Worldw dwide de Study Abroad and the Liberal Arts: A Winning - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Worldw dwide de

Study Abroad and the Liberal Arts: A Winning Combination

ICEF Dubai Conference 2018 Presented by Webster University - International Campuses

• Dr. Keith Welsh and Mr. Will McDonald

Gl Global al E Enroll

• llment

nts

180, 180,000 000 alumni w worldwide

• Measuring Personal Growth
• Enhances employability and skills for “Career Readiness”
• Research shows: study abroad students have better grades, less attrition (fewer

failure rates) and faster rates of graduation

Res esearch ab abou

• ut t

the e Ben enef efits o

• f Study Abroad

On On Person

• nal

al g growth…

Impac act o

• n Person
• nal

al De Develop

• pment…

European Commission research on mobility exchange outcomes (characteristics relevant to 92% of employers interviewed):

• Tolerance of ambiguity (acceptance of others, adaptability)
• Curiosity (open to new experiences)
• Confidence (trust in one’s own competence)
• Serenity (awareness of strengths and weaknesses)
• Decisiveness (ability to make decisions)
• Vigor (ability to solve problems)

On average, exchange students presented higher values on these factors than 70% of all students in Europe The change in personality traits after study abroad is equivalent to a change over four years of life.

Im Impact o t on Emplo loyabilit ility…

Hard and Soft-skills, including:

• Cognitive skills

– cognitive processes and strategies, knowledge and creativity

• Intrapersonal skills

– intellectual openness, work ethic and positive self-evaluation

• Interpersonal skills

– various communication, teamwork and leadership skills

Reaso sons s for pur ursuing ng i int nterna nationa nal s stud udy shifte ted

FROM HIGH IDEALS

• International solidarity
• Global development
• Mutual understanding
• Exploring culture
• Individual improvement

TO THE VERY PRACTICAL

• Return on Investment (ROI)

considerations for families

• Labor market & demands of

globalisation

• Economic competitiveness is a

higher priority for government-funded programs

… … dr driving g a a tren end toward hy hyper-specia ializ lizatio ion

Hypers rspecia ializ lizatio ion vs. L Lib iberal l Educatio ion

• In many countries, admission implies acceptance to a specific

“faculty” – where courses are nearly all in the same fields

• 21st Century careers are less predictable (no longer a fixed

path: careers are non-linear)

• Graduates often face a diverse, complex and volatile job

markets, often requiring career ‘reinvention’

• The capacity to innovate requires broader knowledge across

disciplines

• Some specializations are highly technical yet also highly

localised (ie. law, nursing/medicine) – these credentials don’t always cross borders easily

Valu luin ing t the Lib iberal l Ar Arts s – in in Silic ilicon V Valle lley?

• Innovative CEOs with Liberal Arts backgrounds include
• Stewart Butterfield, Slack (Philosophy)
• Jack Ma, Alibaba (English)
• Susan Wojcicki, YouTube (History and Literature)
• Brian Chesky, Airbnb (Fine Arts)
• Google study: Project Oxygen

– The seven top characteristics of success at Google are all soft skills

Cham ampion

• ns f

for

• r t

the L Liberal al Arts

Univ iversit ities a and the Liberal A l Arts

Web ebster er’s G Glob

• bal

al Cit itiz izenship ip Pr Progra gram ( (GCP) P)

REGARDLESS of their major, all students must complete courses in each of the Global Citizenship Program categories. PLUS Skills Requirement courses: All students must complete at least one course for each of the following skills: Written Communication Oral Communication Critical Thinking Intercultural Competence Ethical Reasoning

First-year Seminar introduces GCP program, emphasizes critical thinking, interdisciplinarity, integration GCP courses address knowledge, communication, critical thinking, ethical reasoning, global understanding, intercultural competence, integrative thinking Global Keystone Seminar serves as capstone course for the Global Citizenship Program of general education

1 2 3

GCP runs i in Par aral allel el w with Acad adem emic M Maj ajor

• r c

cou

• urses

Welcom come to to a wor

• rld o
• f choice

ce…

• When beginning a bachelor’s degree, many students are not ready to

decide exactly which major they should pursue

• Enables students to choose several elective courses in the first year,

fulfilling GCP requirements while gaining exposure across disciplines

• Students can enroll with an “Undecided” Major, or can change their

major (or add a second Major or Minor) after testing and exploring

• Choice of most suitable major can be made, based on knowledge

gained, by the second year

• Combinations of different disciplines is possible and encouraged

A A Libe beral Ar Arts Ed s Education L Lets Y You Ex Explo plore!

CHA- A M / B BANGKO KOK, THAIL AND

GENEVA, S W ITZ E R L A N D

LEIDEN, THE HE N ETHERL RLANDS

VI VIENN NNA, AUS TR IA

ATHENS, S, GR E E E E C E

ACC CCRA, GHAN A

• ST. LOUIS

IS, M MISS ISSOURI US USA

Study A y Abr broad s semest mester(s) s) i in the U U.S.

Adde ded B d Benefits of

• f S

Study A Abroa

• ad

at We Webster

Webster believes so much in Study Abroad that…  We cover the cost of the student’s round-trip flight  Their “home campus” tuition rate travels with them  There is no ‘transfer’ of credits needed (all on one transcript)

Ranked among Top 2% of US universities for Study Abroad, in “America’s Best Colleges” (2018 edition)

Webst ster er Univer ersi sity’ y’s s Missi ssion: n:

To ens nsure hig high qua uali lity learning experiences that trans nsform student nts for global citize izenship hip and d indi dividual excel ellen ence. e.

Thank you

Questions & discussion

Speaker Contacts

• Dr. Keith Welsh, Thailand Campus

welshk@webster.ac.th www.webster.ac.th

• Mr. Will McDonald, Geneva Campus

mcdonald@webster.ch www.webster.ch

Career Impact and Alumni Reach

Webster Geneva Alumni Country Origins, 1979-2018

(6 continents, 150+ countries, 4,000+ alumni)

2017 Survey of Graduating Students

(88% response rate)

73% gained work experience during their Webster studies 54% conducted an internship during their degree program