There is a great deal of experience and wisdom about international education already on the Global Partners campuses. The Best Practices Task Force looked for ways to share that experience and wisdom. One way was through a series of workshops for faculty and administrators from around the three consortia. These workshops focused on specific ways to improve off-campus study programs. The workshops, designed for approximately 15 to 20 participants, were be led by experts from the forty-two colleges, and will take place between fall 2004 and fall 2005. The workshops are listed below.

Developing cross-cultural studies programs
Cross-cultural and intercultural education has been a theme throughout the Best Practice work. International students coming to the US and American students going abroad both deal with substantial cultural transitions and tensions. This workshop looked at that transition process as an educational opportunity, and, using the program at Carleton College as a model, examined ways to develop a cross-cultural studies program. This workshop was held October 28-29, 2005 at Carleton College. For more information click here.

Disability issues and study abroad
Colleges across the three consortia are working to increase the number of their students that study abroad. In this work they must accommodate students with medical concerns or other disabilities. At this workshop at Oberlin College in January 2005, workshop participants shared their experiences and best practices in dealing with medical and disability issues. A report and resources are available here.

Liberal arts and international education
This was a workshop designed for campus administrators whose principle responsibilities involve directing an off-campus study, international education and/or experiential learning office. As a group they evaluated the educational goals of off-campus study and the pedagogical activity associated with off-campus study administration--advising, programming, courses, etc.--in relation to the full scope of the liberal arts project. They explored critically the ways in which our failure to engage directly with the broader pedagogical context of our campuses might be serving to diminish the perceived educational value of off-campus study, The workshop was held August 4-5, 2005, at Southwestern University. For more information click here.

Off-campus study opportunities for science students
Because of their structured courses and the importance of lab work, students in the physical sciences rarely get opportunities to study internationally. Some colleges and consortia, however, have developed programs designed to meet the special needs of science students. In this workshop leaders of these programs described their work and helped participants develop programs for studying science internationally. The workshop took place in October 2004 at Beloit College.

Recruiting and training faculty for taking students abroad
One of first ideas discussed in Global Partners meetings was the need for more (and better prepared) faculty to lead off-campus study programs-in part because of generational changes among faculty across the consortia. Deans and international program directors have reiterated this need in recent years. This workshop discussed the cross-cultural and pedagogical character of study abroad, as well as some of the nitty-gritty administrative responsibilities. This workshop was held April 15-16, 2005 at St. Olaf College. Click here for more information and some resources for preparing faculty.