Promoting Productive Educational Experiences for International Students at a Major Research

University

The Internationalization of Graduate Education: A Two-Way Street

Maresi Nerad, Associate Graduate Dean University of Washington

The Graduate School/ the Center for Innovation and Research in Graduate Education (CIRGE)/ and the College of Education

Overview

1.Theme-of-Year: The Internationalization of Graduate Education

2. Class for International Graduate Students: “Introduction to US Graduate Education – completing successfully”

3. Lessons Learned

GOALS Theme-of-Year

The Internationalization of Graduate Education

1. Draw attention to the internationalization of graduate education and graduate careers

2. Increase awareness - the campus is an international village

3. Collect and consolidate campus resourcesa. for international graduate studentsb. for US students research and study possibilities abroad

PROCESS The Internationalization of Graduate Education

1.Needs Assessment guided the entire process (timing!)Inviting international and US graduate students with an international interest

Needs Assessment Results1. An information and social hub for students with

international interests (both US + international):a) website b) regular, life question and answer forums

2. Resources and funding for international students at UW:a) How does the U.S. and UW graduate education system work?b) How to perform successfully as an international student?c) Where to look for support when in academic difficulties?

3. Academic writing 4. Language exchange opportunities 5. Research

a) What are UW international collaboration opportunities and how to join? b) How can the UW academic resources be used for international research?

6. Legal (visa)7. Health Insurance8. Student Life (city and local community)

PROCESS The Internationalization of Graduate Education

1. Needs Assessment 2. Bi-monthly meetings with student working groups to plan

and prepare program and events3. Class for International and US Graduate Students co-

taught by faculty in higher education and ESL education: “Introduction to U.S. Graduate Education - completing successfully”

4. Tangible Outcomes: a) Creative website building for and with international and U.S. students with an international interest b) active student advisory group

PANEL DISCUSSIONS: Fostering an International Intellectual Community on Campus

1. Setting the Context: The Role of Graduate Education in Nation Building (invited speakers- video)

2. Setting the Context: The International Beginning of US Graduate Education: The German Legacy (invited speaker)

3. Interactive discussions: Graduate Student Panel: Experiences of Studying At the UW and Studying Abroad—A Two-Way Flow

4. Interactive discussions: Student/Faculty/Staff Panel: Internationalizing Your Graduate Education

5. Interactive discussions: Postdoc Panel: How to Internationalize Your Postdoc Experience

6. Interactive discussions: Employer Panel on the Internationalization of Graduate Careers + UW alumni working in international settings or whose jobs involve international travel

7. Culminating Major Campus + Community Event: Brain Drain, Brain Gain or Brain Circulation: Doctoral Education and the Global Divide (invited speakers- life video)

FALL EVENTS

SPRING EVENTS

UW GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM (1/2 day)

UW Graduate Students’ Focus on the World

Graduate students present their research with international aspects on:

ArtsEducationEnvironmentHealth Society- mobility -communication

(Public Press invited) UW Press/CIRGE Book Release:Towards a Global PhD? Forces and Forms in Doctoral Education Worldwide. M. Nerad & M. Heggelund (eds.)

Class: “Introduction to U.S. Graduate Education – completing successfully”

This course is open to all international graduate students who are currently studying at the UW in various programs across campus. It aims to both familiarize international students with the process of graduate education in the United States and help them navigate successfully through their graduate studies at the University of Washington.

This class is co-taught by faculty in Higher Education and ESL Education of the College of Education

Instructors Goals for the Class

Recognize specific challenges for international graduate students

Provide for the students support and practice specific skills and strategies in a safe environment

Help empower international students by recognizing them as “equal” members of graduate community

Help students become critical consumers

5 Student Learning Goals: “Introduction to U.S. Graduate Education: completing successfully”5

Become familiar with the different lenses through which international graduate students and their experiences have been viewed.

Develop a knowledge base of the research on international graduate students

Become familiar with U.S. graduate education, particularly doctoral education. Be able to situate international graduate enrollment and degrees conferred within the UW, US and world context.

Learn about existing UW resources and tools useful in navigating to a successful completion of your graduate education.

Join a community of scholars by working in teams across disciplines.

Lessons Learned 1. International students happily volunteer2. Create a dynamic website with and for international graduate

students AND 3. Offer an orientation AND a class for international students AND a

workshop for international TAs. = invite US students; inform faculty4. Key issues:

• Academic writing in English = work actively with writing centers• Funding for international students = work with library• Health issues and health insurance= explain clearly up-front• Different demarcation lines between professional and social

realms (advisor/student; bureaucracy; internship = use role play

5. Amazingly, many, decentralized resources exist on our campuses6. Increasing body of (non-US) literature on international graduate

student = need to move from an adaptation model to a two-way flow model)

7. Beginning of a new research focus: the pedagogy of research education for international graduate students

CIRGE website

http://www.cirge.washington.ed

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Thank you!