Thursday, February 24, 2011
The second day of the Symposium provided the opportunity for attendees to participate in a series of discussion groups exploring issues specific to ISEP, as well as industry best practices and new trends. Each group had a moderator and a note taker solicited from Council members and the ISEP membership at-large and focused on the following discussion topics:
- Academic Systems: Discussion centered on the differences and similarities between academic systems and how this impacts student participation, selection/validation of classes and credit transfer. The impact of the new European higher education system on student mobility was also explored.
- Application Process: Discussion focused on what type of selection processes members are using to select ISEP students, including assessment of language skills and documents required during the process. Participants also explored ways in which the application process could be simplified through the use of online tools.
- Student Assessment: Participants explored best practices for measuring the learning that takes place during a study abroad experience, including ways of measuring these outcomes as well as the type of learning that should be measured (e.g. academic learning v. transformative learning).
- Taxes: If ISEP benefits are given in the form of a stipend or account, how can the institution ensure that incoming students are not taxed on this perceived “income”? Discussion focused on case studies and proactive strategies for addressing this issue.
- Advising: Participants discussed various orientation models, exploring ideas to enhance the transition and adaptation process for students in their host countries. The discussion also explored useful ways of promoting programs and advising students prior to departure through the use of classroom visits, marketing collateral, targeted email blasts, faculty communication, personalized advising, social media, fairs, alumni gatherings and open houses.
- Hot Topics: Participants determined and discussed current topics of high importance to the ISEP Network, including: maximizing integration of students in their host communities, setting clear expectations and goals for students before departure, better promotion of service learning and volunteer options through ISEP and coordinator training on the new online database.
- Marketing: Participants discussed successful strategies in promoting and recruiting students to study abroad through ISEP on their campuses.
- Visa Issues: Discussion explored the required FBI background check for visas in certain countries and the possibility of more collaboration with NAFSA to address this issue. Participants also discussed utilizing online forums and conference sessions as a means to collaborate on visa and entry requirement challenges moving forward.
- Best Practices Toolbox: Attendees discussed the key ingredients necessary to maximize the unique ISEP experience, including ISEP’s unparalleled exchange model, full immersion experience and interview process for selection.
- Faculty Mobility: Discussion focused on how the ISEP Network could facilitate faculty involvement and how this would look (e.g. length of exchange, compensation, logistics, oversight, risk management, modular v. distance education).
- Health and Safety: Conversation focused on risk management issues, including what additional measures could be instituted to maintain a safe living and learning environment for students, such as embedding real student situations into pre-departure orientations and actively tracking these topics at industry conferences. Crisis management ideas to handle natural disasters or other emergency situations were also explored.
- The New Generation: Participants discussed the profile of students who are now entering university and how best to fit their needs. In particular, parents nowadays have much more involvement in study abroad planning and the discussion focused on how best to address this.