Receiving the Governor's Export Achievement Award allows the entire campus community to celebrate our successful international endeavors while at the same time providing new energies for future overseas development. The office of International Education and Programs is responsible for maintaining a leadership role in furthering the internationalization of university programs. The university set a goal of increasing its international program when in announced its strategic plan in 1996. UW-Whitewater operates a number of very successful programs designed to provide a broad foundation for international education. UW-Whitewater now has seven student exchange programs with universities in the Czech Republic, France, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Sweden and Australia.
Negotiations are underway for six more programs including schools in Jamaica, Thailand and India.
The International Education and Programs office also works with students' individual needs outside the pre-determined programs. The faculty and staff exchange programs at UW-Whitewater offer the opportunity to exchange positions with colleagues from around the globe. The Fulbright Program has offered faculty, professionals, teachers and students the opportunity to teach, conduct research or study abroad. Foreign languages taught at UW-Whitewater are French, German, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish. Many Wisconsin exporting firms, banks, and other organizations recruit UW-Whitewater graduates with language skills for the international operations.