Managing and Managing and Coordinating Coordinating International ProgramsInternational Programs

Marilyn Flynn, PhDMarilyn Flynn, PhD

University of Southern University of Southern CaliforniaCalifornia

The ChallengeThe Challenge

Competition, crowded fieldCompetition, crowded field

Low resourcesLow resources

Time, distance, language, cultureTime, distance, language, culture

Risks in International Risks in International Programming and ResearchProgramming and Research

Does anybody care?Does anybody care? Oh, this will make money…somedayOh, this will make money…someday Poor transferabilityPoor transferability Low connection to promotion and Low connection to promotion and

tenure in some institutionstenure in some institutions The “ants on the track” problemThe “ants on the track” problem Understanding foreign institutional Understanding foreign institutional

culturescultures

Risks, con’tRisks, con’t

Diffusion – the world is our oyster!Diffusion – the world is our oyster! Ethnocentricity – no change in our Ethnocentricity – no change in our

world, just theirsworld, just theirs Illness, earthquakes, capricious Illness, earthquakes, capricious

governments, etc., etc., etc.governments, etc., etc., etc. Blurred faculty and administrative Blurred faculty and administrative

rolesroles

Broad Range of Broad Range of Options for Options for ProgrammingProgramming Degrees – in country modelDegrees – in country model Degrees-distance education modelDegrees-distance education model Degrees – hybrid modelsDegrees – hybrid models Course credit toward degree with global interfaceCourse credit toward degree with global interface Non-degree certifications for foreign populationsNon-degree certifications for foreign populations Non-degree certificates for native populations – Non-degree certificates for native populations –

students, alumni, professionalsstudents, alumni, professionals Summer immersionSummer immersion Guest lectures in foreign countriesGuest lectures in foreign countries Visiting scholar programsVisiting scholar programs Collaborative researchCollaborative research Service initiativesService initiatives

Good Management Good Management Starts with Clear GoalsStarts with Clear Goals Goals and rationale should be clear to everyoneGoals and rationale should be clear to everyone

Even if individually initiated, institutional interests should Even if individually initiated, institutional interests should always be embedded – eg contribute to institutional always be embedded – eg contribute to institutional prioritiespriorities

Other academic units should be involved: consulting, Other academic units should be involved: consulting, participating, recruiting, hearing resultsparticipating, recruiting, hearing results

Potential for strengthening the social work profession here Potential for strengthening the social work profession here and abroad centraland abroad central

Importance for program innovation in the US critical – Importance for program innovation in the US critical – completing the circlecompleting the circle

Need for faculty cohort developmentNeed for faculty cohort development

Examples from USCExamples from USC

Distinction between undergraduate and graduate Distinction between undergraduate and graduate programming – focus more on broadening programming – focus more on broadening experience for undergraduates and skill experience for undergraduates and skill development, contrasting paradigms for development, contrasting paradigms for graduatesgraduates

For long-term programs, research and teaching For long-term programs, research and teaching should be connectedshould be connected

Strengthening capacity to work with immigrant Strengthening capacity to work with immigrant populations in US a prioritypopulations in US a priority

Changing our own curriculum another challengeChanging our own curriculum another challenge Focus on Pacific RimFocus on Pacific Rim Build faculty AND staff cohortsBuild faculty AND staff cohorts

Distinguishing Faculty Distinguishing Faculty and Staff Rolesand Staff Roles Faculty conceptualize, inspire, Faculty conceptualize, inspire,

lead, write, orientlead, write, orient

Staff plans itinerary, ensures Staff plans itinerary, ensures conformity with policy, collects conformity with policy, collects fees, organizes documents, fees, organizes documents, purchases giftspurchases gifts

Assessing Program Assessing Program Feasibility and Feasibility and BenefitsBenefits Breakeven analysis for enrollment at Breakeven analysis for enrollment at

different levelsdifferent levels Potential for future external supportPotential for future external support Program value for school or universityProgram value for school or university Out-of-country resources, including Out-of-country resources, including

leadership and commitmentleadership and commitment In-country human resource requirements In-country human resource requirements

– faculty, staff, administration– faculty, staff, administration Methods for maintaining communication Methods for maintaining communication

and designated contact personsand designated contact persons

Setting PrioritiesSetting Priorities

Individual v. institutional interestIndividual v. institutional interest Connection to curriculum or research Connection to curriculum or research

developmentdevelopment Relationship to other academic units and Relationship to other academic units and

programsprograms Potential for strengthening the professionPotential for strengthening the profession Importance for program innovation in USImportance for program innovation in US Student, alumni, and professional Student, alumni, and professional

interestinterest Building faculty cohortsBuilding faculty cohorts

Building Internal Building Internal InfrastructureInfrastructure Lead staff person for international Lead staff person for international

activitiesactivities Program orientationProgram orientation Periodic reporting to faculty and Periodic reporting to faculty and

university communityuniversity community Faculty recruitment with eye to Faculty recruitment with eye to

international program coherenceinternational program coherence

Evaluating Evaluating International ProgramsInternational Programs Student satisfactionStudent satisfaction Institutional partner feedbackInstitutional partner feedback Cost recoveryCost recovery Change in own research and Change in own research and

curriculumcurriculum Influence on international Influence on international

partnerspartners

Happy TravelsHappy Travels

Thank you!Thank you!