Session Information Description Sheet

LEARNING ACROSS TIME ZONES: ASIA

Presenter: Marta Szabo White

Asia represents a culturally diverse, historically rich continent with structural wonders and fascinating landscapes. This session examines the unique challenges and opportunities in planning and implementing a study abroad program in Asia. Topics include envisioning a program, course design, student preparation, managing the details, evaluation and assessment. A study abroad program presents rigorous academic challenges for students, who have a unique opportunity to learn about global business practices and the impact of economic, political/legal, social and cultural forces. The linking of theory with practice facilitates student learning and first-hand experience that classroom instruction cannot replicate. Unlike other study abroad programs, partnering is particularly important in Asia. The result is a rich and unforgettable experience for students and professors alike.

MANAGING STUDENT BEHAVIOR: CREATING FRAMEWORKS FOR POSITIVE ABROAD EXPERIENCES

Presenter: Angie Carter

This session will discuss opportunities for managing student behavior during short-term study abroad programs. How might we better inspire our students to engage with the host culture and understand their experience in productive and transforming ways? We will discuss methods of setting expectations and goals with students, faculty, and staff from the start of the process so as to better establish the responsibility and role of students while abroad. Examples of policies and programs in place at UT-Austin will be shared. Time will be devoted to sharing procedures in place at your universities and discussing ideas for future changes.

INNOVATIVE STSA PROGRAMS: TARGETED, USEFUL, FOCUSED, AND POSITIONED TO PARENTS

Presenter: Newell D. Wright

This session will focus on creating targeted, useful, and focused STSA programs that are positioned to parents. Successful STSA programs target a large segment of students who must use the classes they complete abroad to graduate, which means the STSA program is also useful. STSA courses that give special topics business credits may not progress students towards a degree and may cause them to earn more credits than they need to graduate. To target the largest possible audience, the courses should be conducted in English and focused on a region (e.g., Europe) rather than a single country (e.g., France). Finally, there are two positioning tasks: getting students interested and convincing parents to financially support the study abroad experience. Each of these two tasks requires different promotional efforts. All of the above points will be discussed using the example of a short term business program centered in Belgium and focused on the European Union.

LEAVING YOUR MARK - STARTING AN STSA PROGRAM

Presenter: Chris Carr

Starting an STSA program can initially seem to be a daunting task. How can one succeed? Where does one start? This breakout session will address such big picture questions, and others, such as:

  • Country selection -- where and why?
  • Marketing the program to colleagues and university administration
  • Course design and approval - what might an STSA look like?
  • Incorporating the program into the curriculum
  • Marketing the program to students (and parents)
  • Setting and managing student expectations
  • Trip activities and firm visit selection
  • A pre-trip dry run and lock down trip – if and when to do it?
  • Faculty ownership
  • Budget - where to start?
  • Risk Management - where to start?
  • Sustaining the STSA -- will your program still exist in 10 years?
  • Incorporating the STSA into your assessment of learning program
  • Post-trip wrap up (e.g., student deliverables, student survey, etc.)

LEAVING YOUR MARK – INCORPORATING BLOGGING INTO YOUR STSA

Presenter: Chris Carr

This session will address the utilization of a centralized course blog in an STSA, and related questions such as:
  • Why use such technology?
  • How does one start a "blog" and how does it work?
  • How to effectively use such technology to enhance the student learning experience and skill development? Relatedly, how can such technology be used to force students out of their comfort zones and take greater responsibility for their own learning and success?
  • The delicate balance between personal student space within cyberspace, professionalism, and STSA goals/objectives when using such technology.
  • How can such technology be used to make better and more efficient use of faculty face time with students?
  • How can such technology be used to enhance a program's assessment of student learning?
  • How can such technology help one better market one’s overall program to prospective applicants, particularly if their advertising budget dollars are limited?
  • What are some of the perils of using such technology in a STSA program?
In addition, in future STSAs the presenter plans to incorporate the use of other social media tools such as Facebook and possibly Twitter, and as time allows he will discuss his plans for doing so.

THE INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AS A CURRICULAR REQUIREMENT OF MANAGEMENT EDUCATION

Presenter: Sherilyn Scully

This session will examine the unique considerations for implementing the required international experience for the first year class of the Yale School of Management. The experience is a faculty- led mandatory component of the core curriculum involving faculty, students, teaching assistants and administrators. The treks are spread over an average of ten countries and all take place simultaneously at the beginning of the spring semester. Students prepare for the experience during the first semester through research projects, class work and talks given by experts of the regions. The presenter, the director of the department with the responsibility of organizing this program, will offer an overview of the “nuts & bolts” of this unique program and best practices learned. The presentation will cover the delivery of the program to all of the stakeholders: students, faculty alumni guest speakers and others.

*Keynote Speaker

TRAVEL, LEARN, AND GROW: COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS & FACULTY ARE ON THE GO!

Presenter: Gretchen Carroll

This session will examine the status and role of  short cycle study abroad programs  in community colleges across the United States, as well as what community colleges are doing to internationalize campuses, curriculum, and communities in order to make global education accessible for all.  The presenter, a community college business professor and director of an Atlantis grant project, will discuss how the community college "open door" philosophy creates unique opportunities and challenges for preparing students, of all ages, aptitudes and backgrounds, to take their place as leaders in an increasingly diverse and global community.  This can be especially challenging for community colleges because they are bound by their commitment to offer high-quality, low cost academic programs to a diverse student body. Nevertheless, community college faculty and staff are innovatively creating a vast array of affordable study abroad and service learning programs that provide opportunities for learning, cultural development and education.  Moreover, community colleges are collaborating with international and domestic partners in unique and interesting ways in order to build partnerships that facilitate the preparation of "global" citizens and leaders.

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES ABROAD: Vendor Presentation

Presenter: Eric Anderson

AustraLearn, and sister programs AsiaLearn and EuroLearn, are educational programs of GlobaLinks, which provide outstanding international education programs for students. Programs include semester/year abroad, internships, summer programs and customized faculty-led short-courses. AustraLearn is highly-respected in the field and serves students with integrity and commitment.

Having sent 20,000 students abroad in the last 19 years, AustraLearn, AsiaLearn and EuroLearn programs focus on cultural integration, even when students select English-speaking destinations where no foreign language is required. Cultural integration is a cornerstone of our programs whereby we supply extensive country and cultural information, offer counseling and support, and guarantee housing with locals and other international students.

HTH WORLDWIDE: Vendor Presentation

Presenter: Mark Hough

HTH Worldwide is a leader in helping world travelers gain access to quality healthcare services all around the globe. HTH combines ongoing research, a contracted global community of physicians and hospitals, advanced Internet applications, and wide experience in international health insurance to ensure customers' health, safety and peace of mind. Founded in 1997, HTH Worldwide has grown to become a leading provider of international health insurance programs and an innovator in online healthcare information, medical assistance and insurance services. HTH annually provides health insurance products or services to over 650,000 individuals who travel, study or live outside of their home country.

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS: Vendor Presentation

IEP at Jacksonville University develops customized programs overseas for colleges and universities around the United States. We provide the logistics and staff support to facilitate your international course or alternative service-learning program.  IEP arranges customized itineraries based on the needs and objectives of the course or program to provide the participants with a comprehensive international experience.  Affordable and immersive study, volunteer, service-learning and internship programs are offered in nearly 20 countries and more than 20 diverse locations throughout Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. 

Explore the possibilities at: www.iepabroad.org

Short-Term Study Abroad in Africa: Focus Upon South Africa

Presenter: Lucy Reuben

This session highlights the importance of study abroad in Africa based upon its significant economic resources and increasing business potential, with a focus upon the Duke/Fuqua MBA South Africa GATE (Global Academic Travel Experience) course. The session will include information about the objectives, structure and management of the course both in-class (Durham, NC) and in-country (South Africa). Topics include discussion of some of the School, University and Government resources that undergird the success of the STSA in Africa experience. The session will provide details on issues as diverse as institutional risk management, networking opportunities, management of student expectations, civic engagement and more!

Proving that Study Abroad is Worth it - Conclusions from Research on Real Benefits of the Experience

Speakers: Bill Clabby and Newell Wright

Increasingly we need to prove to our administration that study abroad is worth the investment of staff, time and money. Here we will describe results from a variety of research on the benefits of study abroad. Dr.
Newell Wright will present the findings of his study of student intercultural proficiency. Bill Clabby will present a toolkit of proven outcomes in a variety of areas for use in making the case to your university.

Eastern Europe

Speaker: Bob Donnorummo

The principal conference goal is to encourage business and economic professors to consider the advantages of the University of Pittsburgh's FDIB program which in 2009 travels to Poland, Bulgaria and Turkey. The focus will be on the importance of combining cultural, social, political and economic variables so as to best inform business and economic professors about the region, and by extension, their classes.

Leaving your Mark - Promoting Program Excellence

Speaker: Mary Pilotte

Launching a STSA program requires a significant investment of time, energy and finances, so how can you ensure the "payoff" is worth the investment?

This session will explore areas that will help lead your program towards outcome excellence for all parties involved. Conversation will include:

  • In country partners - the value of alumni
  • Mission alignment - yours, theirs & ours
  • Marketing & Selection - is it "a fit"?
  • Execution - scaffolding & mentors
  • The Experience in Rewind - continuous improvement
  • A brief overview of the annual India Internship Experience STSA at Purdue's Krannert School of Management will also be provided to demonstrate our efforts toward promoting program excellence.

Short Term study abroad programs in MENA: The case of Kuwait

Speaker: Mohammed Akacem

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is often associated with oil and the wealth that normally accompanies it. Yet, not only have the oil economies of MENA not exhibited the kind of growth that would have been expected of them given the vast resources at their disposal, they at times did worse that the non-oil exporting countries. The resource curse phenomenon will be explored and students will be expected to come up with policy recommendations to address it. Still, the MENA region gives us an opportunity to study and dissect the economic and business model followed in this region. A study abroad program in this region will introduce the students to Islamic banking and finance as well as the new role of Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF) given the global credit crisis. The call on Middle Eastern SWF’s will grow and their implications to the global financial system will be explored.

You want to do WHAT? WHERE? Managing health, safety and security threats in a diverse education abroad environment

Speaker: Landes Holbrook

The traditional face of education abroad is changing. Institutions are offering a wider variety of opportunities such as internships and short-term programs. Some of the challenges today are:

· assessing and mitigating health and security threats;
· determining institutional risk levels;
· responding to and reporting critical incidents.

The presenter will address how to collaborate and maximize use of government resources and other open source information. He will discuss how to:

· collect and analyze reliable security information
· conduct advance reviews
· adhere to legal standards and
· effectively manage critical incidents

Conference session participants will walk away with new practices, ideas, tips, and resources!

Getting the Right Students for the Right International Experience: Screening Students through a Preparation Course

Presenter: Danny Damron

This presentation will describe the process of designing and leading a preparation course. It will outline activities like assessing student suitability, preparing students for the academic components of an international experience, promoting intercultural sensitivity, and developing good work skills. Attendees will learn how to design an effective preparation course; better understand the challenges of student selection and learn how to work through that process in a preparation course; and be better equipped to prepare students to perform well in international experiences where expections differ significantly from expectations in U.S. classrooms.

Managing Partner Relationships

Presenter: Cynthia Halliday

Partners are essential for a successful study abroad program. As in any type of relationship, communication, respect, and support are necessary to maintain a good association with our school partners. There are many different types of partnerships when it comes to study abroad programs. In this session, we will discuss the different types of partners needed to create a successful program and how we can support each other. We will also briefly cover important issues to be aware of and how to address them when developing a study abroad program.

Financing & Budgeting STSA Programs

Presenter: Eric Anderson

This session will cover a variety of topics related to the budgeting and financing of short term faculty-led study abroad programs. Specific topics will include tups for keeping the itinerary affordable for students, working with overseas institutions, suggestions for how to successfully market the program to students, and a discussion of fund raising ideas and strategies.