RISK AND RESPONSIBILITY for EDUCATION ABROAD PROGRAMMES INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES Lilieth H. Nelson, The UWI

INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES Institutions - Commonwealth Countries - Non-Commonwealth Countries Policies - Inward Model - Outward Model

Categories of Education Abroad Programmes Tailor-made collaborative programmes for groups Individualized Guided Study Programmes Intersession Programmes, Intensive Facilitated Programmes Student Exchanges Staff Exchanges

Some Non-Commonwealth Countries United States of America Europe Japan

The United States of America

USA – Over 3600 universities and colleges offer education abroad programmes. If divided into 6 geographical regions: 12 States in the West, including Hawaii (652) 13 States in the Mid-West (971) 4 States in the South-West (302) 10 States in the South (782) 6 States in the Mid-Atlantic (622) 6 New England States (229) Puerto Rico (46)

SELECTED UNIVERSITIES Those with longest history of study (education) abroad are in the West and New England States Policies are predominantly within the Outward Model framework Programmes have a long history of being Euro-Centric (across the Atlantic Ocean) Trend among those institutions in the west to send students across the Pacific Ocean

POLICIES OF SELECTED USA UNIVERSITIES UNC Chapel Hill University of California Some of the 40 institutions with which the UWI has been involved wrt education abroad programmes –Groups –Exchanges –“Specially admitted”

Europe University of Norway

Japan Example of institutions which adopt a mix of inward and outward models For example: –USA to Japan – –Japan to USA -

Some Commonwealth Countries The United Kingdom Canada Australia Anglophone Caribbean

THE UNITED KINGDOM Policies are predominantly within the Inward Policy framework ‘Sending’ institutions from Europe, The Americas, Asia, Australia, Africa

Selected Universities in UK Cambridge University University of London Edinburgh University Warwick University University of Bath University of Wales

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY A Case Study Policies articulated in printed documents: –Faculty Guide –Student Guide –Security

AUSTRALIA Strong emphasis on inward policies Heavy investment in marketing and recruitment Visible participation in Study (Education) Abroad Fairs University of New South Wales University of Wollongong

CANADA Policies typical of institutions in Commonwealth countries Inward model rather than outward Changing trend among CUSAC member institutions University of Toronto York University Queen’s

ANGLOPHONE CARIBBEAN University of Technology The University of the West Indies

Policies of the UWI Predominantly Inward Model (typical of Commonwealth) Policies related to Outward model –Traditionally students went for language immersion, electives in medical sciences – Within last 15 years trend towards exchanges (limited numbers) Policies related to Inward model –Trend towards exchanges, collaborative programmes for groups and practicums Risk-reducing policies Responsibility-accepting policies

Policies of the UWI continued Centralization vs Decentralizstion Academic Offerings/Non-academic –For credit/Not for credit –Policies related to Credit Transfer Pre-requisites Numbers Duration Registration

UWI Policies Contd. Fees Distribution of Income Accommodation Security/Safety Students with Physical Challenges Country Requirement

Conclusions & Recommendations The Policy Statement in ‘black and white’ Education Abroad Programmes: A Policy Statement, with guidelines for establishing: –Memorandum of Understanding –Cooperative Agreements governing the range of categories of education abroad agreements Includes defining areas of responsibility The ‘grey’ areas