Internationalizing the Curriculum of

Wisconsin Cooperative Extension

Thomas Cadwallader

Agricultural Development Educator

JoAnn Hinz

Assistant to the Dean

Setting and Need

University of Wisconsin-Cooperative Extension has had a long history of international efforts.

It has had a working policy but no mission, vision, goals or action plan.

International work has not been a high priority.

In 2002 an International Retreat brought together a small group of faculty and staff members who had demonstrated a strong interest in doing international work.

Setting and Need –2002 International Team Retreat Summary

12 UWEX faculty and staff participated Established mission and vision statements Outlined five goals:

Create a Team International with designated leadership.

Develop and maintain a scholarship context for international programs.

Provide staff training related to international work. Develop evaluation instruments that tout the benefit

of international work or at least speak to the benefits.

Develop institutional capacity and context to carry out international programs and to support staff in this work.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Develop strategies to globalize educational content and resources used in educational programs in Wisconsin

Explore resources aimed at building an organization that reflects global interdependence

Strengthen the connection between global knowledge and experience with diversity efforts

Primary Activity of the Project

One-day workshop, 40 participants representing all areas of CE

8-member planning committee Keynote address, panel discussion Participant input on– A global

Extension professional, Extension organization, community would…

SWOT analysis Action plans

Keynote Address

Dr. Binaya Subedi, School of Education, OSU

Components of a global educational institution: Community outreach and dialogue Issues oriented curriculum Teaching, social action within the public

arena.

The Local Perspective

Panel discussion on the importance of a global perspective on the well-being of Wisconsin Communities.

Panel Members: International dairy consultant Director of Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program

(WRLP) Dairy Farmer/WRLP Alumi representatives discuss

importance of global perspectives to keep Wisconsin prosperous

WRLP is an Extension program that includes an international experience

Facilitated Small Group Discussions

Participants divided up into six groups.

Each group asked to describe their preferred future by responding to one of three statements: A global Cooperative Extension

professional would ….. A global community would ….. A global Cooperative Extension

organization would …..

Facilitated Small Group Discussions (cont’d)

Once the desired future was described each group: Performed a SWOT analysis identifying

the positive and negative forces that influence their achieving them.

Brainstormed action items to achieve them.

Listed resources needed to help along the way.

Identified individual and organizational commitments needed to achieve success.

A Global Extension Professional Would ….

Seek practical on-the-ground experiences as an Extension professional in international and cross-cultural settings.

Continually develop their knowledge and understanding about how they influence and are influenced by global changes.

Be willing to share their knowledge, understanding and experiences with colleagues and communities.

A Global Community Would ….

Find ways to celebrate its cultures and diversity.

Appreciate divergent thinking. Have leaders with a global perspective

and understanding of their community’s place in the world.

Recognize and positively deal with prejudice.

Seek international experiences for the community and its residents.

Be a place where citizens feel a sense of responsibility to the global community.

A Global Cooperative Extension Would ….

Provide a center for global resources and activities.

Value differences and encourage divergent thinking.

Celebrate and share global experiences.

Infuse global awareness into existing programming and curriculum.

Summary of SWOT for Becoming A Global Extension Professional

Positive forces – Strengths/Opportunities

Core competencies in outreach education Organizational partners to work with Increasing diversity in communities Ease of travel & English as international

language Negative forces – Weaknesses/Threats

Isolationism & International unrest Personal and community bias and prejudice Lack of funds and resources Current professional commitments

Summary of SWOT forBecoming a Global Community

Positive forces – Strengths/Opportunities

Progressive tradition & Wisconsin Idea Civic organizations & Volunteer Groups Changing cultural mix Good models of community activities

Negative forces – Weaknesses/Threats

Isolationism & Fear of change Lack of diversity in community leaders Communities not prepared for immigrants No tax, No spend mentality

Summary of SWOT for Becoming aGlobal Extension Organization

Positive forces – Strengths/Opportunities A Strong model of outreach education Wealth of experience among faculty and staff Business globalization Technology bringing world closer together

Negative forces – Weaknesses/Threats Isolationism & nationalism Lack of political recognition of Extension

involvement in global issues Mixed messages internally Lack of funding internally and in communities

Range of Action Items Global Extension Professional

From taking current experiences and highlighting benefits to communities, to incorporating cross-cultural skill development into core training.

Global Community From working with schools to develop

educational materials, to developing a database of expertise and interests.

Global Extension Organization From creating an office of international

outreach, to raising the awareness of international work with county committees.

How did we do? Program evaluation respondents think we have room

for improvement.(n=28)

0.0%10.0%20.0%

30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%

80.0%

Your Coop Extension's

Extent to which (your/Coop Extension's) work has a global perspective.

Not existentSomewhatQuite a bitA great dealEverything done

How did we do? The workshop acted to motivate evaluation

respondents to make changes(n=28)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Personal Organizational

Workshop motivated me to do more at the (personal/organizational) level to bring an international perspective to my/our work.

Not at all

Somewhat

Quite a bit

A great deal

How did we do? The workshop only began to provide people with

information on how to change.(n=28)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Personal

Workshop provided me with useful ideas that I can apply.

Not at all

Somewhat

Quite a bit

A great deal

How did we do? The workshop did begin to draw a map for change.

(n=28)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Workshop identified achievable steps that will help the organization.

Not at all

Somewhat

Quite a bit

A great deal

How did we do?

The Project expanded our network of individuals who see international work as an important part of an Extension curriculum.

The expansion of the network increased our capacity to develop a curriculum that meets diverse needs of citizens.

Committed staff

Grant

UW Partners

Phase 1 - Conduct an organizing workshop

Create and maintain web site

Faculty and staff with experience and commitment

Increased knowledge of/ and skills in Int issues

Increased understanding of resources available

Increased #s engaged in international assignments UW-Ext

embraces values and practices of an Internat’al Org.

INPUTS OUTPUTS OUTCOMES

Internationalizing Wisconsin Extension

Research, models & experience

Situation: WI-Extension lacks a coherent, purposeful process for building and sustaining internal capacity to engage in international work necessary for institutional relevance

Increased commitment to internationalize

UW-Ext policies created or modified to support Int.

Committed leadership Create action

plan

Phase 2 - Implement action plan plan

Monitor and evaluate

All staff

Internat’al education needs of WI citizens are met

Other Extension administrators and UW partners

Increased #s integrating international into local program’g

Improved networking; relationships

Increased knowledge of/ skills in being a global educator

More prof dev. available

More resources available

Increased understanding of what internat’-alizing means

Who came?

25%

21%

11%

32%

7%

4% Agriculture

Family Living

4H Youth Dev

Community Dev

Program Dev &Eval

Administration

For Further Information on UW-Coop Extension International Work

John Preissing International Team Chairman john.preissing@ces.uwex.edu

Tom Cadwallader Internationalizing Extension Project Chairman thomas.cadwallader@ces.uwex.edu

JoAnn Hinz Assistant to the Dean of Coop Extension joann.hinz@uwex.edu

International Team Website http://www.uwex.edu/ces/international/