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INITIATIVES
Internationalizing the Curriculum Workshops on internationalizing the GenEd Workshops on internationalizing majors and graduate programs Workshops "Global Understanding": The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary suggests at least two senses of the word “understanding”: knowing, comprehending, cognizing, or to achieve a grasp of the nature, significance, or explanation of something; and to show a sympathetic or tolerant attitude toward something. We adopt these meanings in our series of workshops on “Global Understanding.” For us, global understanding is gaining the knowledge of power structure, relationships and frameworks, but it is also about sensitivity, acceptance, and attitudinal change. Our Workshop on Global Understanding takes a theme or phenomenon—religion, race, ideology, the environment, poverty—and explores how it plays out globally and in our own communities, the crises and near-crises situations that have arisen, ethical issues that arise from (and their implications for) the choices we make, and concrete steps that can be taken in our appreciation for diversity in this global village. The ultimate goal is to bring the knowledge and attitudinal changes into what we do in the classroom, thereby to educate our students on global understanding as a major step in their education for global citizenship. For a list of previous, current and future workshop themes, please click "Global Understanding." Faculty Learning Communities: "Bringing Back Baldwin" Learning Community: The Faculty Learning Community sponsored and funded by the Center For Excellence in Teaching and Learning, is designed as an interdisciplinary focus on reading, discussing and teaching the works and life of James Baldwin. Of importance the project supports two of the objectives of the Program of African and African Diaspora Studies: to coordinate campus activities that inform and educate about Africa and the various parts of the African Diaspora and to promote the infusion of African and Diaspora materials into the curriculum. The scope of his writings, the international context of Baldwin 's life and experiences allow his works to be studied in both a national and international context by a group of faculty members across disciplines. Contact: Dr. Rosa Bobia, rbobia@kennesaw.edu "Atlantic World" Learning Community: This faculty learning community has been developed as part of the Year of the Atlantic World (YAW). Faculty participants in the community will develop a deeper appreciation for and understanding of the Atlantic World, its history, politics, economics, ecology, and diversity. The community will focus on connecting across disciplines and on connecting the many lectures, events, and activities with their classroom teaching. Faculty will attend selected guest lectures and group meetings as part of the experience and as preparation for a Faculty/Staff Development Seminar (FDS) to Brazil in May of 2008. It is expected that all participants will develop teaching modules about the Atlantic World and its changing contexts within the global society for use in future classes and/or with student/community organizations. Participants will share ideas about how best to incorporate the YAW lectures and events in their classes which will in turn impact how they see and approach future Year of programs. Faculty are, therefore, expected to incorporate at least two Year of Atlantic World lectures/events into their fall and spring semester courses. The faculty/staff development seminar may also lead to the development of future exchanges, joint research, and study abroad programs with partners in Brazil. Contact: Dr. Dan Paracka, dparacka@kennesaw.edu Annual Conferences Each year in October, the Institute for Global Initiatives organizes a major conference on a theme. For the 2007-2008 academic year, at least three conferences are being organized. They include the following:
For previous and up-coming conferences, see our "Program and Annual Conferences" page of this website. Annual Country Study Program Year of (Country) Study Program: The aim of the Country Study program is, over the course of a full academic year, to take a wide-ranging look at a specific country or region under study from its earliest history right up to current events. It is our belief that in order to understand and appreciate other countries and cultures, one needs to employ a broad lens and engage the “other” on a myriad of levels. The program allows faculty and student participants, and community guests to break down stereotypes and connect across cultures. The Year of Country Study program uses a multidisciplinary approach in order to provide our audiences with a richer, more complex sense of place and community. 2007-2008 is the Year of the Atlantic World. Two hundred years ago, Great Britain (1807) and the United States (1808) declared the abolition of the Atlantic Slave Trade although slavery continued. Simultaneously, profound new world liberal ideals, of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were spreading rapidly. Issues of great historical, social, political, artistic, cultural, environmental, health, and commercial import will be examined through the Year of the Atlantic World as we look for better ways to understand the relationships that connect people around this great body of water and look to identify ways that we can promote mutually beneficial development in peace and security. For more information about our annual country study program, please click "Year of ... Program." Fundraising and Grants The Institute for Global Initiatives seeks external funding in the form of private donations and grants. See Office of Sponsored Programs for more details at http://www.kennesaw.edu/osp Research The Institute and its component centers have engaged in or sponsored several research projects. They include: Center for Hispanic Studies' research on Hispanic immigration, education, and empowerment; Center for African and African Diaspora Studies' Baldwin Initiative, Senegambian Studies, Human Rights, Refugee Studies; and the IGI's studies on leadership, environmental issues, and global change issues. Community Programs and Partnerships Partnership with Fernbank Museum: This collaborative partnership involves the Center for Hispanic Studies, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, and the Government of Spain. The purpose is to study early Hispanic presence in Georgia and to infuse this study into the P-16 curriculum. Focus of the study is the more than one million objects of St. Catherines Island, the first Spanish settlement in Georgia. Partnership with Africa World Museum and Center: The goal of this partnership is to hold a conference on "Bridging the Gap and Building the Bridge," particularly using economic, social, cultural ties between Africa and America to serve as the "bridging" mechanisms to promote the development of Africa and the economic empowerment of the Diaspora. Partnership with Kenyan Professional Associations: Developed as part of the "Year of Kenya" program, partnerships with Kenyan associations were responsible for the conference on "The Role of the Kenyan Diaspora in Kenya's Development" held at KSU on March 22-24, 2007. Since the conference, the partnership has continued in other areas, such as psomotion of linkages between KSU and Kenyan university institutions, joint grant application, etc. Publications Journal of Global Initiatives is a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journal of intercultural and international policy, pedagogy, and perspective. It provides a critical forum for scholarship that examines global learning, diversity initiatives and comparative studies. Articles are invited on the following themes: • Global learning: research, innovations, theory and best practice in internationalization; assessment of global learning, practices and processes leading to responsible global citizenship; intercultural issues, conflict, and understanding; study abroad from design to evaluation; and scholarship of international teaching or service • Intersections of local and global issues; identity, ethnicity, and diversity; and multicultural studies • Primary research on international politics, policies, globalization, and comparative studies For more information, please click Journal of Global Initiatives Special Lecture Series Consular lecture series Conversations on Global Issues Series: The series is designed as a small group seminar on a topical issue. In past years, we’ve had presentations on such topics as changing nature of rivalry among nations, politics of international terrorism, HIV/AIDS from global perspective, refugee crisis, comparative education, changing U.S. policy towards Cuba, UN Agenda 21 and sustainable development, ethical issues on downloading music from the Internet, etc. These themes are still relevant. Other themes may be globalization, democratic elections around the world, religion and global politics, global business and economic development, the arts in global context, etc. Support for Faculty International Faculty Faculty International Travel International Students Recruitment and Enrollment Advisement and Counseling Study Abroad Through our Office of International Services & Programs, and in collaboration with various colleges and departments, we offer study abroad opportunities for all undergraduate and graduate students. Studying abroad allows KSU students to add an international dimension to their coursework, learning about global issues through firsthand experience. We offer summer study abroad programs, led by KSU professors, ranging in length from two to six weeks; there are programs in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. Students may also participate in more independent study through semester and academic year exchanges. Our study abroad programs span a variety of disciplines and allow students to earn General Education, major, and graduate requirements overseas. See our program offerings at our Study Abroad page: http://www.kennesaw.edu/globalinstitute/abroad.htm. International Linkages and Exchanges Click "List of MOUs" for information on KSU's academic exchanges and agreements. UNISA Exams KSU is Atlanta Center for University of South Africa (UNISA) exams. For more information, click here. Internationalization Efforts in Colleges/Divisions/Departments/Units Office of Student Development QEP on Global Learning for Engaged Citizenship College-specific Centers or Global Learning Coordinators Leadership of and Participation in University System International Councils and Committees Africa Council Americas Council Asia Council Committee on International Students and Scholars |
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