The college advantage

 The college advantage is an interesting article by Josh Dehaas | March 2nd, 2011 | 11:31 am

Filed Under: Maclean's 6th Annual Student Special

"University inspired them to change the world. College gave them the tools to do it"

Socio-Cultural Competency Training (SCT) for Facilitators

Date: June 12-14, 2011
Fee: $1395 + HST
Registration Deadline: June 1, 2011
Instructors: Ishu Ishiyama, Cathy Lemmon

Course Description: Socio-cultural Competency Training (SCT), an evidence-based communication skills training approach, uses experiential learning to guide learners in the acquisition of micro-communication skills that are useful in their professional and personal lives. After completing the 3 day SCT training program, participants can adapt the SCT model in their own work by helping others learn the appropriate socio-cultural competencies in specific contexts of interaction and communication.

Who should take this course: The SCT model is applicable in a variety of settings. Trained facilitators can use it for group or individual learning, as well as improving their own communicative capability. End users who benefit from SCT may be international students, immigrants, foreign workers, new graduates, new employees, or any "cultural newcomer" to a specific context of communication and interaction.

  Register now

Learning through experience: developing international and regional research agendas for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning (CRLL) has great pleasure in inviting you to attend the 1^st in a series of International Symposium on Lifelong Learning ‘Learning through experience: developing international and regional research agendas for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)’.  It will take place from Thursday 23^rd June, 1pm to Friday 24^th June 2011, 2pm in Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland UK.

The event will provide a focus for RPL researchers, practitioner and policy-makers interested in the theme of informal and flexible learning.  The challenges of developing research relevant to both regional and international contexts and concerns will be addressed, with particular reference to the fields of RPL. This event will be organised in collaboration with the Prior Learning International Research Centre (PLIRC), Open Learning Division at Thomson Rivers University Canada and will host the launch of the first PLIRC publication Researching the Recognition of Prior Learning - eds Harris, Breier and Wihak, NIACE 2011 (forthcoming) with a drinks reception sponsored by National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE).

A keynote presentation by Dr Judy Harris, PLIRC will set the scene for discussions of an international research agenda for RPL.  These discussions will be informed by the presentation of papers by members of the international RPL community which will address key research issues, outcomes and questions from the perspective of different countries.  Group discussions will provide opportunities for delegates to engage directly in debate and questions that will help shape symposium outcomes and the emerging research agendas. A final summing up by Professor Tara Fenwick, ProPEL, School of Education, University of Stirling, acting as ‘Symposium Respondent’ will conclude the event. 

Please find attached further information outlining the programme, keynote abstract, parallel paper presentations and how to book your place.  Please note that the registration fee to attend this event is £150 with the option attend the book launch, drinks reception and conference dinner for an additional £30 (the conference dinner is now being held in Abode, Bath Street).

The Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning (CRLL) is a joint initiative between Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of Stirling.   This event is the first in a series of International Symposium organised by the Centre on global themes of lifelong learning. The aim of the series is to provide the Lifelong Learning community with opportunities to:

·      Network and hear from leading international experts across a range of lifelong learning issues

·      Shape the development of new and existing fields of knowledge, methods and practices

·      Engage in knowledge exchange through seminars, workshops and other forms of interactions

Culture Shock

Coping with Culture Shock According to the Foreign Affairs and international Trade office of Canada

Manager of Career Development and Community Based Learning - Huron University College

Huron University College, affiliated with the University of Western Ontario, seeks an experienced Manager for its portfolio of services related to international and local experiential learning and career development.  The successful applicant will develop and manage educational partnerships both internationally and locally, manage Huron’s exchange study programme and other initiatives to open up opportunities for study abroad, identify opportunities for strengthening Huron’s community-based experiential learning programmes through grant and proposal development, and support faculty members in development of experiential learning opportunities. Supervised by the Associate Dean, and working in the Academic Services Centre with colleagues in Academic Advising, the Writing Centre, and Cross Cultural Services, the successful candidate is also the supervisor for the Academic Services Assistant.  This position has extensive contact with students, faculty, staff, alumni and international and local community partners.  The contract will be for two years, with potential for renewal.

Qualifications include:

-          MA in a relevant discipline

-          Five years experience in related fields in a university, including experience in career counselling and international programming, planning and coordination of programs

-          Proven success and experience with student engagement, grant writing, and event coordination 

-          Ability to organize, to meet deadlines, and to work in group and individual settings

-          Excellent communication and presentation skills

-          Understanding of the major Arts and Social Science and Theology disciplines, and insight into university-level teaching and learning

-          Tact, courtesy, diplomacy, patience, creativity, and problem-solving abilities

Applicants should send a cover letter, a résumé describing relevant experience, and the names of three references to Dr. Mark Blagrave, Dean of Arts and Social Science, Huron University College, 1349 Western Road, London, ON, N6G 1H3 (mblagrav@huron.uwo.ca). Please visit http://www.huronuc.ca/ for more information about Huron University College.

Review of applications will begin on Friday May 20^th 2011 and will continue until the position is filled. 

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.  Huron University College is committed to the highest standards of equity and encourages applications from qualified women and men, members of minorities, aboriginal peoples, and persons with disabilities.  Huron values its place in an interconnected world and desires to create a diverse and equitable employment and educational environment that recognizes the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

Maxine Dubuc

Manager, Community-Based Learning & Career Development

Huron University College

1349 Western Road

London, ON  N6G 1H3

P:  (519) 438-7224, ext. 220

E:  mdubuc2@huron.uwo.ca

F:  519-438-4338

Cheating Across Cultures - Inside Higher Ed

"As the number of international students has increased in recent years -- and the number of academic misconduct incidents involving international students has risen accordingly -- educators have increasingly embraced the need to address academic integrity concerns proactively, recognizing in their actions the various cultural influences that can help cause one to cheat". More on the topic at:  Cheating Across Cultures - Inside Higher Ed

What are your thoughts?

Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Qualifying Seminar

The IETP is pleased to partner with IDI, LLC for the first public offering of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Qualifying Seminar in Canada at this year's Summer Institute.

Date: June 12 (optional), June 13-15, 2011 (required)
Fee: US $1750: Education, not-for-profit rate; US $2050: For-profit, government, military rate

What is the IDI:The Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI v3®) is a statistically reliable, cross-culturally valid measure of an individual’s and group’s intercultural competence adapted from the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity. IDI v3 is available in both an Education version and an Organization version. The two versions are in English in both the online and paper IDI and also have been rigorously “back translated” (to insure both linguistic an conceptual equivalence) into 14 languages in the online IDI. The IDI is supported with an extensive IDI v3 analytical website that enables Qualified Administrators to produce various group-level IDI profile results and Individual IDI profile results.

Attendance at the IDI Qualifying Seminar and consent to a licensing agreement is required to use the IDI assessment. Participants will receive IDI handouts and materials that include detailed interpretive guidelines and written descriptions of procedures. During the Qualifying Seminar, participants will:

• Gain proficiency in using the IDI for increasing intercultural competence for individuals, teams, and organizations.
• Learn how the IDI differs from traditional measures of intercultural knowledge, attitudes, skills and competencies.
• Review the rigorous cross-cultural validity and reliability research protocols employed in developing the IDI.
• Learn how to interpret individual and group IDI profile results of intercultural competence.
• Practice giving IDI profile feedback in supportive, role-play scenarios.
• Gain skills in using the IDI for training and educational needs assessment, program evaluation, and other large scale assessments.

Who Should Take the IDI Qualifying Seminar: The IDI has been successfully used since 1998 in corporate, academic, and other settings by those who provide individual coaching and action-planning, who guide real and virtual multicultural team development, who generate needs analyses for targeted training, and conduct program evaluation, organizational development, diversity programs, and research efforts.

In the Canadian post-secondary sector, the IDI is used for staff in intercultural training, particularly for front line staff who work closely with international students, faculty and researchers. At Thompson Rivers University, it is used to guide faculty who are interculturalizing their curriculum, as well as for TESOL students in their Intercultural Communication development. At Queen’s University, the IDI is a part of staff and student intercultural certificate programs, and has been used to help students prepare for development work abroad. It is widely used as an assessment tool in the areas of study abroad and service learning.

In any setting I think the most valuable aspect of the IDI  is that it is a great tool to promote self-reflection and awareness of one's abilities and/or deficiencies in working with other cultures.  I also think that the DMIS framework helps us understand where students may be at and in turn influences services, communication and even curriculum.  (Kyra Garson, TRU)

What does your fee include?

• All IDI sessions and materials
• Optional participation in a workshop on intercultural communication held on Sunday, June 12, 2011, prior to the start of the IDI Qualifying Seminar on Monday, June 13;
• Welcome BBQ for participants on Sunday, June 12, 2011;
• Lunch and morning and afternoon nutritional breaks each day of the Qualifying Seminar;
• Participation in the IETP Special Guest keynote address and reception on June 14.

To learn more about the IDI Qualifying Seminar being offered at the IETP visit http://quic.queensu.ca/training/summerinstitutecoursesnew.asp#IDI

To Register: registration for the Qualifying Seminar must be done through the IDI web site. Registration Deadline: June 1, 2011.

The IDI and associated services and products are owned and operated by Mitchell R. Hammer, Ph.D. through IDI, LLC. For more information visit the IDI web site.

June 12-17, 2011 - IETP Summer Institute

IETP ...  Building competence ...  Expanding Networks
P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
Alison Cummings
International Training Coordinator

Queen's University International Centre (QUIC)
Kingston, ON    K7L 3N6
Phone: 613 533 2604 or 533 6000 x77556
Fax: 613 533 3159
http://quic.queensu.ca/training/ietpnew.asp