Third Space: Evaluating a Pilot Alette Willis, Lorena Georgiadou, Johanna Holtan, and John Harries.

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Third Space:

Evaluating a Pilot

Alette Willis, Lorena Georgiadou, Johanna Holtan, and John Harries

PTAS Questions

Why did we become interested in the project?

What questions did you hope to answer?

How are we attempting to answer these questions?

What have we found out so far?

What have we learnt and how will this inform teaching and learning practices?

Why did we become interested in the project?

HE Context

HE HE emphasis on global competencies / citizenship

Growing opportunities for ‘experiences abroad’

Intercultural engagement is not guaranteed

Appropriate preparation and support for transformative learning to happen

(Holmes et al., 2015; Jackson, 2014)

Edinburgh Uni Context

HE Edin Uni emphasis on global

1000+ Students abroad per year

Intercultural engagement?

Minimal preparation and support provided

There is no comprehensive support programme for Edinburgh Uni students going abroad aimed at enabling intercultural exchange and transformative learning

What questions did you hope to answer?

Pre-departure Sojourner Re-entry

What might a comprehensive HEI support provision look like?

From the literature:• Pre-departure sessions • Credit-bearing modules

(Messelink et al., 2015; Penman and Ratz, 2015)

We provide the Tools to explore, reflect upon, and share cultural experiences

Third Space Pilot

Originated from student feedback

Designed by Edinburgh University staff

Supported by Institute for Academic Development and

EUSA GlobalPromote reflexivity and

intercultural engagement

Support student transitions and learning

40 UoE students recruited to pilot ‘Third Space’

The Third Space Pilot

Weekend Retreat Toolbox Welcome Home Conference

April 2014

October 2015

Pre-departure: Weekend Retreat(Spring 2014)

• 2 days away from University• Promotion of ‘reflexive inquirer’ attitude – Mindful exploration of everyday life– Engagement with ‘other’

• Interactive sessions and Workshops – Story-crafting and story-telling– Ethnographic Skills

Sojourner: The Toolbox(Summer 2014 to Summer 2015)

• Online and in person• 30 ‘fun’ activities encouraging students to:– Learn something new about the ‘host’ culture– Reflect on their own (cultural) identity– Engage with ‘local’ people

• Network of 24 students actively engaged

https://3rdspaceproject.wordpress.com/welcome/

Re-entry: Welcome Home Conference(Autumn 2015)

• 2 day event• Student-led sessions• Aims: – Reflect on and communicate learning– Further self-enhancement – Avoid reverse culture shock– Evaluate the overall provision

Does Third Space effectively support students on their study abroad programmes in engaging interculturally

and transforming into global citizens with global competencies?

Does Third Space effectively support students on their study abroad programmes in engaging interculturally and transforming into global citizens with global competencies?

How are we attempting to answer these questions?

Evaluation of the Third Space

Questionnaires and interviews

• What worked well• What could be

improved• Impact of Retreat on

pre-departure attitude/experience

Document analysis of blogs and reflexive

narratives• To follow student

engagement with material

• To track learning/reflexivity/i

ntercultural engagement

World Café Event

• Overall evaluation Refinement

• Identifying ways of making this a

student-led provision Sustainability

PRE-DEPARTURE SOJOURNER RE-ENTRY

Through questionnaires, interviews, document analysis and World Cafe Event…Ongoing…

What have we found out so far?

Engagement

40 Students 24 out of 38 still active 155 blog posts ?

Favourite Activities

Local Food

Beautiful Buildings

Go Team!

My Favourite Place

Local Expressions

A Third Spacer’s thoughts…

‘Third Space definitely made me think more about what I am getting from my university exchange. I am realizing more how all the experiences that I have gained during the last seven month could affect and hopefully improve the wide range of skills that we were discussing and writing on the board during the weekend retreat last year. Moreover, I really appreciate the network of students on exchange that we have thanks to Third Space. I do not feel alone but rather as a part of the exchange group of people. Everything seems easier when there are more of us dealing with the same problems.’

More than half (24) of the students in the pilot maintained their engagement over a year.

Initial evidence that Third Space encouraged and enabled students to engage interculturally

and reflexively.

More than half (24) of the students in the pilot maintained their engagement over a year. Initial evidence that Third Space encouraged and enabled students to engage interculturally and reflexively.

What have we learnt and how will this inform teaching and learning practices?

PTAS Pilot will inform ongoing development of Third Space

Welcome Home Conference

Rolling it out

International / Exchange students at Edinburgh Uni

Sustainability

Timing

Staying true to the values of Third Space

References• HOLMES, P., BAVIERI, L. & GANASSIN, S. 2015. Developing

intercultural understanding for study abroad: students' and teachers' perspectives on pre-departure intercultural learning. Intercultural Education, 26, 16-30.

• JACKSON, J. 2014. Education Abroad. In: JACKSON, J. (ed.) The Routledge Handbook of Language and Intercultural Communication. Londond: Routledge.

• MESSELINK, H. E., VAN MAELE, J. & SPENCER-OATEY, H. 2015. Intercultural competencies: what students in study and placement mobility should be learning. Intercultural Education, 26, 62-72.

• PENMAN, C. & RATZ, S. 2015. A module-based approach to foster and document the intercultural process before and during the residence abroad. Intercultural Education, 26, 49-61.

Thank you for your attention

Contact Details: A.Willis@ed.ac.ukLorena.Georgiadou@ed.ac.ukJohanna.Holtan@ed.ac.uk

This research was funded by the Principal’s Teaching Awards Scheme (PTAS), Institute for Academic Development, University of Edinburgh

Special Thanks to the rest of the Third Space Team: Areti Manataki, Siobhan Magee and Dave McNaughtonand to all the ‘Third Spacers’ for their contributions

Third Space: Evaluating a Pilot Alette Willis, Lorena Georgiadou, Johanna Holtan, and John Harries.

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