PLuS Alliance: Breaking the global barriers of education

One of ASU's eight design aspirations is to engage globally. The PLuS Alliance is an expression of this design aspiration, providing faculty and students opportunities available internationally.

EdPlus at ASU leads a global university alliance, which involves a partnership with King’s College London and University New South Wales (UNSW Sydney). This tri-continental partnership was created to change the global conversation, centralizing focus on global challenges around health, social justice, sustainability, technology and innovation through education and research. To accomplish this, PLuS Alliance offers cross-institutional degrees online. These courses open up opportunities for valuable collaboration and collective research among students from each of the universities. The research is supported with a suite of more than 180 online learning programs.

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"The PLuS Alliance brings together some of the best minds on the planet and tackles many of the big questions facing our societies today, which would simply not be possible for one institution working alone.” – Edward Byrne, president and principal of King's College London

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The first fully online program developed to help advance the core principles of the PLuS Alliance is offered on ASU Online through the College of Health Solutions, which includes some coursework taken through the University of New South Wales. The Master of International Health Management engages in developing solutions to global challenges and generating social impact in health and healthcare. The program provides access to global academic networks and industry partners. It is ideal for students seeking a career in international health systems management — a growing career field in need of skills in international health management with workforce competence in informatics, leadership and finance.

The first graduate homeland security degree in the nation, ASU’s Online Master of Arts in Emergency Management and Homeland Security offered through Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions is another program enhanced by using the PLuS Alliance. Students in this program have access to courses and the opportunity to work with faculty in Australia or the United Kingdom. This connection gives students seeking careers in homeland security and leadership positions with emergency and disaster management organizations an international perspective in their research.

In the spirit of global engagement, other ASU academic units are collaborating with PLuS Alliance to offer students new courses and develop programs. For example, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering Electrical Engineering students spent three weeks in London for an Engineering Summer School. PLuS Alliance is opening doors to study practical field research, tri-continental faculty mentorship, speeches and workshops abroad, as well as new integrated classes and programs. 

To find out more, visit plusalliance.org.