The agreement was the culmination of an April 25 visit to UD by Professor Chris Day, vice chancellor and president of Newcastle University. He and other officials from Newcastle toured the Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus, explored College of Engineering facilities and engaged with current World Scholars and international students at International Coffee Hour.

"We are delighted to welcome the University of Delaware's World Scholars to Newcastle University,” Day said. “This partnership not only strengthens our international ties but also enriches our campus with diverse perspectives and global insights. By hosting these exceptional students, we are fostering an environment of mutual learning and cultural exchange that benefits both our institutions and the wider community."

Celebrating its 10th year, the World Scholars program began in 2015 with a single international partner in Rome, Italy, and has since added new sites to host students in Madrid and Athens, as well as in Auckland, New Zealand. Partner institutions for UD World Scholar sites are carefully selected based upon many factors, including academic reputation and offerings, existing relationships with the University of Delaware, desirability of location and a commitment by the partner institution to collaborate with UD in the support of World Scholars and the strengthening of the program.

World Scholars, who are highly motivated and top performing students with a strong interest in global engagement, enroll in the program at the time of admission to the University of Delaware and begin their studies at one of the partner institutions abroad. Through at least two semesters abroad, residence in the iHouse Living Learning Community, culminating Spring Symposium in senior year, and active engagement and reflection — both on campus and abroad — World Scholars acquire the skills and competencies needed for success in an increasingly interconnected world.

While the program is open to most majors, leaders have been searching for a new site that could accommodate the unique curricular needs of engineering students, who have previously been unable to participate in this global program. 

“Engineering students have long expressed interest in the World Scholars program, but the demanding structure of our curriculum made participation nearly impossible,” said Tripp Shenton, associate dean for undergraduate education in the College of Engineering. “Newcastle offers the right combination of academic rigor, curricular alignment and immersive experience.”

“Engineering today is very much a global enterprise,” he added. “Through this experience, students will begin to gain an appreciation for this aspect of the profession.”

Engineering majors who enroll in the World Scholars program will spend the first semester of their first year at Newcastle University pursuing major and College requirements. Throughout the semester, they will take advantage of Newcastle’s resources and facilities and will also participate in a curated set of excursions, including a private tour of St. James' Park, the iconic home of Newcastle United Football Club, attend a lesson in the ancient art of broomstick riding at Alnwick Castle, and participate in a cooking class at a 13th century friary. 

“Over the past decade, we have witnessed our World Scholars develop into the next generation of international leaders, while they not only experience the world, but contribute to it in a meaningful way,” said Ravi Ammigan, associate provost for international programs at UD. “Expanding this immersive, innovative global education program with a partner like Newcastle to a group of students who haven’t been able to take advantage of it is a fitting way to begin the 10th anniversary celebration of the program.”

International partnerships are complex and don’t happen overnight. The conversations between UD and Newcastle began two years ago when Assanis received the Alumni Impact Award from his alma mater for his contributions to higher education and his expertise in internal combustion engines and energy systems. A general agreement between UD and Newcastle was signed in fall 2023, and in spring 2024, Ammigan, Amy Greenwald Foley, director of global outreach and partnerships, and Nicole Long, assistant vice president for student experience and belonging, visited Newcastle University to tour the campus, meet with senior administrators and faculty, and discuss next steps. 

“Partnerships are critical to the success of the World Scholars program,” Foley said. “Students begin their studies abroad and are supported and educated by faculty and colleagues at John Cabot University in Rome, St. Louis University-Madrid, the University of Auckland, and the American College of Greece-Athens. Welcoming engineering students into the program and our newest partner, Newcastle University, will ensure the continued growth and vitality of our program and our students.”

Newcastle has been hosting American students for more than 30 years and is committed to providing a transformative educational experience supported by dedicated staff, a complementary cultural and social program, and access to career planning support. The Newcastle delegation consisted of Day, Loyola Study Abroad Centre Manager Grace Barker, and Deputy Director of Advancement Lauren Huntington.