Florida Polytechnic University Solidifies Ties With Fulbright Australia

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – Officials from Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, FL, and the Australian-American Fulbright Commission (Fulbright Australia) formalized an agreement at a ceremonial signing, March 1, at the U.S. Embassy in the Australian capital of Canberra. The agreement allows the university to begin accepting graduate students and faculty from Australia beginning in the fall of 2019.

Florida Poly President Randy K. Avent was on hand to sign the international pact with Fulbright Australia. “This agreement is another important step in Florida Poly’s growth,” said Avent. “Not only does it allow the university to continue to raise its stature as a destination for elite global scholars, our increased involvement with the Fulbright Program gives our students culturally and academically enriching study abroad opportunities.”

Fulbright Australia is the leading scholarship program between Australia and the U.S. and encourages binational collaboration and knowledge-exchange through a program of competitive, merit-based scholarships.

The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 to fund the “promotion of international good will through the exchange of students in the fields of education, culture and science.” Since its inception, more than 370,000 students, academics, and professionals have received Fulbright Scholarships to study, teach, or conduct research, and promote bilateral collaboration and cultural empathy.

Florida Poly already has Fulbright partnerships with Canada, Belgium, and Luxembourg, and has also hosted Fulbright Scholars from Germany.

About Florida Polytechnic University
Florida Polytechnic University is an accredited member of the State University System of Florida, dedicated exclusively to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The university is a powerful economic engine within the state of Florida, blending applied research with industry partnerships to give students an academically rigorous education with real-world relevance. The campus is located in Lakeland, FL, along the I-4 High Tech Corridor. Connect with Florida Poly online at www.floridapoly.edu.

Featured

  • Hawaii Elementary School Reopens Following $25M Campus Modernization

    Haʻaheo Elementary School in Hilo, Hawaii, has reopened to students following a three-year, $25-million campus modernization and expansion project that significantly increases the school's instructional space while preserving one of the island's oldest educational institutions, according to local news.

  • GeoCam and UCLA: Modernizing Campus Accessibility Mapping

    In early 2025, UCLA partnered with GeoCam to capture and modernize its pedestrian infrastructure data. The goal was ambitious but clear: to produce a high-accuracy, imagery-backed digital map of every sidewalk, pathway, ramp, and ADA-related feature on UCLA’s 419-acre campus.

  • University of Pennsylvania Releases Design of Future Physical Sciences Building

    The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia, Penn., recently released renderings of an upcoming 350,000-square-foot Physical Sciences Building, according to news release. The facility was designed by CO Architects and will unite the university’s departments of Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, and Earth and Environmental Science.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.