customizing and funding professional development to internationalize the curriculum

CUSTOMIZING AND FUNDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO INTERNATIONALIZE THE CURRICULUMDr. Joyce Madancy, Union College Erin Santana, CIEE

IFDSKarlis Rokpelnis, CIEE Beijing

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What are International Faculty Development Seminars?

• Created by CIEE in 1990 –26 years supporting campus internationalization efforts

• International professional development for faculty and administrators

• Short-term, intensive overseas experiences focusing on issues and regions that are shaping the course of world events – overarching themes clearly aligned with academic disciplines

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What is IFDS? (cont.)

• Structured around key programmatic components:• Detailed syllabus includes readings, objectives, framing questions• Comprehensive pre-departure and on-site orientations• Lectures & discussion sessions with local faculty, experts, community

leaders• Site visits, excursions, and intercultural activities • “Now What?” workshop focused on putting IFDS experience to use back

on campus

www.ciee.org/ifds

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A sample of 2017 seminars

Click to insert chartLocation(s) Seminar Title Discipline(s)Havana, Cuba Contemporary Cuban Transformations: Social

Inequities and Social PolicySocial Sciences

Shanghai, China and Taipei, Taiwan

Political Divergence, Culture Convergence, and Economic Reliance

Business, Political Science

Rabat, Morocco Intercultural Learning in the Multilingual Context of Morocco

Language, Intercultural Learning

Paris, France Best Practices for Creating Successful Faculty-Led Programs

BACKGROUND AND PLANNING

FROM THE

UNION COLLEGE SIDE

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Background

Presidential/Administrative Initiative Mellon Mid-Career Presidential Discretionary Grant – invited to apply Inspired by President’s own study tour experience

Dean of Faculty Links to Common Curriculum (General Education) Educational mission- Cuts across all disciplines- Support/affirmation for those who contribute

Director of Common Curriculum and GenEd Board- Fleshed out details – themes of Social Justice and Sustainability- Made decision to work with CIEE - Campus survey of possible topics and locations- China and Turkey (based on CIEE logistics and our themes)

- Selection of Directors and Co-Directors- Application Process: info sessions, application essay, final decisions, deanly generosity

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A Diverse Group

Fourteen total – a diverse group! By rank

5 Professors 4 Associate Professors 2 Assistant Professors 3 lecturers

By Gender – 3 men, 11 women By Department

Director - History – East Asia

Co-Directors- Modern Languages – Chinese and Asian

Studies- Electrical and Computer Engineering

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A Diverse Group (cont.)

Everyone Else Biology Chemistry English (three) Ethnomusicology & Asian Studies Electrical and Comp. Engineering Film Studies Geology Mathematics Mechanical Engineering

Three Chinese speakers Five had been to China previously

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Preparation

Three Goals Group “bonding” Intellectual/Cultural Preparation Thinking about curricular consequences

Five Pre-Departure Workshops Historical background and Language Summer reading list

Curricular brainstorming/mapping to prepare and to follow up Logistics

Environmental Studies Lecture Series – focus on China Group Chinese Dinner

PLANNING AND EXECUTION

FROM THE ON-SITE

PERSPECTIVE

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Environmental, Cultural, & Economic Sustainability in China’s Urban and Rural Landscapes

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Creating the Seminar

Wide in scope and vast in geography

The participant cohort was very diverse and so were needs and expectations

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Adjusting the seminar for Union College

Even with a focus on social justice, the scope was still wide

The participant cohort was diverse

Interests were more articulated

Unfortunate timing of staff changes at CIEE Beijing and training needs – had to replace group leader last minute

Click to insert chart

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The Trip!

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Ten Days in Northeast China

A Smashing Success! Cross-disciplinary bonding? Check!

Educational lectures Check!

Illuminating excursions Check!

Results New courses with new themes from the

trip New modules in existing courses Guest lectures and invited speakers


Beijing and Beyond

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Challenges and Rewards

• Challenges• Last minute leadership change• Group concerns (film clip 1) • Some illness• Poverty tourists?(film clip 3)

• Rewards• Informative lectures (clip 2)• Observations (clip 4)• Curricular mapping

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Synergies

IFDS-style training for study center staff

IFDS group leaders planning to visit Union


QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU