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Professional Development for Education Abroad

Throughout the academic year, the Office for Education Abroad hosts a workshop series for current and aspiring EA program directors, as well as others interested in learning about education abroad, titled Building an Education Abroad Community of Practice. These workshops are in addition to the mandatory Critical Incident Management Seminars and other health, safety, and security related workshops offered by the Office of International Health and Safety. As other kinds of EA related learning opportunities come up, they will also be posted here.


Spring 2021

Spring 2021

So You’re Interested in Developing an Education Abroad Program

Date: Thursday, January 28
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Location: Online (Zoom)

Description: This session is intended for faculty interested in exploring what is involved in developing and leading a study abroad program at MSU. The presenters will focus on providing basic framing information, introduce available resources, and share their experiences as program leaders. Topics will include academic, co-curricular, and extra-curricular learning; program design; and planning and logistics. In addition, participants will receive an overview of the formal steps involved in program development from concept to implementation. Bring your ideas and come ready to brainstorm with colleagues!

Presenters:

  • Inge Steglitz, Ph.D., Associate Director, Office for Education Abroad
  • Laura L. Symonds, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Undergraduate Director, Neuroscience Program
  • Ayalla A. Ruvio, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Marketing, Broad College of Business

Helping Students Finance Education Abroad

Date: Friday, February 12
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Location: Online (Zoom)

Description: Join us on Friday, February 12th from 12 noon – 1:00 PM to learn about financial support available to Education Abroad students. We will provide an overview of scholarships, financial aid and some external funding opportunities. We will also discuss some of the financial impacts that COVID-19 has had on our students and programs and how Education Abroad is addressing these potential barriers in innovative ways. The information shared in this webinar will be of specific interest to program directors, academic advisers, and anyone who works with students to make their education abroad dreams a reality.

Presenters:

  • Lynn Aguado, Program Coordinator, Office for Education Abroad
  • Kelsey Pink, Business Office Manager, Office for Education Abroad
  • Elizabeth Wandschneider, Senior Assistant Director, Office for Education Abroad

Fall 2020

Fall 2020

Foundations and Tools to Develop Global Citizens

Date: Wednesday, October 7
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Location: Online (Zoom)

Panelists:

  • Laura Symonds, Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Director Neuroscience Undergraduate Program
  • Marcie Cowley, Assistant Professor, Center for Integrative Studies in Social Science
  • Lynn Aguado, Education Abroad Program Coordinator 
  • Max Chappuis, Education Abroad Program Coordinator

Description: Panelists will discuss what intercultural learning means and provide tools for how to develop intercultural learning among education abroad students.


EA Webinar: New Program Director Orientation

Date: Wednesday, November 4
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Location: Online (Zoom)

Panelists:

  • Inge Steglitz, Associate Director, Office for Education Abroad 
  • Elizabeth Wandschneider, Senior Assistant Director, Office for Education Abroad
  • Maureen Handrahan, Senior Coordinator, Office of International Health and Safety

Inclusive Pedagogy for Faculty-Directed Education Abroad Programs

Date: Thursday, November 19
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Location: Online (Zoom)

Panelist: Opal Leeman Bartzis, Executive Director, MSU Office for Education Abroad

Description: Inclusive pedagogy intentionally makes space for and seeks out diverse perspectives, one of the core principles of education abroad done well. It encourages a diverse range of student participation. It strengthens the quality of the course and the education abroad program for everyone. Current discussions of inclusive pedagogy are informed by the efforts of forward thinking centers of teaching and learning centers such as Georgetown University's, which frames inclusive pedagogy as a combination of course content, teaching methods, assessment, climate, and power, and is grounded in the work of Bass, Baxter Magolda, Bennett, hooks, and Tatum, among others.

In this webinar, we will discuss key concepts of inclusive pedagogy, including sense of belonging, disruption of the canons of our academic disciplines, the perils of “native informants” (hooks), diffusing tense classroom discussions, and co-creation of resource lists. We will also explore ways to apply tenets of inclusive pedagogy to education abroad settings.


Incorporating the UN Sustainable Development Goals into Education Abroad Programming

Date: Thursday, December 10
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Location: Online (Zoom)

Panelists:

  • Opal Leeman Bartzis, Executive Director, MSU Office for Education Abroad
  • Amy Butler, Director of Sustainability, MSU

Description: The UN Sustainable Development Goals (“SDGs”) address global challenges beyond typical notions of sustainability, including poverty, gender inequality, environmental degradation, peace and justice. This workshop will examine institutional initiatives related to these broader sustainability issues and will consider the value of incorporating the SDGs into MSU education abroad programming. As a framework for program development, the SDGs offer meaningful opportunities for institutions to cultivate partnerships based on shared goals and faculty to implement curricular and co-curricular components that strengthen students’ understanding of global challenges.

Sample workshop calendar

Sample workshop calendar

The following is a typical line-up for the academic year:

September

  • New Program Director Orientation
  • EA Program Budget Basics

October

  • One or two thematic workshops based on program director interest and current trends in International Education generally and Education Abroad specifically. Past examples include: Education Abroad for Students with Disabilities; Pre-departure Orientation Design; Global Community-Engaged Learning; Academic Ethics Across Cultures; Intercultural Learning; Incorporating the UN Sustainable Development Goals into Education Abroad Programming; EA Pedagogy; etc.

November

  • Annual Learning Abroad Conference (featuring returned EA participants sharing their learning abroad experiences)

January

  • So You're Interested in Developing an EA Program…

February, March, April

  • One or two thematic workshops per month based on program director interest and current trends in International Education generally and Education Abroad specifically. For past examples, see October.
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