International and Comparative Education Commons^™

Looking Within While Working Abroad: Experiences From An Ihp Trustees Fellow In The Field, Caitlyn Clark

Capstone Collection

International travel has the potential to be a life-changing and transformative experience. Those who travel, work, or study abroad are likely to learn about themselves and their place within the greater global community. Studying abroad, in particular, can foster this by introducing new experiences, creating opportunities for meaningful self-reflection, and encouraging the application of new ideas, whereby students develop a sense of agency and capacity for change. Study abroad practitioners have the responsibility to aid in this process of discovery, by supporting students’ emotional and physical well-being while encouraging them to embrace discomfort and disruptive experiences. For educators committed to …

A Comparative Approach To Non-Formal Education: The Power Of Sport For Female Youth, Meghan Mcmillan

Capstone Collection

Non-formal education plays a vital role in the lives of our female youth. From positive self-talk to team unity, the number of life skills that are promoted through value based curriculums are innumerous. Due to the growing popularity of such programming, it is important to understand the distinguishing characteristics of each organization. Therefore, this comparative study will analyze the power of sport as a form of non-formal education, and its impact on girls in India, Cameroon, and the United States. This will be accomplished through individual interviews that will attempt to answer the following question: What distinguishes non-formal education from …

Reich Scholar Program: A Scholarship And Leadership Training Program For International Students With Disabilities At Dartmouth College, Megan Murray

Capstone Collection

National level and international policy changes have emerged to promote educational opportunity for children with disabilities. A gap remains in US higher education in providing access and support for international students with disabilities. Areas of need for this student demographic include financial access, availability of assistive technology, specific socio-cultural advising to living in the US with a disability, comprehensive immigration advising and career support for entering the workforce with a disability. Staff support is generally siloed in colleges. International student services and disability or accessibility services often work in isolation. This capstone imagines the pilot year of a scholarship and …

Media, Borders, And Citizenship: Internationalization And Social Justice In An Undergraduate Communication Program At A Public University In New England, Kristi Mientka

Capstone Collection

Higher education in the U.S. is becoming increasingly internationalized, a process which is necessitated by the global economy and the increase in communication and mobility across borders. The process of internationalization has many effects on institutions, programs, faculty, and students. It also has many purposes, among them to improve students’ future employability and to foster understanding of social issues. The communication discipline, which encompasses a variety of studies ranging from media production to interpersonal communication, has seen the effects of internationalization. Those effects are evident in evolving curriculum and pedagogy that reflect the shifting dynamics of the media landscape and …

Meeting Their Needs: A Comprehensive Internationalization Analysis Of The University Of San Diego's Undergraduate Student Mobility Programs, Alana Franklin

Capstone Collection

This research seeks to identify the barriers that undergraduate students at the University of San Diego are encountering when deciding to study abroad. Existing published student data outcomes present an overall picture of the advantages and disadvantages of student mobility program types based on the undergraduate study abroad experience. Outcomes of faculty and administration interviews provide a richer perspective of student mobility and how it fits into the overall comprehensive internationalization picture of the institution.

The intention of this study is to focus on institutional internationalization solely at the student mobility level. Key findings from this research demonstrate that while …

What It Means To Be A Global Campus: A Case Study Of Internationalization On The University Of Washington Campus, Catherine Rock

Capstone Collection

The following paper presents an analysis of internationalization on the University of Washington (UW) campus. The UW attracts students from all over the world each year while also sending students abroad for a quarter or two. The goals and purpose of gaining an international education, however, are not clear. As a result, key stakeholders are often left out of conversations surrounding international education because of a lack of communication and no centralized purpose. These ideas led to a series of research questions including: Should the UW have an official statement on internationalization and international education? What is the current state …

A Well-Rounded Experience: Connecting The Home Campus To The Study Abroad Experience And The Study Abroad Experience To The Home Campus, Mary Aurora Grandinetti

Capstone Collection

Many small liberal arts colleges across the United States partner with third-party providers or foreign institutions to provide their students with an opportunity to study abroad. Denison University, a small liberal arts school in Ohio, traditionally sends 50% of its student body to study abroad before they graduate. Since students have the option to spend a semester or two participating in study abroad, it is important for the students to be well prepared, for the experience to be integrated into their overall Denison education and for the students to transition back to campus successfully. To determine how students were preparing …

International Education For Medical Students: An International Program Design In Publich Health, Elizabeth Anne Tyrie

Capstone Collection

Cultural Perspectives in Public Health: An International Education Program for Medical Students proposes a six-week international mobility course for medical students at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. The course design was inspired by a request from the UCSC medical student cohort to expand credit-bearing international program opportunities. The program will introduce participants to Kolb’s (1984) experiential learning cycle in an effort to provide students with a framework to use when evaluating common practices in the medical field. The course aims to increase academic collaboration between Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, an Italian based Higher Education Institution, and the Higher Education …

Program Design, Delivery, And Evaluation: Lpc Us Host Family Program, Gillian Wigton Bell

Capstone Collection

This capstone paper outlines the design, delivery, and evaluation processes of the 2017 LPC US Host Family Program, a short-term, pre-camp host family experience administered by the LPC Board, a US support group of Luethi-Peterson Camps, International. It seeks to evaluate the program effectiveness and to determine a set of recommendations for future organizers, based upon the results of evaluative surveys and literature review.

A full review of the research proposal was conducted by the SIT IRB, due to the sensitive nature of research participants below the age of 18. Once approved, online surveys were disseminated to participating campers, camper …

Applying Universal Design For Learning To Study Abroad Programs: A Best Practices Model For Education Abroad Professionals, Juanita Lillie

Capstone Collection

In 2015­­­­–2016, 8.8 percent of students with disabilities studied abroad, a significant increase from the academic year of 2014–2015 where 5.3 percent of students with disabilities studied abroad. Despite the small percentage, several organizations are working to increase access within international education. The initiative Generation Study Abroad aims to double the number of students who study abroad by 2020. Students and professionals are creating resources, offering scholarships, and more to increase student participation in study abroad. As a person with a disability, and a professional who works closely with universities and students around access, I designed a program on behalf …

Global Citizenship Certificate Program, Alison C. Meighan

Capstone Collection

In today’s highly globalized and increasingly interconnected world, we face many pressing world problems including poverty, social inequalities, and climate change, to name a few. Reflecting this stark reality and acknowledging that these problems are indeed borderless, it has become vital to rethink education and provide the next generation of worldwide change-makers with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to solve these problems and make our world more equitable and sustainable. One avenue for achieving this shift in education and fostering these global problem-solving skills and attitudes, is global citizenship. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon corroborates this point, stating, …

Student Perspectives On Proficiency-Based Learning In Vermont's High School Completion Program, Hayley J. Shriner

Capstone Collection

This Independent Practitioner Inquiry Capstone (IPIC) paper examines student perspectives on proficiency-based learning at an adult education center in Vermont. Through Vermont’s High School Completion Program (HSCP), adults can earn their high school diplomas through proficiency-based Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs). This qualitative study focuses on high school-aged students who received referrals to the program from area schools within the context of the current shift toward proficiency-based learning mandated by Vermont Act 77. The study draws on resources specific to Act 77, as well as literature on the nationwide trend toward personalized learning and proficiency-based learning. The researcher uses holistic student …

Mandating International Experience: A Policy Analysis Of The State University Of New York (Suny) At Geneseo Requirement For All International Relations Degree Seeking Students To Study Abroad, Leiah Heckathorn

Capstone Collection

The prioritization of international education is gaining momentum among higher education institutions. One specific testament to this fact is the steady growth in study abroad participation. As the overall percentage of students studying abroad for credit during their undergraduate career rises, policies are being created in a variety of contexts to promote international education experiences (Open Doors). Amidst these fledgling policies, a 22-year-old major-specific study abroad requirement has thrived and continues to evolve in today’s global state.

This capstone is an analysis of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo’s International Relations (IR) policy requiring all undergraduate degree …

Internationalizing Teacher Education: A Case Study Of A School Of Education, Florence Bromfield

Capstone Collection

Schools of Education across the US are some of the furthest behind in the race to internationalize departments across campuses in higher education. What does this mean for students in the K-12 classroom? The purpose of this case study is to explore the internationalization of teacher education within the context of a medium-sized state university in the South-East of the US. Working with the School of Education on this campus, qualitative interviews and surveys were administered to faculty and pre-service teachers to understand the extent of internationalization at the university, and the needs of the K-12 classroom. For this research, …

The Amandla Project, Alexander Stone

Capstone Collection

The Amandla Project is designed to increase the number of disabled American college students pursuing educational opportunities abroad. Incorporated as a nonprofit organization, the Amandla Project will cover all costs for accepted participants through fundraising activities, removing the financial barrier for participants. Participants will complete internships with organizations serving South Africans with disabilities, in roles that match their professional and academic goals. With educational excursions and learning activities to supplement internship experiences, the Amandla Project meets its mission while benefiting the host country and fostering leadership and advocacy skills within participants.

Advocating For In-Service Teacher Training In Mexico: English4mexico, Carrie Byrne

Capstone Collection

The lack of English language proficiency among Mexican public school students, due to a deficit of skilled English language teachers, can have a profound effect on a students’ university prospects, study abroad opportunities, and earning potential. With the current emphasis on student mobility between the US and Mexico being promoted by the complementary initiatives of the Department of State’s 100,000 Strong in the Americas, of which NAFSA: Association of International Educators (NAFSA) is a partner, and Mexico’s Proyecta 100,000, now is the perfect time to bring together the international education community to help address this injustice.

The English4Mexico …

Enlaces: Transformative Educational Policy For The Latin American And Caribbean Region, Kelcy B. Cox

Capstone Collection

This capstone paper explores ENLACES, the Latin American and Caribbean Meeting Space for Higher Education, or in Spanish, Espacio de Encuentro Latinamericano y Caribeño de Educación Superior (ENLACES). In the same fashion that the UNESCO-Bologna Accords gave rise to the European Higher Education Area, so, too, did the UNESCO-International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean give rise to ENLACES. ENLACES is an evolving, transformative education policy that promotes the region’s integration and internationalization of higher education through collaborative means. This paper explores the region’s educational environment during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries that led to the …

An Introductory Online Interactive Training To Disability Etiquette And Protocol To Promote Inclusion, David Murcko

Capstone Collection

Study abroad is a privilege and an opportunity of a lifetime that not many individuals take full advantage of. Many factors can contribute towards a student’s decision to not study abroad, including but not limited to: finances, academic coursework, family concerns, and not being able to graduate on time. A topic rarely discussed is disclosing medical information. While the amount of students studying abroad is increasing every year, a significant amount of underrepresented minorities desire to embark on that journey of study abroad as well. Unfortunately, advisers are not always well equipped with adequate knowledge of resources. Outdated terminology and …

International Service-Learning And Experiential Education: Reframing A Putney Student Travel Service-Learning Program In The Dominican Republic, Zufan Hagos

Capstone Collection

This paper presents the rationale for and design of a curricular framework for Putney Student Travel’s community service programs. The design is situated as a four-week service-learning program for high school students based in the Dominican Republic. With the exception of region-specific content, the curricular model will be transferable to any of Putney Student Travel’s 13 service-learning programs. Best practices in experiential education indicate that critical reflective thought is the key to harnessing the transformative capacity of international service-learning programs (Bringle, 2010; Whitney & Clayton, 2010). Following Kolb’s (2008) model for experiential learning and Baxter Magolda’s (1999) Model of Epistemological …

Defining And Analyzing Internationalization At The University Of Northern Iowa, Melvin E. Fatimehin

Capstone Collection

Over the last few decades, internationalization has become an important topic in higher education. More institutions are incorporating global learning into their mission and vision plans and increasing internationalization initiatives at their respective institutions. This capstone focuses on the internationalization efforts of the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), a large four-year public university in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The capstone analyzes internationalization at UNI using the American Council on Education’s (2012) Center for Internationalization and Global Engagement Model for Comprehensive Internationalization. This capstone highlights existing strengths and weakness of internationalization at the University of Northern Iowa and sheds light on the …

Diversifying The Curriculum: An Analysis Of Diversity Course Policies At The University Of California San Diego, Maria Lourdes Amparo

Capstone Collection

As U.S. higher education institutions and the larger society become increasingly global and racially and ethnically diverse, educational institutions are faced with the challenge of adapting their policies and academic curriculum to reflect and meet the demands of a changing environment. As part of a comprehensive plan to address campus climate issues at the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego), the UC San Diego Academic Senate revised the undergraduate graduation requirement in 2011 to include one course that focuses on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In addition to having a diverse student population, UC San Diego is ranked …

Law And Order: Lawsuit, Regulations And Implementation Of S.T.E.M. O.P.T. At The University Of Arkansas, Alexandra M. Wallace

Capstone Collection

In 2015, Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) reported that over 1,054,000 international students were studying in the United States in F-1 student status (SEVP, 2015). F-1 status comes with many regulations and benefits, such as Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows students with F-1 status to work after they complete a degree from an American higher education institution. Students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields are allowed an additional 24-months of OPT, called STEM OPT. While this is a benefit in many senses, it is accompanied by a lot of responsibility for the student, the university …

Learning By Osmosis Or Intervention? Preparing Faculty To Lead Short-Term Programs Abroad, Alexandra P. Nesbeda

Capstone Collection

This Course Linked Capstone (CLC) paper focuses on the rationale for and design of a publically accessible handbook for faculty teaching, or interested in teaching, undergraduate courses overseas through Babson’s Electives Abroad (BEA) program. BEAs, run out of the Glavin Office of Multicultural & International Education, are four-credit Advanced Liberal Arts and Advanced Elective Courses taught by Babson faculty that involve a one to three-week international travel component.

The goal of the handbook is three-fold: to enhance internal materials and codify unwritten policies and procedures; to address key gaps in the current development, management, and assessment of BEAs; and to …

Exploring Partnerships Between Embedded Providers And Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program Directors, Angelo D. Pisano

Capstone Collection

This research reveals the sentiments of faculty about the perceived support structures and barriers in place for them to develop new international education outbound student mobility programs on US campuses with third party providers embedded within the education abroad office. This increasingly attractive partnership model is unique in the field for the multitudinous collaboration that it employs. Data was collected through three separate surveys and a series of interviews. The sample totaled 26 faculty and over 330 students responding to the surveys and an additional fifteen faculty interviewees, the research suggests establishing some tools and venues for faculty and international …

Are They Matching Up? An Analysis Of Study Abroad Outcomes And The Vocational Needs Of A Southern Appalachian Area, Brynn A. Smith

Capstone Collection

With an increased amount of people seeking higher education, it has become vital to connect education to career in American colleges and universities. To better understand the value of education abroad, international educators must make this connection clear. This research examines student outcomes from Maryville College’s (MC) study abroad programs and compares them with human resource needs, with special attention given to the local job market in the surrounding area. A case study approach was used to gather data from MC study abroad returnees, local HR professionals, and national sources to understand where student outcomes are or are not lining …

Internationalization In American Legal Education: A Short-Term Embedded Study Abroad Program For University Of Connecticut Law Students, Yana Kraychinskaya

Capstone Collection

It has been noted by many legal education professionals that, although legal education in the U.S. is good at development of analytical skills through its case system, it still lags behind in the development of professional integrity and ethical values. Due to an increase in globalization in most areas of American life, even if students do not choose to work in international companies and organizations, their work will require communicating in an intercultural setting. It is no longer enough for law school graduates to just be able to solve problems effectively. They need to be effective at communicating with people …

Explore Ecuador: A Road Scholar Intergenerational Program Proposal, Sarah Hilton

Capstone Collection

The world is aging! Older Americans make up the fastest growing segment of the population. The aging population is rapidly increasing and according to the U.S. Census, the U.S. population age 65 and over is expected to double in size within the next 25 years. By 2030, almost 1-out-of-5 Americans, some 72 million people will be age 65 or older (U.S. Census, 2006). The growth in this population will ultimately cause a greater gap between generation at the opposite end of the human lifespan, the young and old. This capstone introduces a new Road Scholar Intergenerational program that addresses this …

The Current State Of Access To Basic Education For Syrian Refugee Children Living In The Za’Atari Camp, Theresa L. Frey

Capstone Collection

Using Rodman’s (2006) International Education Analytical Inquiry Matrix as a theoretical framework, the purpose of this study is to examine the current state of access to basic primary education for Syrian Refugee Children Living in the Za’atari camp. Within the scope of this study, access is examined in three parts, including:

(1) Who is accessing education within Za’atari and who is not?

(2) How are certain groups accessing education?

(3) What is the learning environment of Za’atari?

In addition to addressing existing issues of access to basic education in Za’atari, this study examines efforts made towards increasing access. By examining …

Reflect & Connect- Helping Students Make The Most Of Their Study Abroad Experience, Rachael L. Dean

Capstone Collection

In our world of internationalization and global networking, students that study abroad have a definite advantage when transitioning into the professional world after graduating college. However, when asked, many have a difficult time articulating and marketing their international experience. When transitioning back to the United States and campus culture, students also go through varying degrees of reverse culture shock. They want to talk about their experience and share their newfound love of another culture, however many run into disinterested friends and glossy eyes.

The Education Abroad office at Central Palm International University is looking to expand their outreach and commitment …

Student Participation In Coil Programs And Its Impact On Study Abroad Enrollment, Ashley E. Reed

Capstone Collection

This capstone paper delves into and exposes the impact of participating in the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) program has on students’ decision to study abroad. Focusing on State University of New York (SUNY) institutions, a survey was administered to 25 students who participated in a course which employed COIL principles or pedagogy in its design with the primary intent of discovering: 1) the demographics of who enrolled in the COIL courses, 2) why they enrolled, and 3) if their experience had any impact on their interest to study abroad. The survey employed methods which were largely quantitative in nature, …