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Global Learning Summaries

Global Learning Summaries

Tool Objectives:

  1. To increase your awareness of contemporary global issues.
  2. To encourage you to think critically about a specific global issue and to analyze the host country’s response to it.
  3. To develop skills for primary and secondary data collection and analysis.

Tool Description:

What are the issues that matter most in today’s world? Global issues concern us all and there is much to be learned about how others in the world respond to issues such as environmental sustainability, climate change, poverty and human rights. This assignment has been designed to focus students’ attention on understanding global issues and to analyze various approaches taken toward addressing them.

Tool Procedures:

  1. Have students select a specific global issue or problem that is directly affecting the country or region where the class will be traveling. Together with the students, brainstorm a list of example issues. Their assignment is to produce a succinct, 2-3 page global learning summary on the issue. When discussing the assignment, provide students with detailed formatting instructions.
  2. Each global learning summary should be prepared with three distinct sections, as follows:
    • Description of Issue. Students should provide a succinct explanation of a specific global issue, highlighting its global nature and urgency. They should provide relevant secondary data and supporting information.
    • Country Response. Students should briefly describe the country’s response to the issue. While abroad, they should be encouraged to take time to gather primary data on the issue. Brainstorm the various ways to do this during the time abroad.
    • Analysis. Students should provide an analysis of the country’s response to the issue, noting its strengths, weaknesses and long-term challenges. Emphasize that they should present evidence in support of their analysis.
  3. Collect the summaries and make copies available to the whole class as a kind of global issues portfolio. Alternatively, have students post their summaries to an on-line discussion forum for other students to read and provide feedback and comments.
  4. If class time allows upon return, assign students a 5-10 minute time slot to present their global learning summary. Allow time for class discussion of each issue.

Tool Evaluation:

This assignment could be worth up to 20% of the overall course grade. The global learning summary should be assessed on a student’s demonstrated understanding of the specific global issue and approach to using both primary and secondary sources to develop an in-depth analysis of the country’s response to the issue.

Tool Time Requirement:

One class session (optional, post-study abroad)

Tool Author(s):

Adapted by A. Ogden, 2009 from Global Immersion, Smeal College of Business, Penn State

Tool Handouts [.doc or .docx]:
Global Learning Summaries Handout

Episode 29: Cultural Lens on U.S. Higher Education: Analyzing International Perceptions of 'Anti-Woke’ Discourse

Dive into a nuanced exploration of the global discourse surrounding higher education in the United States. Join us for a panel discussion with esteemed international educators as we embark on a journey through the lenses of culture and international perspective, examining how global audiences interpret and engage with the ‘anti-woke’ discourse within the context of U.S. higher education. This engaging panel discussion will delve into the intersections of culture, ideology, and education, and the complex landscape of how international audiences perceive the ‘anti-woke’ narrative that has emerged within U.S. academia.

Whether you’re a senior international officer, or simply curious about the diverse viewpoints shaping U.S. higher education, this podcast episode will provide an invaluable space for critical analysis and insightful conversations.

Speaker Biography:

Fanta Aw is a distinguished leader in international education, renowned for her extensive contributions to global learning, cross-cultural understanding, and educational equity. With a deep commitment to fostering connections between diverse cultures and promoting educational excellence, she has significantly impacted the international education community.

Fanta Aw’s career has been characterized by her dedication to advancing global education initiatives, promoting diversity and inclusion, and nurturing partnerships that transcend borders. She has held influential roles in various organizations, advocating for the importance of international collaboration and learning experiences that empower individuals to navigate an increasingly interconnected world.

As a thought leader and visionary, Fanta Aw’s insights and expertise have shaped discussions on the future of international education, emphasizing the significance of equitable access, cultural exchange, and lifelong learning. Her work has not only elevated institutions but has also inspired countless individuals to embrace the transformative power of global education.

Date: September 14th, 2023
Time: 12 noon ET

Sponsored by:

Mark Beirn

AFFILIATE

An experienced global researcher and administrator, Mark Beirn brings a critical approach to risk management, factoring structural racism and identity-based violence into his rubric for supporting equitable global mobility.

Specialization Areas:

– Global Risk Management
– Education Abroad
– Diversity, Equity, Inclusion in International Education
– Health and Safety
– Curriculum Development

 

Stephen Appiah-Padi​

AFFILIATE

Stephen Appiah-Padi is an international educator with several years of teaching and administrative experience in both 4 and 2-year HEIs. An experienced global education practitioner-scholar, with a demonstrated history of success in the field.

Dr. Appiah-Padi has a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada in Educational Policy & Administration with a specialization in International/Intercultural Education.

At Northwestern College, he provided oversight in the administration of education abroad and international student services. In Lansing, Michigan, he first oversaw diversity and intercultural education at Lansing Community College, and later created the Center for International and Intercultural Education (CIIE) which merged intercultural engagement and international education programs of the institution, and he became its first director. Additionally, Dr. Appiah-Padi taught a course, “Diversity in the American Workplace”, to undergraduate management students of the College. In his current position, he provides leadership and vision in advancing strategic internationalization initiatives, including international partnerships and study abroad programs at Bucknell University.

Dr Appiah-Padi has created and facilitated several workshops for faculty and staff development in higher education and in business organizations. He has presented at several national and international conferences. In NAFSA, among several volunteer leadership positions, he has served as Dean of the Fundamentals of Intercultural Communication Workshop, the Leadership Development Committee member, Chair of the Africa Special Interest Group, and a Fellow of the Global Fellowship Program for mentoring emerging leaders of internationalization in African HEIs. He currently serves as a member of the NAFSA Board of Directors.

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Rosa Almoguera

AFFILIATE

Dr. Rosa Almoguera has worked as an international educator for over twenty years. She was trained as a Hispanic Philologist at the Universidad Complutense, in Madrid, and did her M.A. at the University of Pennsylvania. Her Ph.D., from Universidad Complutense included a field study and edition of written balladry “Romancero”. During many years Rosa combined teaching and her role as a senior administrator at the Fundación Ortega-Marañón in Toledo, Spain. At the Foundation, Rosa directed and, in many cases created, programs for the University of Minnesota, Notre Dame, Princeton, Ohio State, Arcadia, and the University of Chicago. She has also been a visiting professor at the University of Minnesota, University of Portland, and Interamericana de Puerto Rico.

Beginning in 2016, Rosa works as an international education consultant for both public and private European and US higher education institutions. Rosa has been successful in developing new partnerships and programs, as well as helping improve already existing ones.

Rosa is a member of Forum and NAFSA and has presented with higher education professionals on innovative academic and research programming, STEM in study abroad and Nationalism in Europe. Rosa is currently completing the final Professional Certification from the Forum on Education Abroad.