Building and Maintaining a Virtual Global Community: Global Partners in Education Jami Leibowitz, Ph.D. Interim Director for Global Academic Initiatives Director for Global Understanding

Global Partners in Education Founded in 2008 – Activities started 2003 Focused on Long Term, Active Partnerships. Global Partners in Education (GPE) is an Internet-based global community of higher education institutions that provides opportunities for students to engage in real time collaborative courses, discussions, projects, and research around critical topics that promote global understanding, intercultural competence, and advance higher education.

International Education and Research via a Virtual Collaborative Environment Promoting – Discovery – Exploration – Engagement – Collaboration – Understanding – Within and Between Cultures

Building Relationships since partner institutions in 31 countries. Impacting approximately 3500 students worldwide in AY 2013/2014. Algeria, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, The Gambia, Germany, India, Iraq, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, UK, USA

Global Understanding Course Shared Discipline Specific Courses Course Modules Lecture Series Individual Lecture Exchange Global Discussions Special Events Research Global Partners in Education Journal Global Partners in Education Annual Conference What We Do

Community Building in 3 Steps 1. RECRUIT 2. ENGAGE 3. MAINTAIN

Building Your Team A Cast of Committed Players Very Senior Administrators Deans Chairs CIO Firewall Administrators Technicians Teachers Colleagues Students Partners Politicians Press External Constituents

Building Your Team This CANNOT be done by one person Create a description of plan - your story – Learning outcomes & curricular alignment – Benefits to students – Benefits to institution Identify who should be on your team Meet formally and tell your story Hear concerns and address flexibly

Targeting Partners Criteria of Selection − Importance in global world − Importance for current situation − Diversity and richness Source of Potentials − Personal, colleagues − Existing relationships − Department of State

Considerations Politics, civil/ed society, living conditions Language Capabilities Limitations of partners – Technology infrastructure – Technology support personnel – Schedule/Semester/Accreditation Existing partners

Initial Developing Stage Four to Six months minimum! or personal invitation to a discussion One page description and minimum requirements sheet Obtain letter of commitment from CEO/CAO Initial tests of bandwidth and firewall Coordinate dates of visit Happiness is SUCCESS and FAILURE

A Sincere Sales Pitch HELP POTENTIAL PARTNERS… …See the possibilities for their institution and students. – What can we do for you? …Sell the idea to their leaders and faculty. – What can they do for them? …Build a team on their campus. – Who do we need to join our cause? – Admin, Teacher, Tech

If at all possible—VISIT Build a relationship Talk to everyone who is willing to listen Train technical support and teacher Test technology and help troubleshoot Identify and organize potential class space Experience first hand the educational culture GO TO THE LOCAL EMBASSY!

Find a Local “Fit” Experiences must fit into local curriculum This is not “one size fits all” – Lectures and modules part of existing courses – From English to communications to business – Shared courses have significant overlap – Most will want to try before they buy – New courses must become credit bearing

Well in Advance Collect academic calendars and establish a master schedule accounting for: – Academic year start and end dates – Holidays – Exam periods – Time zones Establish Realistic Expectations

Time Issues Semester/term beginning and ending dates Holidays! Traditional and ‘spontaneous’ Time of day issues: midnight? 3 AM? – Seeking a time that works for partners – Adjusting to daylight/summer time A defined common time works best Think ahead and be creative in seeking time solutions that work for partners

4 Weeks Before Any Activity Test, Test, Test Teacher training on experience Teachers start regular Exchange content Coordinate “plan to fail” strategies

2 Weeks Before Links Begins Continue to test Expect to fail Expect to recover Promote Coordinate final details Prepare students for the experience

During the Experience 30 minutes before start time set up space, make contact in chat, establish videoconnection. During class tech help in chatroom in background for coordination and encouragement, faculty facilitate interaction. 15 minutes after class, review

After Class regularly to encourage, support, help solve problems Identify areas of success and areas that need improvement – Always temper any criticism with praise Solicit input on how to improve the experience Let people know about the success!

Management Team Partner Training New Partner Recruitment Troubleshooting Scheduling Partner Evaluation Program Assessment New Initiatives Annual Conference Information Dissemination Networking Server Maintenance Resource Development Promotion …

Get a Commitment and keep ‘em interested! Need multiyear commitment early on – Resource assignment/realignment needed – First semester/year experience can be rocky Technology challenges must be overcome Teaching format must be adjusted Curriculum change and enrollment stream must be created – Nothing is free – this must be compensated – Nurturing/handholding essential Implement Program Improvements Start New Initiatives

Encourage and Reward find the right currency! Certificates for Students Faculty and Staff Letters to Admin Additional Opportunities Letters to Admin Additional Opportunities

Encourage and Reward Annual Awards

Community Engagement Encourage Empathy

Potential Problems in Maintenance Change of CAO/CEO, no more support Course not incorporated into curriculum Change of faculty, succession is good Change of tech support person Hardware/Connectivity Issues Political changes in country

When It Goes Wrong Evaluate performance of partner Mentor and encourage Issue warnings Create probationary status with deliverables Probation period can focus partners Help drop-outs to solve their problems, bring them back Learn the lesson of failure and improve

Jami Leibowitz, Ph.D. Interim Director for Global Academic Initiatives Director for Global Understanding East Carolina University For More information: