EU/CANADA conferences

Transatlantic Education and Training Conference

Münster, Germany
December 9-11, 2001

Notes on Roundtable Discussions from Wrap-up Session 12/11/01

The Value of Internships and Work Placements, and the Challenges of their Implementation

Recruiting Students and Preparing Them Culturally and Linguistically

  1. Start early to announce program.
  2. Coordinate with campus office of international study, registrar, housing office, visa office, and student advisors.
  3. Take advantage of international program advertising and promotion efforts.
  4. Disseminate information about the program by placing it in course catalogue, school newspaper, brochures, and on the web. Don't exaggerate about the program; also include challenges.
  5. Target your audience (language majors, double majors) and state advantages (e.g., put on resumé, get a better job, etc.)
  6. Interview candidates.
  7. Arrange intensive language/culture courses (4-6 weeks in host country is optimal)
  8. Produce handbook for students with information on how to make phone calls, the currency, financial matters, banking, etc.
  9. Orientation session very important; develop an intranet for all students and faculty involved in program.
  10. Invest lots of time with students in the beginning.

Negotiating Administrative Agreements: the Key to Stable and Effective Partnerships

Developing International Curricula, the Core of Innovative Cooperation

  1. Before developing, figure out what makes it international; idea of student/faculty mobility is integral.
  2. Resolve core courses vs. diversity issue.
  3. Internet-based courses can't replace face-to-face instruction.
  4. Use problem-based learning approach.
  5. Consider language up front in developing curriculum.
  6. Start to consider sustainability in first year.

Developing Effective Project Evaluation Plans

  1. Develop student questionnaire.
  2. Principles: Evaluation is an evolving process; methods change in response to changes in goals/ conditions of project.
    Use a variety of approaches to collect and disseminate data to diverse audiences.
    Use results to improve programs and policies.
    Incorporate research from a variety of fields.
    Evaluate all levels of system.
    Document changes.

Towards Transparency and Flexibility: Credit Transfer and the Use of the European Transfer System

Welcome to Cyberspace: the Use of ICT in Transatlantic Projects

  1. What does computer-based teaching contribute? Whether it's useful depends on content; it should solve real-life problems.
  2. Distance learning is important part of international projects.
  3. ICT helps connect students to students.
  4. Web-based courses need to be offered for credit.
  5. Downside is high cost to develop modules.

Ever Closer Ties: Recommendations for the Further Development of Transatlantic Cooperation in Higher Education and Training
Notes from Wrap-up Session 12/11/01

Broad principles:

  1. Student exchanges (physical mobility) are labor intensive and expensive; need to add value with internships and work placements.
  2. Cyber mobility takes less effort but has lower value.

What should consortia do?

  1. Network with other institutions to extend opportunities; use Internet portals.
  2. Plan for future sustainablilty of project in the beginning. Transatlantic projects need more than three years of funding. (Five years would be better).
  3. Natural extensions of project are: training programs, integrating research and education, and joint workshops and seminars.
  4. Projects are bilingual and bicultural so consortia need to help students on both levels.
  5. Evaluate the project.
  6. Disseminate information about/resulting from project.
  7. Institute "Train the Trainer" programs for faculty and administration.

Strategies to sustain and enhance projects:

  1. Have study tours (e.g., 3-week, international participation)
  2. Leverage matching funds from industry.
  3. Develop "cybervisits" and CD-ROM orientation programs for students
  4. Use university alumni list serves to inform about program and elicit funds.
  5. Establish "global connections" by having students go to several universities.

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