Internationalising online programs

Overview

Shedding light on the internationalisation of online learning.

Image courtesy of _sarchi

• Title: Getting Started and Lessons Learned: Internationalizing Online Programs
• Conference:Pre-conference workshop. The Power of online learning. Making a difference. 13th Annual Sloan-C International Conference on Online Learning. November 7 - 9, 2007, Caribe Royale, Orlando, Florida, USA
• People
  • Leader: Ken Udas, Penn State, World Campus keu10@psu.edu
  • Facilitator: Christine Geith, Asst. Provost, Exec. Director of MSU Global, Michigan State University
  • Contributors: Wayne Mackintosh, Commonwealth of Learning, Vancouver Canada;
    

Ken Udas, Chris Geith and Wayne Mackintosh

Image courtesy of globalr

A half-day workshop exploring the growing interest within the online learning community of international programming. It is difficult to engage in a conversation about the challenges and opportunities of online programming without the issue of international education and the role of online learning being raised. Topics of discussion range from the impact of globalization on higher education, to the inherent benefits and necessity of internationalizing the university, and the economic and financial imperatives of seeking international markets. Through discussion and examples in practice we will identify some of the factors driving the interest in international programming, what institutional goals and expectations are being set, how capacity is being developed, and what are some of the alternative strategies to launch and maintain a successful international online presence

Workshop goals

• Identify institutional goals of internationalization of online learning
• Align expectations and goals with capacity
• Provide an overview of internationalization options and incremental steps to reach and modify goals
• Learn from each other from running through a facilitated alignment exercise

Workshop approach and outputs

Output: After interrogating and discussing selected examples on the internationalisation of online programmes, participants will develop a concept project for increased internationalisation at their respective institutions.

The workshop proposes an activity matrix for thinking about the internationalisation of online programmes and will rely on the experience of participants to use these examples as a trigger for innovative and sustainable concept proposals. The workshop is divided into three distinct phases:

1. Analysing and evaluating the examples provided using the barriers versus risk model;
2. Exploring "new" the emerging approaches of internationalisation associated with OERs
3. Developing a concept project proposal for internationalisation.

Structure

1. Introduction - (20 minutes set up).
   • Overview and goals
   • Introducing the activity matrix - We will use this framework for presenting the examples and proposing new projects.
   • Evaluation framework activity
   • Additional considerations
2. Small Group Activity, Assessing Examples - (30 minutes)
3. Small Group Activity, New Ideas - (60 minutes)
4. Break Time - (15 minutes)
5. Report Back - (45 minutes)
6. Discussion, Next Steps (10 minutes)

Presentation content - Selected examples of internationalisation

• International Campus
• Dual Degree Programs
• Recruiting International Students
• Internationalizing the Course Materials
• Study Abroad
• Faculty Research
• OER producer-consumer and co-production models
• Participation in OSS project
• International Projects
• Consortia Participation
• Univeristy-Corporate Partnership
• International Accreditation - /RIT/SHRM/CSUSB/HVCC/SLS