In Pursuit of Global Competence:

Effective Practices for Student Learning Outcomes in

Community College Study Abroad Programs

ABRAHAM LINCOLN COMMISSION ON STUDY ABROAD, 2005

What nations don’t know can hurt them.

The stakes involved in study abroad are that simple, that

straightforward, and that important.

For their own future and that of the nation, college graduates

today must beinternationally competent.

Background Information Senate Resolution 308 ATS, 2005 There is a “serious deficit in global

competence in the United States,” and “institutions of higher education in the United States are struggling to graduate enough students with the language skills and cultural competence necessary to meet the current demands of business, government, and educational institutions”

Rationale for Community College Study Abroad

ProgramsThere is a clear need to build global

competence in college studentsCommunity colleges have 45-55% of

all undergraduates but only 3% of students studying abroad annually

There exists a community college research gap on study abroad programs, structures, and their relation to global competence acquisition.

Research BackgroundElements of Global Competence

Examined broader understanding of global competence

Examined global competence elements

Developed conceptual framework for global competence

Proposed global competence definition

Global Competence:

GlobalCompetence: Elements and

Characteristics

Appreciationof own and

others’ personaland

cultural norms

Critical awareness & appreciation of cultural differences

Effective intercultural

communication skills including

language skills

Ability to function as a member of

another culture

Knowledge of world history and current events

Appreciation of and openness to global

interdependence

Knowledge of geo-political

issues, changes, and decision making

Knowledge of global business interactions and organizationsKnowledge Elements

Identified in Research

Knowledge

Appreciationof own and

others’ personaland

cultural norms

Critical awareness & appreciation

of cultural differences

Effective intercultural

communication skills including

language skillsAbility to

function as a member of another culture

Knowledge of world history and current events

Appreciation of and openness to global

interdependence

Knowledge of geo-political issues, changes, and decision making

Knowledge of global business

interactions and

organizations

Skill and Experience Elements Identified in Research

GlobalCompetence: Elements and

Characteristics

Skills and Experiences

Global Competence:

AttitudesAppreciation of own and others’ personal and cultural norms

Critical awareness & appreciation of cultural differences

Effective intercultural

communication skills including

language skills

Ability to function as a member of

another culture

Knowledge of world history and current events

Appreciation of openness to global interdependence

Knowledge of geo-political issues, changes, and decision making

Knowledge of global business

interactions and

organizations

Attitude Elements Identified in Research

.

GlobalCompetence: Elements and

Characteristics

Global Competence:

Global Competence Elements and Characteristics

GlobalCompetence: Elements and

Characteristics

Appreciationof own and

others’ personaland

cultural norms

Critical awareness & appreciation of cultural differences

Effective intercultural

communication skills including

language skills

Ability to function as a member of

another culture

Knowledge

of world history

and current events

Appreciation of and openness to global interdependence

Knowledge of geo-political issues, changes, and decision making

Knowledge of global business

interactions and

organizations

Specific skills, abilities, and experiences that relate to and operationalize global

competence elements

Global Competence –Definition Used in Student Learning

Outcomes Global competence is a continuing

process of acquiring specific economic, historical, and geo-political knowledge which supports the intercultural communication skills and authentic lived experiences that allow a person to function in another culture, and result in attitudes of cultural appreciation and interdependence.

Study Abroad Program StructureAcademic (study abroad) Residential (living abroad)

AcademicProgram

Program Length Program LocationFaculty SelectionCurriculum Selection

ResidentialProgram

Type and level of student servicesHousing optionsCultural activities

Cul

tura

l Ex

perie

nces

Los Rios Study Abroad Program Student Learning

Outcomes• Global Competence• Personal Growth• Continued Interest in Travel• Knowledge Acquisition• Development of Skills and

Experiences • Attitude Enhancement and

Change 

Los Rios Study Abroad Program Student Learning

Outcomes1. Global Competence -- As a

result of participating in the Study Abroad program, the student will be able to contextually appreciate, analyze, and articulate global competence.

 

Los Rios Study Abroad Program Student Learning

Outcomes2.Personal Growth -- The student

will be able to successfully live and thrive in a culture not the student’s own and grow individually and personally from the experience.

 

Los Rios Study Abroad Program Student Learning

Outcomes3. Continued Interest in Travel --

The student will incorporate an interest in international travel into the student’s lifelong learning plan.

 

Los Rios Study Abroad Program Student Learning

Outcomes4. Knowledge Acquisition -- The

student will incorporate specific cultural, geopolitical, economic, and social knowledge into academic and personal contexts.

 

Los Rios Study Abroad Program Student Learning

Outcomes5. Development of Skills and

Experiences -- The student will develop skills to appreciate visual, historical and experiential cultural products of cultures different from the student’s own.

 

Los Rios Study Abroad Program Student Learning

Outcomes6. Attitude Enhancement and

Change -- As one consequence of participating in the Study Abroad program, the student will question, analyze, and potentially change attitudes about the host culture that the student had prior to the experience, and this attitudinal analysis will result in less ethnocentric behavior.

 

“We need a group of academic leaders to challenge us, to make us dream, to lead us to sacrifice a little for the long

term benefit of our nation and our world.” Senator Paul Simon