When Amber Ephraim graduates from Georgia Institute of Technology this month with a degree in computer science, she will do so with the International Plan (IP) designation, a distinction achieved by only eight students at Georgia Tech this semester. Andrew Wang, also a computer science major, is among those graduating with the same recognition.
The International Plan signifies what Georgia Tech’s IP academic manager Heidi Fiedler describes as a “strong, intentional commitment to global education.” According to Fiedler, “It meaningfully differentiates a Georgia Tech degree and highlights a graduate’s readiness to thrive in a global environment.” She noted that employers and graduate programs recognize the IP designation as evidence of adaptability, intercultural communication skills, and global perspectives.
Ephraim first became interested in the program during her second year after switching her major to computer science. The International Plan requires students to complete three globally focused courses, achieve proficiency in a non-English language, and spend at least 26 weeks abroad. Ephraim exceeded these requirements by participating in three separate international experiences.
Tara Berry, IP academic coordinator for the College of Computing, highlighted Ephraim’s range of overseas activities: “Amber is unique because she has international experience in studying abroad and interning abroad. This is enough time overseas to truly say she has more experience than the average student at navigating work relationships across international locations and different cultures.”
In summer 2023, Ephraim traveled to France for her first study abroad program where she practiced French—her chosen language requirement—through daily interactions. She recalled becoming familiar with local establishments: “I became a regular at one Japanese restaurant close to my dorm and would always talk with the workers about my week,” she said in an earlier speech.
Her next experience was an internship at Infosys India during summer 2024. Working in Bengaluru presented challenges related to cultural expectations around communication and workplace relationships. To address misunderstandings with coworkers, Ephraim developed new strategies such as sketching diagrams for clarity. She adapted to a community-oriented work culture where personal well-being was openly discussed among colleagues.
In February 2025, Ephraim began a semester-long exchange program in Sydney. Building on previous experiences abroad, she pursued virtual reality design and cybersecurity courses while joining the university’s Sustainability Program and volunteering locally. These opportunities helped refine her interests within computing.
Reflecting on her time abroad, Ephraim said these experiences strengthened her interpersonal skills: “I’ve never been super extroverted,” she said. “But I am more comfortable talking to people I haven’t met before. I can strike up a conversation and look people in the eye.”
After graduation, Ephraim intends to build a portfolio for game development and hopes to begin work on her first original game—a short-format project blending fantasy elements with themes of self-reflection. She advised future participants of the International Plan: “Extended time abroad provides perspective that is difficult to gain otherwise. It opens you up to a lot of new opportunities… It shows a lot of time, effort, and dedication. I feel very proud to look back on it.”
