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The Sixth Annual Forum on Education Abroad Conference
"Vision and Value in Education Abroad"
Charlotte, North Carolina
March 24-26, 2010
The Forum on Education Abroad announces a call for session and workshop proposals for the 6th Annual Forum Conference to be held at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina, March 24-26, 2010. The deadline for proposals is July 15, 2009.
The Forum conference theme, “Vision and Value in Education Abroad,” takes up the central importance of creating and maintaining a compelling vision for education abroad while communicating its value. The conference will focus on articulating the vital nature of education abroad and the many benefits that it brings to students, organizations, institutions, communities, and societies. This theme is especially important as we address the challenges brought on by the current global economic crisis, when both the vision and value of education abroad may be called into question.
Session and workshop proposals should address how vision and value shape education abroad in all its contexts. “Vision” encompasses the mission, goals, curriculum, program designs and models, and how students, parents, faculty, administrators and education abroad professionals think about and describe education abroad. Vision refers to the act of imagination that leads to the creation of education abroad programs, often involving collaborations between faculty, program providers, sending and host institutions. Our vision of education abroad has evolved over time: programs have responded to developments in technology, communications, travel, economics, politics and culture, and the way that we describe our programs and their importance has also changed. A student’s vision is shaped and re-shaped before, during and after the education abroad experience, and program providers and home and host institutions envision education abroad in a wide variety of ways that shape student learning.
“Value” refers to the meaning that education abroad has for students, faculty, institutions, communities and societies. Knowledge of other cultures and societies, disciplinary learning, intercultural skills, language skills, personal growth and development, and career enhancement are but some of the associated values that education abroad has for students. A characteristic of the value of education abroad is the way in which it can foster a variety of outcomes, which require multiple modes of assessment. For organizations and institutions, assessing and articulating the value of education abroad is a central challenge, especially during a period when there are questions raised about the price and cost of higher education. Key questions for all involved in education abroad are: What “good” comes from education abroad and for whom? How do we best document the value? How does this effort in turn help to reshape our vision for education abroad? How does the value of education abroad measure up to our vision for it? And, how do we encourage students to consider the value in education abroad, and how do we assist them to articulate it?
Some topical areas of interest include:
- How has the vision for education abroad changed historically, and how will it change in the future?
- How is the vision for education abroad created and sustained by an institution or organization, and what are examples of best practices to be used for creating and sustaining a compelling mission for education abroad?
- Who are the key actors/participants/constituencies who create the vision for education abroad and how do they do it?
- Is the value of education abroad being communicated effectively and responsibly? Are appropriate expectations being communicated through marketing materials that further our vision and understanding of education abroad?
- How do we sustain and enhance the vital nature and purpose of education abroad during challenging economic times?
- Is education abroad creating global citizens? How do we define global citizenship in the context of our vision for education abroad?
- How can we best enhance the value of education abroad for students, our organizations, institutions, and all stakeholders?
- What is the value of education abroad to prospective employers and graduate schools?
- What do we know about the value of education abroad, and how do we know it? What do we still need to know?
- How do we best promote and enhance the value of education abroad in light of risk, health, and safety concerns?
- How do we assess and enhance the value of education abroad in light of concerns about the impact of programs on the environment, host cultures and societies?
- What are effective ways to assess the value of education abroad? How do institutions assess its value relative to other academic programs?
- What aspects of education abroad need to be reassessed?
- How do we most effectively articulate the value and significance of education abroad for students, faculty, administrators, parents, and other key constituents?
- Why and how is education abroad of value to faculty, administrators and staff?
- Are students transformed through education abroad?
- What do students learn and how do they learn it?
- Why should access to and the capacity of education abroad be expanded?
- What ethical issues and challenges do we face in creating a vision for education abroad programs and communicating its value?
- Is the value of education abroad fulfilling the vision we have for it?
Conference Sessions
Forum Conference sessions are known for their roundtable, discussion-oriented format that fosters collegial dialogue and a vibrant, thought-provoking exchange of ideas. Due to the growth of the conference, there is a need to accommodate other types of session formats such as panel presentations. While the majority of the conference sessions are expected to be in the roundtable format, the Conference Committee encourages session proposals that utilize other formats, including panel presentations and town hall meetings. Successful proposals will describe in detail how the proposed session relates to the conference theme and how it will address a critical topic in education abroad.
Workshops
Conference workshops will be held on Wednesday, March 24 for a full-day or half-day. Proposals need not conform to the conference theme, but should detail how the workshop will provide participants with essential knowledge or training in a critical area of education abroad. Successful proposals will relate the content of the workshop to the Forum Standards, which encompass all areas of education abroad, and provide details on facilitators, materials to be used and activities undertaken.
How to Submit a Proposal
You may download a session or workshop proposal form by clicking on the appropriate hyperlinks or the links in the left hand navigation column. Session and workshop proposals should be submitted electronically to info@forumea.org.
You may access a PDF version of the call for proposals here.
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