1. Curriculum Development with International Partners How to Build a Joint Communication Degree Program Kevin Gore

2. Outline Why create international curricula? Why create international curricula? Which curriculum for development? Which curriculum for development? Where to actually begin? Where to actually begin? What we envision! What we envision! Our long-term goals Our long-term goals

3. Why create international curricula? International student exchange programs are well- established with large numbers of mobile students International student exchange programs are well- established with large numbers of mobile students However, often it appears that the exchange is an ”academic break” when it could offer much more However, often it appears that the exchange is an ”academic break” when it could offer much more For students, a joint curriculum between ”strategic” partner schools could add: For students, a joint curriculum between ”strategic” partner schools could add: –An extra incentive to study abroad –Result in a concrete benefit:  An area of specialization For HAAGA-HELIA: For HAAGA-HELIA: –Real input to our ”home” curriculum

4. Which curriculum for development? In joint curricula and student exchange, high risk of overlapping subjects from the student’s perspective In joint curricula and student exchange, high risk of overlapping subjects from the student’s perspective However, one area is clear: Communication However, one area is clear: Communication –Students report it is something they want to improve –It is culture-specific, thus exchange enhances it –It is one of HAAGA-HELIA’s main foci in education

5. Where to actually begin? Get together with all members involved in the development and get to know each other! Get together with all members involved in the development and get to know each other! –We too have to communicate our aims, desires and understanding of what we want to jointly create (time-consuming but worth it) –Have a clear ”driver” (Luuk van Leeuwen in our case) Determine what is the ”competitive advantage” of each ”strategic” partner Determine what is the ”competitive advantage” of each ”strategic” partner –HAAGA-HELIA: PBL –Hogeschool Utrecht: Multimedia –Fach Hochschule Wien: Integrated Communications

6. Where to actually begin? (cont’d) Come to a consensus on what is the joint vision and mission Come to a consensus on what is the joint vision and mission –”The power of belief” Do a detailed audit of what each partner can bring to the table: Do a detailed audit of what each partner can bring to the table: –Specific courses and content –Credits, assignments, reading materials, class size, electronic learning platform, etc. –Clarity about who teaches what, where when and how. (easy to say, hard to do)

7. What we envision! Suomi Suomi –HAAGA-HELIA Nederland Nederland –Hogeschool Utrecht Österreich Österreich –Fach Hochschule Wien

8. What we envision! (cont’d) Each school would send and receive 3-5 students during their 4th-5th semester, spending (at least) one semester abroad Each school would send and receive 3-5 students during their 4th-5th semester, spending (at least) one semester abroad Students are integrated into current courses at each school, but special gatherings and seminars organized only for them to create a sense of community Students are integrated into current courses at each school, but special gatherings and seminars organized only for them to create a sense of community Set ”core” communication curriculum at each school, plus elective courses Set ”core” communication curriculum at each school, plus elective courses Local language courses REQUIRED! Local language courses REQUIRED!

9. Our long-term goals One semester is study, another is work placement, either in same country or other partner country One semester is study, another is work placement, either in same country or other partner country Highlight to companies that we are offering work placement interns with a specialization in communication Highlight to companies that we are offering work placement interns with a specialization in communication –E.g., work in internal communications Platform for communication-oriented theses (research and execution) Platform for communication-oriented theses (research and execution)

10. Our long-term goals Lecturer exchange Lecturer exchange Exchange of pedagogocal practices Exchange of pedagogocal practices –Interest in PBL Easier to build and conduct joint research projects in an establish network Easier to build and conduct joint research projects in an establish network