Notre Dame Among Five Universities Awarded for Comprehensive Internationalization Efforts

Notre Dame Earns 2025 Senator Paul Simon Award for Leadership in International Education

The University of Notre Dame was selected to receive the 2025 Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization, recognizing its commitment to global and campus-wide internationalization. Named after Senator Paul Simon, the award is presented by NAFSA to honor excellence in integrating international education across university campuses. Notre Dame, with 12 global locations, 92 study abroad programs, and research in 67 countries, was one of five universities to receive the award. University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., emphasized that the university's global engagement strengthens research, prepares students as leaders, and enhances its Catholic mission, reflecting its long-standing commitment to being a force for good.

In addition to Notre Dame, other recipients of the 2025 Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization included Pennsylvania State University, San Diego State University, the University of Arizona, and the University of Georgia. The awardees will be honored at NAFSA’s annual conference in the spring. From 1998 to 2023, Notre Dame increased international students in the first-year class from 1% to 8% and plans to raise this further. As part of its new strategy, the university introduced the Pathways to Notre Dame program, expanding its need-blind policy to include both domestic and international students, making it one of only nine U.S. institutions to do so.

Notre Dame has been nationally recognized for its commitment to internationalization, consistently ranking in the top 10 for study abroad participation for over 20 years. In the 2022-23 academic year, study abroad participation among undergraduates rose from 77% to 87.5%.

Michael Pippenger, vice president for internationalization, stated that Notre Dame Global drives the university's internationalization efforts, focusing on inclusivity, integrative learning, and global partnerships. He noted the award as a recognition of the dedication from Notre Dame’s campus and global network, and emphasized that the work would continue to enhance the university's global presence.Notre Dame's recognition with the 2025 Senator Paul Simon Award underscores its unwavering commitment to global education and international engagement.

Editor's Note:

This award reflects Notre Dame's ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive global community and provide students with valuable international experiences.With its global campuses, study abroad opportunities, and research projects, Notre Dame is a leader in preparing students for a connected world. This award recognizes the university's achievements and sets a high bar for other schools wanting to grow their international presence. The Pathways to Notre Dame program, which promotes inclusivity and global learning, further strengthens the university’s role as a leader in international education.

Skoobuzz admires the university's achievements and hopes that it continues to expand its global reach, inspiring other universities to work relentlessly for the betterment of the education world.