Internationalizing the Florida Tech Campus:

2011-12 Activities and Recommendations

Internationalizing the Campus Committee (ICC)

“The process of integrating an international/intercultural dimension into the teaching, research, and service functions of

the institution” (Knight, 1994)

What is Internationalization?

Mary Beth Kenkel, PhD, CoPLA, Chairperson Randall Alford, PhD, Student Affairs Monica Baloga, PhD, Graduate Programs Judith Brooke, ISSS/Enrollment Management Ali Faisal, Advancement William Gabrenya, PhD, CoPLA Korhan Oyman, PhD, CoA Henry Perez, PhD, CoB Hamid Rassoul, PhD, CoS (Aug - Dec) Muzaffar Shaikh, PhD, CoE Wes Sumner, Marketing & Communications Kurt Winkelmann, PhD, CoS (Jan - June) Jennifer Ledford, Committee Staff Assistant (Aug - Dec.) Mischka Maxwell, Committee Staff Assistant (Jan - June)

Internationalizing the Campus Committee (ICC) 2011-12

2009 -10: ◦ Comprehensive audit of the campus’ internationalization efforts◦ Final Report with 16 recommendations

2010 – 11:◦ Three subcommittees achieved these outcomes

Communication Monthly internationalization feature to the Campus Observer newsletter Creation of “international minute” interviews for WFIT-FM and

international segments on Inside Florida Tech Feature story on international activities for Florida Tech Today magazine

Development Concept Paper for establishing a Center for Global Engagement

Academic Developed list of global competencies expected of all students Menu of courses with international content in place of only Civ 2

ICC: 2009-2011

Knowledge Demonstrates knowledge of global issues, processes, trends and

systems Understands his/her culture in global and comparative context

Skills Uses knowledge, diverse cultural frames of reference, and alternate

perspectives to think critically and solve problems Adapts his/her behavior to interact effectively with those who are

differentAttitudes

Is willing to learn from others who are culturally different from him/her

Accepts cultural differences and tolerates cultural ambiguity

Global Learning Competencies(1st draft)

Promote Global Learning Competencies

Provide opportunities and funding for faculty and staff to further develop their own global and cultural learning

Build an internationalized campus environment that attracts both international and domestic students.

Assist with capital campaign for Center for Global Engagement

Goals for 2011 - 2012

Internationalization efforts have been publicized to a broader constituency - campus groups, alumni, applicants, and the community ◦Presentations to faculty, staff, administrators, and students◦Continued inclusion of international topics in campus

publications and on radio (CASE Special Merit Award for the International Student Spotlight Series)

◦ ICC website

Accomplishments for 2011 - 2012

Participation in the ACE Mapping Internationalization Survey◦ Revealed the strengths and gaps in FIT’s internationalization efforts ◦ Put us among the universities working on and making significant

progress on internationalization

Accomplishments for 2011 - 2012

ICC conducted an Internationalization Survey of campus faculty, staff, and students◦ Goals:

Heighten awareness in campus community of internationalization efforts Identify internationalization priorities and barriers Determine training and education needs of the different constituencies Elicit interest and involvement in the internationalization efforts

Accomplishments for 2011 - 2012

Internationalization Survey ResultsStudents Staff Faculty

Number of participants 824 204 194

Interact with International 1x day or more

60% 63% 68%

Feel comfortable 67% 82% 92%

Limited contact 16% 3% 2%

Unsure how to react 28% 21% 14%

Difficulty communicating 21% 18% 10%

Situations With students, social situations

With students, social situations

With students, social situations

Interest in training/education 74% 81% 84%

Major Recommendations:Discussion and Endorsement

Recommendation 1 Recommendation 2

In AY 2012-13, faculty and staff training on cross-cultural/global competencies should be instituted with a focus on development of  self awareness, the understanding of key cultural concepts within U.S. culture, and the development of specific goals to help communicate across cultures. 

More training should be instituted for:

Domestic students through RAs

International Students with focus on staff/student

interactions and classroom etiquette

All campus constituencies students through Do You Know videos

Major Recommendations:Discussion and Endorsement

Recommendation 3 Recommendation 4

The next QEP should focus on institutionalizing student-level global competencies/ learning outcomes for all FIT students.

More study abroad experiences should be made available to students, including short-term and major-specific experiences.Student learning outcomes from study abroad experiences should be measured.

Major Recommendations:Discussion and Endorsement

Recommendation 5 Recommendation 6

Include space for the Center for Global Engagement next to the offices of ISSS when they move to the Florida Tech Commons so there will be staffing for it. Consider renaming ISSS to Center for Global Engagement.

Continue to include a Center for Global Engagement in the capital campaign projects.

Internationalization

The Future of Florida Tech and the World

And to conclude…