Mind the Gap: Global Learning at Home and Abroad

Co-published with There is growing awareness thatglobal learning is not confined to university, credit-bearing off campusinternational programs, and that institutions of higher learning have, up untilnow, conceived of global education too narrowly.

Global learning through studyabroad and off-campus domestic study fits into a larger context of students'educational experiences.

You can find global learning as part of otherhigh-impact practices; domestic off-campus programs, undergraduate research,and service- or community-based learning all can be global learning opportunities. On-campus global learning can occur in the disciplines and in the corecurriculum as well.

Language and culture, anthropology, sociology, and otherdepartments, multicultural centers, and diversity and inclusivity offices, toname a few, also teach students to be global learners.

Global learning pertainsto the many staff and faculty educators who intentionally encourage students toengage with and successfully navigate difference.

Thus, there is a growing needfor bridging across disciplinary and administrative silos, silos that areculturally bound within academia.

The gaps between these silos matter asstudents seek to integrate off- and on-campus learning.

Higher education needs a new, holistic assessment of globallearning.

This book investigates not just student learning, but also facultyexperiences, program structures, and pathways that impact global learning, andexpands the context of global learning to show its antecedents and impacts as apart of the larger higher education experience.

Chapters look at recentdevelopments such as short-term, off-campus, international study andcertificate/medallion programs, as well as blended learning environments andundergraduate research, all in the context of multi-institutional comparisons. Global learning is also situated in a larger university context.

Thus, there isa growing need for bridging across disciplinary and administrative silos, silosthat are culturally bound within academia.

The gaps between these silos matteras students seek to integrate off- and on-campus learning, and it is up to theacademy to mind those gaps.