Fostering Intercultural Understanding in Higher Education: University of Calgary's Internationalization Initiatives

The University of Calgary initiated ambitious internationalization goals to enhance its research reputation and engage with global communities. By increasing diversity, promoting cross-cultural competencies, and fostering international collaborations, the university aims to create a more inclusive and globally aware campus community. Strategic principles and commitments guide the development of sustainable international partnerships, while practical strategies focus on enhancing educational experiences and support services for international students and staff.

• Higher Education
• Internationalization
• Intercultural Understanding
• University of Calgary
• Global Engagement

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1. Fostering Intercultural Understanding within a Faculty of Education Engagement in Internationalization Colleen Kawalilak (PhD) Associate Dean International Werklund School of Education University of Calgary Canada

2. IN 2011, THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY INTRODUCED AN AMBITIOUS GOAL TO BECOME ONE OF CANADA S TOP FIVE RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES BY 2016, WHERE RESEARCH AND INNOVATIVE TEACHING GO HAND IN HAND, AND WHERE WE FULLY ENGAGE THE COMMUNITIES WE BOTH SERVE AND LEAD. THIS STRATEGIC VISION IS CALLED EYES HIGH, INSPIRED BY THE UNIVERSITY S GAELIC MOTTO, WHICH TRANSLATES AS I WILL LIFT UP MY EYES. ONE OF THE SEVEN PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED IN THESE PLANS AS KEY TO THE UNIVERSITY S FUTURE SUCCESS IS INTERNATIONALIZATION.

3. INTERNATIONALIZATION IS A KEY STRATEGIC PRIORITY FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. TARGET 1. INCREASING THE INTERNATIONAL DIVERSITY OF THE STUDENT BODY 10% OF OUR UNDERGRADUTE STUDENTS/25% OF OUR GRADUATE STUDENTS AS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS TARGET 2. 50% OF STUDENTS WILL HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE BEFORE THEY GRADUATE

4. PRINCIPLES AND COMMITMENTS International partnerships must be focused, with clearly defined objectives Partnerships must be sustainable and multi faceted where appropriate, beneficial to both institutions and sufficiently limited in number

5. INTERNATIONALIZATION GOALS 1. Increase diversity of our campus communities 1. Improve global and cross-cultural competencies within our campus communities 2. Enhance opportunities for international collaborations and partnerships in research and education 3. Leverage our unique areas of expertise to engage in international development 2

6. STRATEGIES Determine cross cultural competencies required for the University of Calgary Internationalize the curriculum Enhance teaching and learning resources to optimize the educational experiences of international students Review and enhance support services for international students Increase and encourage opportunities for students and staff to develop language skills

7. COUNTRIES OF EMPHASIS ONGOING ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS CHINA GERMANY MEXICO MIDDLE EAST TANZANIA UNITED STATES

8. COUNTRIES OF INTEREST Australia Brazil France, Spain and U.K. India Japan Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam Norway

9. WERKLUND SCHOOL OF EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY STRAGEGIC PLAN ALIGNS TO UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY EYES HIGH STRATEGY (AND TO THE INTERNATIONALIZATION STRATEGY OF U OF C INTERNATIONAL) STRATEGY/GOAL 1 Provide access and support for international undergraduate and graduate learners and international colleagues STRATEGY/GOAL 2 Provide international experiences for undergraduate students STRATEGY/GOAL 3 Internationalize the curriculum STRATEGY/GOAL 4 Support and promote international research collaborations STRATEGY/GOAL 5 Form and sustain institutional international partnerships STRATEGY/GOAL 6 Develop international educational initiatives in support of customized education opportunities

10. Highlights Develop Internationalize Communicate

11. Develop Teaching Across Borders (TAB) Aim: 50% of undergraduate students will have an international experience Students have traveled to: Japan, Vietnam, Spain, Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Australia, India, Chile, France, Germany, Kenya

12. Communicate Website & Monthly Bulletin Highlights Funding/Grant opportunities Faculty initiatives Stories Agreements in progress Database Faculty engagements

13. Internationalize *Cross Cultural Competence (CCL) Committee Agreements / Partnerships Deepening the Dialogue Sessions - Internationalizing curricula Indigenous Education/Scholarship (FNMI) Supports for international faculty/staff

14. Faculties/Schools of Education must be, or certainly become, fully engaged participants in conversations regarding contextual conditions currently emergent from global dialogues regarding persons and communities capacities for achieving sustainable human futures. Ultimately, we seek to better understand what we should be in service of, with respect to internationalization commitments and engagements and how this understanding may contribute to providing rich and culturally sensitive learning for faculty and adult learners within our School of Education.

15. Reflections Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another's uniqueness." - Ola Joseph "Humanity is waiting for us. Not to hear about our actions, but to see our actions. - Hany El Banna, World Humanitarian Forum, United Kingdom "Tolerance, inter-cultural dialogue and respect for diversity are more essential than ever in a world where peoples are becoming more and more closely interconnected. - Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations

16. Contact Information Dr. Colleen Kawalilak Associate Dean International Werklund School of Education University of Calgary Alberta, Canada ckawalil@ucalgary.ca Phone: +1 403.220.2570 Faculty Profile http://werklund.ucalgary.ca/educ_info/profiles/coll een-kawalilak