
based, it has research and scholarships behind it. They might be interested in providing this
curriculum to their students.” The experience underscored the global demand for collaborative
academic innovation and the value placed on educational exchange.
Buckner sees the Fulbright Program as a vital bridge between institutions and cultures,
particularly because it emphasizes research, collaboration, and global accessibility—aspects of
U.S. higher education she believes are worth sharing. In India, she saw firsthand how much
international partners value building academic relationships with U.S. institutions. “They admire
the structure, the research, and the innovation that Fulbright helps make accessible,” she shared.
She believes Fulbright creates opportunities to expand those partnerships in ways that benefit
both sides.
Buckner believes international experiences offer students and educators alike a chance to
broaden their perspectives and become more thoughtful, critical thinkers. Whether through
Fulbright, study abroad programs, or personal travel, she says, stepping outside one’s comfort
zone builds empathy, adaptability, and understanding.
“You may speak different languages, eat different foods, but at the end of the day, we are all here to learn something. The foundation of who we are is often very similar.”
Buckner’s interest and scholarship in digital environments for learning was an area she wanted to
explore during her India experience. She found cell phones to be a large part of the Indian
culture, but online education is still coming of age in India. The residential experience and
physical interaction are perceived to be more valuable and of a higher quality than a digital
learning environment. However, the was interest in collaborating virtually with American
Universities via a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) model, which allows
students and professors to connect online through projects and discussions as part of their
coursework.
Buckner hopes people will seek out international experiences and relationships, whether through
educational programs, service opportunities, or simple travel. “Get a passport,” she encouraged.
“Leave the country. Explore. It’s sometimes hard, but probably the most rewarding thing you
will ever do.”
The Fulbright IEA Awards are fully funded opportunities for U.S. higher education administrators to participate in intensive two-week seminars abroad to learn about other countries’ higher education systems. Participating in a Fulbright IEA seminar is a prestigious opportunity that opens doors to collaboration with colleagues and students worldwide. Campus resources are available for applicant support. Contact Danielle Barefoot, Research Development Services, to get started.