Newsletter Programme Internationalisation of Education
Destination:
WORLD
Winter 2016
Global Citizens
Preface
In this newsletter:
Reflections by Ellen Hey
Introduction: projects of the Strategic Programme
Internationalisation of education at the EUR entails creating an environment in which our students are enabled to develop into global citizens, who will make a difference. Also if as graduates they chose to work and live in Rotterdam, for globalisation is occurring at our doorstep. This aim requires integrating the EUR into the global knowledge and learning network both to benefit from it and, importantly, to contribute to it. Internationalising education at EUR involves everyone that matters and everyone matters. Everyone at EUR thus is involved and all face steep learning curves. I provide a few examples. For our secretarial staff internationalisation means attaining proficiency in English. For Managers of facilities it means engaging with what the market demands. For academic staff it means attaining proficiency in engaging with and building on the wealth of cultural diversity that we encounter in our classroom. For the Members of the Executive Board and Deans it means exercising their discretionary authority in a manner that will enable the EUR to meet its internationalisation aims. All of us need to get out of our comfort zone and to engage with the ever more dynamic environment in which we work. I suggest that this environment already today constitutes the daily life of many of our students and will constitute the working environment of all our graduates. You might by now be asking yourself: What does this lead to practice? Amongst others, an internationalised curriculum, In in this newsletter: with faculties amending the learning goals of their educational programs to meet internationalisation and inter-cultural learning objectives. Changes in our curriculum so that EUR students have the prospect of spending time abroad. A vibrant international summer school starting in the summer of 2016, to be expanded in the years to come. A course on teaching in the international classroom in the make, with a pilot to be implemented in the spring of 2016. Deciding to develop between 3 and 5 high-end interdisciplinary master programs on global themes such as the challenges posed by migration, big data and health, wealth, urbanization and ports. Deciding to engage in the development of a network of preferred and trusted international partner universities with which we, amongst other things, exchange students and staff, share best practices and apply for funding for our educational and research programs. And, in support of the above, establishing facilities to attract funding at EU and international levels, recruit internationally and better service international students and staff. iven that that this is an internal newsletter, you might be G wondering: ‘what does this have to do with me?’. I respectfully suggest, this is the wrong question to ask. Instead I suggest that you ask, ‘what difference can I make in furthering the internationalisation of education at the EUR?’. And if you find that you are in doubt, have ideas or plans that you have been wanting to execute, join us at the Global Education Cafes attended by the members of the Executive Board, Deans, academic and support staff – in short the EUR community.
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Destination: WORLD magazine
Internationalisation of Education
The international classroom: positive impact on Dutch students
You can also share your thoughts with the members of the Advisory Board on the Internationalisation of Education (ACIE), listed below. ACIE is composed of both academic and support staff and its members liaise with their faculties, institutes and facilities. ACIE provides the members of the Executive Board and the Steering Committee (for members see below) with advice on the internationalisation of education.
Travel to learn: encourage our students to benefit from exchange
My call for participation does not stop here. I also call on EUR external partners be they involved the public or private sector to join the EUR in its endeavors to further internationalise education. The City, Harbor and the Business Community in Rotterdam are particularly important partners in this respect, both because they can contribute to and stand to benefit from our efforts.
Enabling our students to
Given the above, you may be wondering why I authored this column. I wrote it as Advisor on the Internationalisation of Education to the Executive Board of the EUR. I also work as Professor of Public International Law and Head of the Department of International and European Union Law at the Erasmus School of Law. I am equally passionate about teaching and research, and especially their interconnection. I confess to a cosmopolitan background, having been brought up in the Netherlands, Egypt and Venezuela and having lived and worked in various countries thereafter, which is probably why I am passionate about the internationalisation of education.
become global citizens who make a difference
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Colophon I hope to be inspired by your ideas about the internationalisation of education (hey@law.eur.nl) and look forward to meeting you at the Global Education Café: the next Café is scheduled for the 10th of March in the Erasmus Paviljoen at 3.30 PM. Ellen Hey Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
Destination: World is a quarterly newsletter of the EUR Strategic Programme Internationalisation of Education. Editor Carien van der Wal Text editing Arjan Degelink, Tekstschrijvers.nl
Photography Sanne van der Most Contributors Gwen de Bruin, Adri Meijdam, Marjo Gallé, Lily Jiang, Melissa de Jonge, Annabel van Gestel, Dirkje Schinkelshoek, Mijke Zeegers, Ellen Hey
Published by Academic Affairs/ Internationalisation program Designed by Ontwerpwerk www.eur.nl/internationalisation
Destination: WORLD magazine
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The people behind the programme Standing from left to right: Mijke Zeegers (Development and International Funding, Rotterdam Summerschool), Trika Harms zum Spreckel (Student Recruitment), Marjo Gallé (Programme Management, Networks), Jesse Schreuders (Student Recruitment) and Gwen de Bruin (Programme Management, EUR Master Portfolio). Sitting from left to right: Carien van der Wal (Communication), Adri Meijdam (Internationalisation Curriculum), Emma Hamilton (Internationalisation Curriculum) and Dirkje Schinkelshoek (Facilities, Services & Hospitality). Not in picture: Ellen Hey (Advisor to the Executive Board), Godelieve van Heteren (Networks).
The Strategic Programme Internationalisation of Education The Erasmus University Rotterdam has a strategic programme in place with the aim to integrate the institution and its key stakeholders – its students, faculty and staff – into a globalising world. A wide range of subjects have been identified in which projects will be developed that will contribute to the Internationalisation of Education at the EUR. There are currently seven projects: • International Student Recruitment • Internationalisation of Curriculum • Rotterdam Summer School • Strategic networks and academic partnerships • Facilities, Services and Hospitality • Project Development and International Funding • International Master Portfolio International Student Recruitment Trika Harms zum Spreckel (project manager) and Jesse Schreuders (project secretary) This project addresses various steps in the international recruiting marketing funnel, the path a student follows when choosing and enrolling in an educational programme. The project aims to support and complement work being done in the faculties via three initiatives. First, a three-year awareness and lead development effort in four (to be decided) countries, where marketing will be customized to the interests and needs of students in each country. The intention is to increase the success of existing faculty recruiting efforts and to bring other programmes to the market. Second, the EUR Online Experience will be an interactive, virtual tour that lets prospects follow a student to class, home, and through Rotterdam; or view our facilities by faculty, for example. The third initiative aims to increase the percentage of international prospects who convert from ‘accepted applicant’ to ‘enrolled student.’ For faculties who choose to participate, we will help train and tool current students to make personal contact with these prospects.
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Destination: WORLD magazine
Internationalisation of Curriculum Adri Meijdam (project manager) and Emma Hamilton (project secretary) Strengthening the international dimension of education at Erasmus University is the goal of this project. It aims at three aspects of internationalisation of the curriculum: One, putting in place well-defined and realistic ‘Intended International and Intercultural Learning Outcomes’ in all preexperience programmes offered at EUR. This will lead to a better visibility of what EUR does on offering international /multicultural classrooms, with effective communication within a heterogeneous student group. Second: Attention will be given to essential curriculum adjustments (mobility window), financial support, expanding exchange networks, and increasing our provision of courses in English, to enable at least 15% of our Dutch students to travel abroad for an exchange. Thirdly. Having teachers follow the newly developed teacher training course ‘Teaching in the International Classroom’, will help us achieve our ambitions to offer a truly international classroom to professionally prepare our students as world citizens (please email if you are interested in this training course). Rotterdam Summer School Ad Hofstede and Mijke Zeegers (project manager) Our aim is to bundle existing activities in EUR summer schools and bring them, in terms of support, under a single organisation: the Rotterdam Summer School and to support the development of new summer courses. The Rotterdam Summer School will house innovative international educational programme components. The courses will attract international students who may wish to continue their education as a EUR Master or PhD student. Other higher education institutions in Rotterdam are also involved in the RSS, e.g. Codarts and the Willem De Kooning Academy, and will contribute to the range of summer courses. The project will relieve the academic staff of the burden of administration, payment, housing and social programme, and let them focus on the content of the courses. More information on: rotterdamsummerschool.com
Strategic networks and academic partnerships Marjo Gallé (project manager) and Godelieve van Heteren (advisor project Strategic Network) At present, the EUR as such is not a member of any of the traditional major international university networks. Being part of an international network will help to strengthen the university’s international reputation and profile, will create new options for cooperation in education and research and will improves the chances of success when tendering for international projects. The project will, among others, facilitate a working conference with prospective partner universities and cross-sector knowledge partners in September 2016. Once the network has been founded, specific joint research, education, and knowledge transfer related activities can be identified. Via a distinctive and creative process coming February, March and April 2016 the academic community and educational stakeholders will define the core themes and framework of this network. Facilities, Services and Hospitality Dirkje Schinkelshoek (project manager) and Gwen de Bruin (project secretary) This project aims to improve the current provision of facilities, services and hospitality to international students, staff and stakeholders at the EUR on a number of subjects. For instance, creating a centralised online hub for information concerning the needs of (prospective) international students and staff, and creating a centralised online hub for information concerning the needs of Dutch students who want to go abroad. Another example is improving the system of Buddy Programmes within the faculties. This will help the international student become familiar with, and adapt more easily to, the new university environment and to the Dutch culture and way of life. The project will improve the conditions for international students to learn Dutch, to earn money, and to make use of careers services during their studies at the EUR.
Project Development and International Funding Mijke Zeegers (project manager) The aim of this project is to support the faculties with the development of new educational projects with international partners. These can be minors, new Master programmes, or other international cooperations. These developments may be funded by the Erasmus+ programme, the EU programme for education, training, youth and sport . An external consultant will help to identify eligible projects and opportunities, and review all applications in order to submit the best proposal. Before and after submission, the project manager can advise and provide expertise in the development of these international cooperations. So, if you like your international colleagues and think that, together, you could set up an attractive programme for students, contact Mijke Zeegers.
General approaches Community of Practice: people with expert knowledge and experience in a specific field share their knowledge and experience with stakeholders in the organisation, by joining forces on projects. Global Education Café: a meeting place for all that is happening within the Internationalisation of Education programme, taking place quarterly. Here we present updates on the progress of various projects, informally share EUR ‘good practices’ in internationalisation, and involve and inform others than only those directly involved in projects.
Destination: WORLD magazine
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Internationalisation of Curriculum At the Erasmus University of Rotterdam, internationalisation of education entails creating an environment in which our students are facilitated to become global citizens; students who will make a difference. The programme consists of several projects stimulating internationalisation for EUR based students and as well as (EUR-based) staff. ‘Showcasing our projects’ gives an overview of the now running projects, with a special feature for the ‘international classroom’. “I can easily imagine that in 2020 Erasmus University Rotterdam is the international hotspot for higher education in Europe. Potentially, we have everything that is needed to achieve this: a highly international and diverse student population due to the large number of Englishlanguage programmes we offer, attractive programmes catering for substantial needs in relevant areas, and a superb location – in Rotterdam, the most international city of the Netherlands, being the top-located country in Europe. Honestly, I cannot imagine a university that could do better than we do; not in the Netherlands, neither in the UK, nor in continental Europe. It would even imply penetrating the Americas; I will come back to this later.” Adri Meijdam combines his heavy workload as Executive director of the RSM IBA programme with being one of the key players in internationalisation: project manager of ‘Internationalisation of the Curriculum’. The project actually comprises three subprojects: • international and intercultural learning outcomes; • international exchange • teacher training ‘teaching in the international classroom’ • The three projects all relate to the concept of the international classroom. “I more than happily accepted the position of project manager because at the RSM, and especially at the IBA, we have such a huge experience in working with the international classroom, that I feel obliged to share our best practices. If I have to explain the importance of internationalisation to my colleagues within the various faculties, I say that there is a need for the students to gain intercultural and international competencies in order to become global citizens who can work with anyone, anywhere in the world. The IBA programme has been running since 2000 and, right from the start, we selected the students in order to create an internationally diverse student group. It was always a 50/50 situation: 50% Dutch students and 50% international students. We are now striving to lower the Dutch percentage to 40% as we believe that a dominant nationality can cause friction within the international classroom. Having an international classroom has a huge and positive impact on Dutch students.
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Destination: WORLD magazine
Learning outcomes The goal of our sub-project on international and intercultural learning outcomes is to extend the existing learning outcomes with intercultural and international learning outcomes. Some of the schools are already working with these outcomes, but how they have defined these in their curricula. So when I visit these schools, we talk about what’s already being done and how we can better describe this. An obvious learning outcome is that students should be able to productively work in internationally diverse groups. Exchange Another goal is to have more students going on exchange programmes. Why? Until recently it was considered an asset if a student had been on exchange. Currently it is considered a disadvantage or even a shortcoming if a student has not gone on exchange, as employers preferably recruit students possessing skills that you typically acquire on exchange – like initiative and persistence, but also flexibility and tolerance. We set a modest goal of 15%, but we hope we can make students more aware of how important it is and how much it enriches their lives. We will pay special attention to Dutch students, as we see that the international ones only need a little push to move again. Teacher training The concept of the international classroom also requires a lot from our teachers. This is why we will launch a brand-new training course for them in spring 2016, in which they will be able to (further) develop the relevant skills to be successful in the international classroom. Of course, our staff need to be fluent in English, but they also need to develop a sensitivity towards different cultures, understand and respect different cultures, and avoid making mistakes in this regard. Students from different countries react in a different way. Some cultures might not like the absence of hierarchy, some cultures are used to negotiate for everything, even higher grades. Teachers have to keep this in mind and deal with it. I am often asked: is it difficult to work with international students? My answer is: it is not that difficult, although you need to be aware of a couple of things, but it is more laborious obviously and sometimes a challenge. But it is also very rewarding. International students are eager and competitive – they made a deliberate decision to come to us. Teachers must expect their involvement in the curriculum, they often have a very critical attitude, and, in general, you can count on the fact that they come to class well-prepared. In the slipstream they inspire their Dutch peers.
The future: what I see In 2018 we have extended our learning outcomes with intercultural and international learning outcomes. Students are in classrooms with multiple cultures. They mix together, they work together, and learn and respect each other’s cultural habits. This is also true for our teachers. Within Europe, Erasmus University is the international hub because we are situated in a city where over 100 different nationalities live together, we have a campus with more than 40% of international students, and we offer attractive fees. To attract more international students, we rely on our large number of international students, who have been attracted to our university thanks to our reputation and ranking. I expect that in 2018 there will still be studies in Dutch like Medicine and Dutch Law, either because it is functional or it is required by law. But the remainder of the programmes will become more international over time. And it will be worth striving for, because it will also bring out the best in the Dutch students. However, we do need and wish for more students from the United States, as they are underrepresented in many programmes. With the US being the leading world power, it is pivotal for our students to meet them in class. This is very hard to achieve because internationalisation to US students primarily means learning a different language. So if they go, they go to Spain, Italy, Germany or France. But the truly international experience is at Erasmus, where most of the teaching is in English, thus making things easy. My dream is to open up a franchise of EUR, in an American city like St.Louis– Missouri (big, push factors), where American students do a foundation year to bridge the gap between the US High School system and the European system, before they come to Erasmus University.”
Training course The newly developed teacher training course ‘Teaching in the International Classroom’, will help us achieve our ambitions to offer a truly international class room to proffesionally prepare our students as world citizens. Please email if you are interested in this training course. Project Team Adri Meijdam, project manager Tel: 408 2203 Room: T5-004 E-mail: ameijdam@rsm.nl Emma Hamilton, project secretary Tel: 408 2271 Room: AT-17 E-mail: hamilton@eshcc.eur.nl
Destination: WORLD magazine
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Incoming & outgoing One of the goals of the Programme Internationalisation of Education is to have more students going on exchange. Why? If you want to be a true global citizen and work all around the world in various settings, then be aware that employers preferably recruit students possessing skills that you typically acquire on exchange – like initiative and persistence, but also flexibility and tolerance. Read the columns written by Jan and Lily about how important it is and how much it has enriched their lives.
Jan Radermacher IBEB & Econometrics ‘¿Por qué Uruguay?’ This was probably the shortest and most common question I was asked during the last semester. Fellow students and locals in Montevideo were curious why I had elected their tiny country for spending my exchange period. My answer was always simple: ‘¿Por qué no?’ But since I usually did not get away with just that I had to elaborate a bit: learning Spanish, living in a different culture, dancing to South American vibes, and above all finding some tranquility after three busy years of studying in Rotterdam – all of these things had brought me to Uruguay (beautiful beaches and tasty steaks had their share, too, of course!). Looking back I am very glad about my choice. Spending a semester in Uruguay enabled me not only to experience the student life at a South American university, I could also follow courses to broaden my academic profile a bit (a course in database design or human rights only rarely appears in a Dutch econometrics curriculum), and finally found some time to reflect on the past years of my life as a student.
Lily Jiang Global Business and Digital Arts at the University of Waterloo Currently in exchange in Rotterdam, Erasmus University As the old adage goes: “One must travel to learn.” What, then, could be a better way for students to grow than by studying abroad? This was one of the many reasons for my exchange. As a Global Business and Digital Arts student hailing from Canada, I wanted to grow academically, to take inspiration from a different environment, explore foreign concepts, and develop a better understanding of new cultures. And as a young adult, I chose to go on an exchange to grow on a spiritual level, to discover myself and the world from a new perspective. It’s been four months since I embarked on this adventure and - as cheesy as it sounds - it was a life-changing experience, and learning was just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve developed a love for stroopwafels and Dutch design, and I’ve mastered the art of cycling through every weather. I’ve met amazing people from around the world and these 200 words aren’t enough to do the experience justice. Students: don’t hesitate to apply for an exchange. The world is too vast and full of knowledge and delights to keep staring out of the same window. I’ll see you in another country!
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Destination: WORLD magazine
Destination: WORLD magazine
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EUR Students selected for Clinton Global Initiative Building on the successful model of the Clinton Global Initiative which brings together world leaders to take action on global challenges, in 2007 President Clinton launched the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U). CGI U is a growing community of young leaders who don’t just discuss global challenges. They take real, concrete steps toward solving them. Students develop their own Commitments to Action: new, specific, and measurable initiatives that address pressing challenges on campus, in local communities, or around the world. Commitments range from manufacturing wheelchairs for developing countries to establishing campus bike-share programmes; from creating free vision clinics to developing e-learning applications for mobile phones.
The prospective EUR Commitment Makers attended the ‘ECE Get Started Programme’, a ten week programme that aims to empower ambitious, first-time start-ups. There were two on-campus rounds where, first, students had to submit a proposal of their social idea. After a selection process, the second round included a workshop and a pitching session for the jury. Of the thirty applications, six teams were invited to submit their proposal to the CGI U.
The selected students: Xander Kanon (project Waste-d Jobs), Elias Kock, Lilith van der Hulst, Tonie van der Giessen (project OrganoBike) and Kata Keresztesi and Ania Piotrowicz (project Healthy Munchies).
Of these six projects three projects (six students) were selected by the Clinton organisation. They will attend the CGI meeting in April at the University of California, Berkeley.
This year Erasmus University will participate as the first Dutch university, and one of the first European universities. The Erasmus Sustainability Hub and Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship (ECE) prepared the EUR contribution.
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Destination: WORLD magazine
Destination: WORLD magazine
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Start of EUR Master Portfolio Project
EUR at EAIE and
2016-2018
NAFSA 2016
Innovative and International Master Portfolio: new possibilities for EUR funding. The 10th of March 2016 at the Global Education Café, the project International Master Portfolio officially start presenting new possibilities for EUR funding and a workshop on Tips & Tricks for the development of international masters. Important dates:
The EUR will participate in the Study in Holland booth at the 2016 NAFSA and EAIE. Closer to the dates, we will organise a pre-event kick-off to better coordinate the activities between Erasmus University attendees. See the event calendar for dates. Know someone planning to attend either event, or the APAIE in Melbourne? Let us know.
• Third week of April 2016: Deadline submitting proposals, first call • Mid June 2016: publication of winning proposal(s) first call • Mid November 2016: deadline submitting second call of proposals, first round • Mid December 2016: publication second call, first round selection • First week of February 2017: Deadline submitting proposals second round, second call • Second week of March 2017: publication final selection second call, second round More information on for instance deadlines and criteria for submitting proposals, can be found from February onwards here.
Global Education Café On 10 March 2016 the second Global Education Café, will take place in the Erasmus Pavilion (15.30 – 17.30). This second Global Education Café will have a specific focus on Master Programmes. Themes to be discussed and presented by EUR colleagues at the roundtables will include ‘Innovative and International Master Portfolio: new possibilities for EUR funding and tips &tricks for development of international masters’, ‘Internationalising your Master curriculum with international and intercultural learning outcomes’, and ‘Exchange during the Master Programme’. This event is for everyone who would like to be inspired, gain knowledge and experience, and learn about the most recent updates in Internationalisation at EUR. It will also give you the opportunity to meet colleagues with similar interests and share expertise on specific international education aspects. Registration forms will be sent on a short term. We look forward to welcoming you on the 10th of March 2016!
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Destination: WORLD magazine
APAIE Conference Feb 29 / March 3 Melbourne, Australia NAFSA, May 29 - June 3, Denver Colorado, US