Abstract

As universities worldwide expand their international missions, there remains a persistent gap in how global engagement is conceptualized, measured, and assessed across institutional contexts. This paper presents a case study of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) using the Johnson Ranking of Global Engagement (JRGE), an applied globalization scorecard designed to systematically evaluate institutional global engagement across academic, research, partnership, and operational domains. Grounded in social science frameworks related to globalization, organizational behavior, and comparative education, the JRGE moves beyond reputational and output-only rankings by emphasizing evidence-based indicators and institutional self-assessment. Using a mixed-methods analysis that integrates institutional research records, curriculum profiles, partnership agreements, and administrative audits, this study examines how UNLV’s global activities align with strategic goals. Findings reveal concentrated strengths in student mobility and formal partnership frameworks alongside critical data tracking gaps and institutional silos within research globalization and infrastructure governance. The paper argues that adaptable frameworks like the JRGE enable culturally diverse universities to make data-informed decisions, enhance accountability, and foster equitable global partnerships. This paper represents the final report of the initial evaluation of UNLV’s global engagement and interaction.

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