By Richard LeComte

Despite restrictions imposed upon the academic community due to the pandemic, the College of Arts & Sciences Passport to the World initiative at the University of Kentucky continues in 2020-21 for its 10th  year.

Passport to the World is a yearlong exploration of the culture and history of different areas of the world and interdisciplinary topics. This year’s theme focuses on “Global Perspectives on Race and Equity in Times of Pandemic.” The initiative will offer virtual programming that builds on previous Passport year themes of Equity (2019-2020) and Migration (2018-2019). Pursuing a virtual format this year will allow for different programming options.

“We're organizing several panel discussions on race and equity globally," said M. Cristina Alcalde, A&S associate dean of Inclusion and Internationalization "These include discussions that center African-American and African, Latinx and Latin American, and Asian-American and Asian experiences of race and equity among students and faculty here at UK and among colleagues at international partner universities.

“Like other years, the goal is the same: to stimulate dialogue and understanding of global topics and to engage students, faculty, staff and the broader community in these discussions. This year we’re being more creative and moving in a virtual direction.”

The program will incorporate cooperation with campus partners as well as the University’s partner institutions throughout the globe through virtual events.  

“We’ve arranged for a panel series in collaboration with the Martin Luther King Center’s Lunch and Learn Series,” she said. “We're also collaborating with the Confucius Institute on another panel, and we hope to do more with other campus and international partners as well.”

In addition, Passport to the World is sponsoring an online film series on Contagion through the Undergraduate Certificate in International Film Studies program.

For events and more information on this year’s Passport to the World initiative, visit passport-2021.as.uky.edu. Passport to the World programming is made possible by the Sandra L. Helton Passport to the World Endowment Fund.