2013 Spring Conference


Annual Conference


"Strategic Partnerships at Home and Abroad"

 

Thursday, March 7, 2013 from 9-4:30 at Boston College

8:30-9:00:  Arrival and Continental Breakfast

9:00-9:15:  Welcome

Susan Shea, ICC Co-Chair, Assistant Director, Boston College Office of International Students and Scholars

Melanie Funken, ICC Co-Chair, Assistant Director, Suffolk University, Study Abroad Programs

Pat DeLeeuw, Vice Provost for Faculties, Boston College

9:15-10:30:  Bridging the Gap: Advising Students on International Careers

Presenter: Katherine Punteney, Program Chair, MA in International Education Management program, Monterey Institute of International Studies

International Careers Consortium Presentation.pdf

International Career Module Lesson Plan.pdf

InternationalCareers Lecturette.ppt

Summary:  In this session, Katherine Punteney will share a research study featuring a module she developed to introduce undergraduate students to international career options. Designed for delivery in general education classes, Katherine tested this module's effects on students' interest in and knowledge of international careers. The presenter will share her findings, published in 2012 in the Journal of Studies in International Education. She will highlight student motivations as well as concerns, and will assist conference participants in designing their own international career workshop.

10:30-10:45 Coffee Break

10:45- 12:00: Successful Partnerships and Careers Abroad: Leveraging Cultural Dimensions for Success

Presenter: Duane Lefevre, Principal Consultant at A Global Career and Adjunct Faculty at Northeastern University

Presentation

Aperian Global Assessment Tool

Summary: A successful partnership or career abroad requires an understanding of both the broad dimensions of culture and the core values of your partner country. Universities and individual usually have excellent skill sets but they sometimes need to be "globalized" to create success in other countries and cultures.

Differences in culture are frequently the root cause of partnership problems and student issues. Participants will encounter differences in communication styles, decision making, need for context, and preferred level of hierarchy in addition to standards of conduct. Working in cultures as seemingly similar as the UK and Mexico, and as different as India and China, can be fraught with challenges that are often culturally-based. This workshop is designed to help participants understand their own culture, gain an appreciation of other cultural approaches and develop strategies for building effective partnerships and preparing students for success. It includes a student panel from BRIC countries that explores issues and offers tips to "globalize" your skills
and the skills of your students.

12:00-1:15 Networking Lunch

1:15-2:30:  How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Challenges of Connecting International Students to Local Employers

Presenters:                                                                                                                   Suzanne O'Connor, Associate Director, Career Center at Siena College                                                                                          
Thomas Whalen, Director of MBA/MS Career Resources, Lally School/Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute                     
Pete Bardunias, President, Southern Saratoga Chamber of Commerce

Summary:  Based on the lessons learned from a collaborative effort of eight colleges in the Capital Region of New York, two career center professionals and one Chamber of Commerce President will present the creation of an event called "An Evening of Global Connections."  This unique employment event, built around the challenges of connecting international students to employment opportunities, has connected local employers and recruiters with international students from local colleges and universities over the last two years.  This session will discuss the development, planning and implementation of the event including the marketing, employer and student preparation and managing expectations. Anecdotal evidence specific to outreach successes and failure will be highlighted.  The presentation will be followed by a brainstorming activity which will encourage participants to think about ways to identify and leverage their own partnerships and educate the professional community about the value of hiring international students.

2:30-2:45 Coffee Break

2:45-4:15: Strategic Partnerships for Innovative Study and Volunteer Abroad, and International Student Programs

Presenters:

Rebecca James, CEA Global Education                                                                    

Maren Petersen/Caitlin Ferrarini, United Planet

Cynthia Singer Riordan, Academic Internship Council (AIC)

Cynthia Sweet, Northeastern University

Kristen Shelly, Boston University MET International

 

Summary: This session will introduce three different partnerships and models in innovative programming for study and volunteer abroad, and international students.  Over the course of the panel, we will touch on how these programs enhance the cultural and professional skills for our students and provide valuable experience for their future careers.

 

CEA Global Education's session will showcase the importance of ensuring international educators are addressing the challenge of preparing global-ready graduates. A review of global employment trends showcases the need to re-prioritize higher education's response to the current state of affairs and suggests that U.S. education abroad plays a key role in preparing global ready graduates. CEA will review a key career intervention, its Global Career Development Certificate, offered during the study abroad experience. This program offers a course and externship focused on career development.

United Planet and Northeastern's session will highlight the value of a volunteer abroad program for students both during and after the experience.  Practical information and advice on vetting volunteer programs will be discussed.  United Planet and Northeastern will take a look at the role student affairs professionals and group leaders play in these transformative experiences and how they can help foster student development.

The Academic Internship Council and BU Met International will highlight a partnership program that developed as a way to provide a more personalized and hands on approach for internship placements for international students in the U.S. The session will include a review of the specialized programming and the enhancement that these programs bring to the students' international study experiences.  The AIC and BU will also touch on the partnerships needed on and off campus to help with program development.
 

4:15-4:30: Wrap-up and Closing