The new concept of internationalization sounds electrifying. All the reasons , potential benefits and anticipated outcomes given to support internationalization sound very exciting. I am particularly excited with the idea that internationalization fosters understanding and appreciation of different cultures, religions, histories and governments are less likely to engage in conflict and more like to develop a greater understanding of each other. One potential benefit is heightened national and global security. In short, this benefit intertwines with the concept of diversity. Taken from a Christian perspective, it helps us to embrace a common worldview and makes me think of unity written in John 17 where Jesus invites to become one with Him and the Holy Spirit and the Father. It also reminds me of the golden rule: love your neighbor as you love yourself. Who is my neighbor? He or she can be the person next to me or the farthest person as long as we can connect and interact with the gift of technology.
On the other hand, I am thinking from an educational perspective how internationalization may impact students GPA and capacity to remain on top of their studies. With a uniform curriculum, if they can really reach this goal, how are they going to place every student on the same page? The European educational system is different from the American’s. It took me a long time to compare and understand them. Adapting to them took me even longer because the whole systems are different. How student evaluations will be done to ensure that every student received the same instructions? I believe that satisfying these needs will represent quite a challenge for internationalization.
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I too am excited about internationalization because it will create that atmosphere where no one will be embarrassed of their cultures or historical backgrounds, but instead will be more appreciative of each other more liberated to enjoy the richness that each one brings.
ReplyDeleteInternationalization is a welcoming concept because it potential benefits.Apart from heightened national and global security, economic gains and enhanced foreign policy that were mentioned,it also helps to widen students acquaintance.
ReplyDeleteWe are in a world in which the chances of survival and success is blighter if one is well connected. Travelling to study abroad gives students the opportunity to meet and associate with different people.
When I came to the USA, I found that there are many students from around the world. What was interesting is who the school will work with them, then I started to realize the kind of the programs and the help that the school offer for them such as ESL class. also, there is a book that focus in diversity in the school and college and the kinds of supports
ReplyDeleteI would like, this week, to reflect on how to respond to campus crisis. Responding to campus crisis is a new topic for me. After reading the list of crises in the book from tragic deaths of students to terrorism attacks, I felt overwhelmed.
ReplyDeleteHow do we deal with such a scary issue as administrators? Imagine all these crises occur in one day? “It requires special skills in handling this immediacy of the issues.” (p 603) Dealing with crisis takes on a different meaning according to the discipline. Benjin and Morin define crisis as “a flexible process for a college or university to assume when responding to a crisis.” Though institutions have plans, policies and procedures, there are times that they are helpless facing certain unpredicted situations.
Les us be real here. How much prepared are schools? How well prepared are the staff? Are the staff with the required skills always present when certain circumstances occur? I remember how I started working with refugees, transitioning from social services to refugee resettlement with no trainings or knowledge in the subject. I also remember how I barely survived resettling 100 refugees with the Kosovo war almost singlehandedly. Everyone in the department was either on vacation or sick or retired. The war happened in their absence. I was alone in the department. I had to face all the crises almost alone and making significant decisions solely based on common sense. I must admit that without God’s help I would have lost my sanity.
We must be prepared as administrators. That is a fact. We need to develop plans, practice in preparation, and establish policies and procedures. But we must be open to any eventuality that the inevitable could occur at any time and we can never be prepared enough to face it. How prepared was the country for the 09/11/01 tragedy despite our security systems? We must realize and accept that we can only be prepared in Jesus. He foresees all the crises and can make provisions for us. In the mist of the storms, the Bible reports that He simply says: “Be quiet” to the storms and they obeyed Him. The Bible says that He speaks and things happen. He orders, they occur. As administrators, we need to learn, besides our package plan for crisis, to completely rely on Jesus Christ, our only true crisis solver.
I am glad that you lean on the Bible to develop your unity theory. It is evident that diversity into unity is an utopia outside the spiritual world. I am constrained to say that internationalization will remain a dream.
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