While 电子游戏软件 has raised its profile abroad in recent decades, a recently launched initiative envisions a significantly expanded, coordinated effort to increase the University’s international presence.
At the center of this initiative is the 全球 Engagement (GE) Committee, appointed last fall by University President William P. 莱希,年代.J., to assess the scope of BC’s current international activities, 确定成长的最佳途径, and determine the resources and structures necessary to fulfill these opportunities.
不列颠哥伦比亚省的十年战略计划, 去年秋天发布, inscribes a commitment to building on the University’s current international engagement by incorporating greater attention to global issues in the under电子游戏正规平台生 curriculum and among 电子游戏正规平台生, 专业和教师项目, and educating leaders for the Catholic Church around the world, 在其他目标中.
The 25-member committee has spent its first few months speaking with senior, academic and non-academic administrators from across the University, and examining data related to peer institutions’ global engagement.
这学期, the GE Committee will broaden its outreach to the University community by hosting two town hall-type events – Feb, 下午3点.m. 4月24日下午3点.m. in Devlin 221 – and unveiling a website dedicated to global engagement.
When the committee completes its task this October, it expects to have in place a blueprint to guide the expansion of BC global engagement – an endeavor that will involve every constituent group of the University, and be organized around the core dimensions of internationalization selected by the American Council on Education: articulating global strategy; leading internationalization; global partnerships; internationalizing learning; 教师 global engagement, 学生的流动性.
讨论委员会的进展, 共同主席Alberto Godenzi, former dean of the BC School of Social Work and special advisor to the president for global engagement, said he and his colleagues had been encouraged and enlightened by their conversations with members of the University community.
“很明显, BC is active internationally: This is evident in, 例如, 我们出国留学的学生人数, and of international 学生 and scholars we host, as well as the programs and collaborations around the world in which BC is involved,高登齐说, whose co-chair is Associate Professor of Political Science Jennifer Erickson. “But 委员会发现 that there is often little coordination in what we do, and no overall strategy for creating and implementing initiatives.
结果是, people within – and beyond – the University community have a hard time finding out the extent and nature of our global engagement. Something like the creation of a database on 教师 research and teaching activities would be helpful.”
BC’s peer institutions tend to demonstrate a higher degree of organization, support and magnitude of international activities, 委员会发现. This should not be construed as a criticism of those in the University who administer, participate in or contribute to international programs, 然而, Godenzi说.
“Success in global engagement is a matter of investing resources, 更重要的是, of being intentional and far-sighted in how you craft that engagement. 它的意思是, 例如, 将全球教育融入课程, research and outreach programs for under电子游戏正规平台生, 电子游戏正规平台生, 专业课程和项目. It also means making sure all stakeholders – staff, 还有管理员, 教师, 学生, alumni and friends of BC – understand the impact global engagement will have on the institution.”
这是全球参与的另一个重要方面, Godenzi说, 强调学术, 专业, faith and formational characteristics that distinguish BC, whether its programs in STEM or social innovation, 例如, 或者是耶稣会, 天主教的传统.
“Related to that is the necessity of choosing where BC should focus global partnerships and programs – what parts of the world offer the best prospects for success? 我想到了拉丁美洲, given its strong Catholic faith tradition and our numerous existing ties with local universities and communities; or China, since a large part of our international student and alumni population are from there. What could BC bring to the table, and what would these associations mean for BC?”
A University-wide committee charged with answering such questions offers BC the opportunity to devise a comprehensive plan for global engagement, 说Godenzi, and “we look forward to working on this challenge in the months ahead.”
除了高登兹和埃里克森, members of the 全球 Engagement Committee (and their University affiliations) are: Rui Albuquerque (CSOM/Finance), 伊森·巴克斯特(MCA&高级助理/地球及环境科学), 蔡志强(电子游戏正规平台生代表), 唐娜·库里南(CSON/社区卫生),尼克·戈齐克(国际项目办公室), Sr. Margaret Guider, OSF (STM/Systematics), Régine Jean-Charles (MCA&S /浪漫的语言, 非洲及散居非洲电子游戏正规平台), 多萝西·琼斯(CSON/成人保健), Praveen Kumar (BCSSW/全球实践), Patricia Lowe (Office for Institutional Diversity), 拉斐尔·卢西亚尼(STM/系统学), Lucia Madero Murillo (under电子游戏正规平台生 student representative), 朱迪思·麦克莫罗(不列颠哥伦比亚省法律/法律伦理), Adrienne Nussbaum (Office of 国际 学生 and Scholars).
还有埃里克·欧文斯(MCA)&S /神学, Boisi中心), 丹尼尔·庞塞托(宣教与事工), Ginger Saariaho(晋升), Dennis Shirley (LSOE/教师教育), Ethan Sullivan (CSOM/本科课程), Hans de Wit (Educational Leadership and Higher Education), Hélène Bernot Ullerö (Office of Vice Provost for 电子游戏正规平台) and Denice Koljonen and Mike Pimental (Institutional 电子游戏正规平台, 策划及评估).
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