Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the Institute for Regional and International Studies National Resource Center (IRIS NRC) at UW–Madison is a leading center for international studies education. The center supports and enhances global awareness by providing resources and expertise to K-12 and post-secondary educators, students, and the community at large. Working in collaboration with campus, national, and international partners, IRIS NRC strives to put the Wisconsin Idea into action. The programming is structured around five themes aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- Global poverty and inequality
- Global cultures and languages
- Gender and global health
- Climate change and security
- Human rights and migration
Teaching and curriculum
Supporting international studies education through diverse initiatives.
- Summer Language Institutes: IRIS NRC partners with the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Language Institute (MEDLI) offering intensive Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and Hebrew programs. Additionally, they support summer language instruction in Arabic, Persian, Burmese, and Tamil.
- Course development: IRIS NRC supports faculty and instructional staff to develop new courses in area and international studies, such as “Civil Society and Community Studies 500: Global Health and Communities,” “International Studies 401: Making Disasters: Natural Hazards and Vulnerability,” and “International Studies 603: History, Memory, and Representation.”
- Visiting practitioners: The visiting practitioner program brings international experts to campus to enrich classroom experiences.
- Curriculum resources: IRIS NRC offers resources, lesson plans, and SDG curriculum to support educators in integrating global issues into their teaching.
Student experience
Igniting student involvement by offering a range of reputable opportunities.
- Journal of Undergraduate International Studies (JUIS): IRIS NRC is the home of JUIS, a student-run national journal publishing undergraduate research on international topics.
- Scholarships and fellowships: Offering funding for undergraduate research and study abroad through programs like the Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellowship.
- Career development: Providing career guidance through our Career Bootcamp Series and supporting student participation in international internships and research opportunities.
- Global collaboration: IRIS NRC collaborates with Release Peace, a Netherlands-based NGO, to publish student writing in the Release Peace Magazine.
Outreach and community engagement
Extending reach beyond campus through distinguished outreach programs.
- Global Libraries Grant: Providing book bundles on international topics to school libraries across Wisconsin.
- Professional development: Offering workshops and institutes like the Community College Master Teacher Institute to support internationalization efforts in K-12 and community college education.
- Global Dialogues Speaker Series: Bringing renowned journalists and experts to campus through partnerships with organizations like the Pulitzer Center Campus Consortium.
- Policy advocacy: Collaborating with partners like the Department of Public Instruction to internationalize Wisconsin’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) standards.
- Global film and book clubs: Offering free, virtual book and film clubs every other month for K-12 educators and the general public. With attendees from all over the world, these clubs focus on international content and feature an expert-led discussion on a selected book or film.
- International awards: Co-managing the South Asia Book Award, a nationally recognized award for children’s and young adult literature on South Asian experiences.
Events
IRIS NRC hosts a wide range of events throughout the year, including lectures, film screenings, workshops, and book clubs. These events showcase diverse perspectives on global issues and engage the campus and broader community.
Interested in learning more? Contact IRIS NRC below and follow them on their social media to stay up to date on the latest news and events!
Institute for Regional and International Studies National Resource Center
Ingraham Hall
Email: outreach@iris.wisc.edu
Address: 1155 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706
Web: irisnrc.wisc.edu
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