1. Global Learning Experience: DePaul U – U of Dubrovnik
Lessons Learned / Lessons Shared

2. Overall Design
Student to student structured conversations on forms of and experiences with “democracy”
Croatia is a new democracy (formed in 1995)
US is a very old democracy
Young university students seek to understand what they share with or do not share with their peers in other places
Both sets of students have some formal classwork in comparative politics

3. Logistics
Dubrovnik professor and I agree on an agenda for each session
We set a topic and let the conversation find its own direction
We use “polycom” and have simultaneous discussions
Sessions are at Friday 9am here and 4pm in Dubrovnik
Four sessions were held in January roughly ten students each side
Four sessions in January & February roughly ten students each side
DePaul students receive background materials on Croatia and Croatian politics
Most students are recruited from PSC 353 Comparing Democracy & Dictatorship
All the Croatian students speak English

4. Their view …

5. Topics
Participation, Representation, Legitimacy, Media, Corruption, Political Competence, Civic Education
Dubrovnik students are in the College of Mass Communications and Cultural Studies
DePaul students are in Political Science
Based upon the 2015 and 2016 experiences, it was agreed both groups would do some informal surveying and compare results. Done.

6. The Dubrovnik crew …

7. Next Step … project morphing
With enthusiasm, we have agreed to continue our basic format in the Fall 2016 term.
We have also agreed to expand our student-to-student cooperation by working during the summer on a game-platformed civics curriculum for Croatian school children. No civics elements exist in the current public school curriculum and we have buy-in from the Croatian Ministry of Education if the game is provided to the system without cost.
We will use DePaul’s game design students to work with our PSC students and Dubrovnik’s Mass Communications and Cultural Studies students. Special class designed around the project offered in Fall.

8. Spending the stipend …
The funds provided by Academic affairs were spent to bring the Dubrovnik professor and four of his students to Chicago from September 4-14, 2015
Students paid for their own airfares
During that period, we scheduled three discussion sessions and continued the dialogue on democracy; also video
The University of Dubrovnik and DePaul have formalized a memorandum of understanding to create a stable trajectory for our continuing relationship
Our students have been invited to Dubrovnik. We have administrative issues to work through before that can happen.

9. Lessons Learned
Try to avoid engaging only seniors in the GLE if one sees the program as “on-going”
By spending funds on the partner, we cement our commitment to them and their interests
Results are often intangible and beyond “metrics” –
much like study abroad experiences
Interest abroad in such linkages is extensive & intense
Communicate purpose clearly … video ?

10. Tips for Success
Use DePaul faculty resources!
Begin with modest number of participants
Engage students in agenda-setting
Expect asymmetry
Remain flexible
Avoid seniors only … carryovers are super valuable