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The Global University - Support

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PREFACE<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum‘Internationalisation’ and its variant ‘internationalism’ (or ‘globalisation’ for that matter) are newwords which have very recently passed into common parlance in the university. Universities nowhave senior officials as high as Pro Vice-Chancellor tasked to ensure their global presence.Whole administrative departments have been created to promote this globalising endeavour.Internationalisation in higher education has, however, been driven to a great extent by therecruitment of students from abroad to study in the UK. In the last 10 years the marketing ofour higher education overseas has made significant financial returns to the sector. Some evenperceive higher education abroad as big business.Thankfully, it is becoming increasingly clear to us that the main benefits of the globalisation ofhigher education are not financial (as valuable as that may be) but intellectual and cultural.<strong>The</strong> coming together of people from different parts of the world to study has the potential toform creative global communities that learn to interact and collaborate in new and previouslyincomprehensible ways. Such is the dynamism of life in the ‘global village’.I for one have been concerned that the presence of students from other cultures within Britainhas not markedly fostered the kind of intellectual and academic interchange that transculturalopportunities to study at our universities should bring. A familiar ‘ghetto-isation’ occurs whengroups from other countries cohere and live among us with very little to do with local life andculture. We, in turn, lose valuable opportunities to understand other cultures especially since thereis a general waning of interest in learning other languages and the commensurate inability toread other texts. It is the inverse of the western tourist who goes to the heart of China or Indiaamidst a range of local cuisine options but seeks out a McDonalds meal as first preference.<strong>The</strong> isolation from British life and culture is often governed by overseas students needing to livein the poorest part of our cities in order to make education in Britain affordable. This kind ofsegregation out of necessity, not freedom, undermines intellectual and cultural interchange.This general concern brings us to the purpose of this collection of essays which focuses onthe globalisation of the university itself; its vision and purpose. It is particularly concerned abouthow the university conceives and shapes its curriculum to include the dimension of the globaland international. It could be argued that a university’s curriculum is the best indicator of itsinternational character or lack of it. <strong>The</strong> authors, therefore, point us to the curriculum time andtime again and not the number of international students the university has, or even the numberof campuses abroad it has managed to establish.<strong>The</strong>se essays contain some very helpful examples of how the curriculum can locate theinternational in the local. It does not pretend to be a comprehensive collection of good practicein Britain but it contains enough to stir the imagination. We are, therefore, indebted to thecompilers of this insightful collection.Professor Gerald J PillayVice-Chancellor and RectorLiverpool Hope <strong>University</strong>1


CONTENTSSECTION 1 PAGE 5Introduction<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum<strong>University</strong> staff are often involved in an array of initiatives that underpin and informcurriculum development. As stated in case study 4.4 ‘Institutional and intellectualdevelopments as much as student interest and changing patterns of post-degreeemployment and student travel have fuelled this change’.<strong>The</strong>se case studies point to three types of driver in the integration of global perspectivesin the curriculum:SECTION 2 PAGE 11[Curriculum development] influenced by students or faculty initiativesmotivated academics working together, sometimes with their students,to develop global perspectives programmes, courses and modules.SECTION 3 PAGE 19[Curriculum development] influenced by university-wide initiativesuniversity-wide programmes; corporate plans, Teaching and Learning Strategies;multi-disciplinary approaches; student programmes.SECTION 4 PAGE 27[Curriculum development] influenced by networks and external initiativessupport networks; communities of practice in the UK; strategic work with other organisationsand institutions; and collaboration with colleagues around the world.SECTION 5 PAGE 37Ways forwardSECTION 6 PAGE 47References2 3


SECTION 1INTRODUCTIONENSURING HIGHQUALITY LEARNING ISAT THE HEART OF ALLHIGHER EDUCATIONINSTITUTIONS.Dr Douglas BournDirectorDevelopment Education AssociationThis means that the methodsand forms of learning must develop,challenge and enhance students’understanding of the world.4<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum5


1Introduction<strong>Global</strong>isation poses many challenges for higher educationA global perspectives approach broadens understandingEconomically, globalisation creates a greaterflow of markets and labour. <strong>The</strong> skills graduateswill require to live and work in a global societyand economy are very different from the skillsrequired even a decade ago. Learners need tobe confident in their ability to deal with complexityand uncertainty, and skills in critical thinking mustbe central.To live and work in a global society requiresmore than excellent ICT skills or learning anotherlanguage. In a world of rapid change, instantcommunication and growing interdependencethe ability to reflect, understand and listen torange of voices and perspectives also becomesessential. <strong>The</strong>se approaches are particularlyreflected in the case studies from Bournemouth,Leeds Metropolitan and Gloucestershire(2.1, 3.2, & 4.7).<strong>Global</strong>isation also impacts on how as individualswe see ourselves in relation to the world inwhich we live, be it in terms of identities,culture, personal and social interactions.(Niezen 2004, Tomlinson 1999)As Cliff Allan from the Higher Education Academyhas commented, “higher education has a key rolein creating a student experience, which nurturesthe global citizen of tomorrow, which enablesstudents as graduates to make positivecontributions to a global society and economy”. 1<strong>The</strong> Higher Education Funding Council forEngland Strategic Plan for 2006-11 notes the keyrole higher education plays and must increasinglyplay within the UK’s ‘knowledge economy’including acting as ‘a major force for securinga democratic and inclusive society.’ 2 Central tothis plan are the following themes:● the impact of globalisation and the need forhigh level skills to respond to the changingnature of the global economy● widening participation particularly fromunder-represented communities● enhancing excellence in research, learningand teaching● start increase the impact of the highereducation knowledge base to enhanceUK economic development and the strengthand vitality of UK society.This publication aims to address these challengesthrough demonstrating the central role that‘global perspectives’ can and should play withinthe curriculum and life of a higher educationinstitution. It builds on the work of theDevelopment Education Association (DEA) withuniversities and non-governmental organisationsthat was brought together in the ‘<strong>Global</strong>Perspectives in Higher Education Project’(2000-04).Curriculum guidance in the form of genericand indicative learning indicators, partnershipinitiatives with a range of higher educationinstitutions, and support from policymakingbodies were successful outcomes of this work. 3<strong>The</strong> project culminated in a national conferenceon ’Graduates as <strong>Global</strong> Citizens’ in April 2005. 4<strong>Global</strong> perspectives approaches help us to:● understand our own situation in a wider context● make connections between local and globalevents and scales● develop skills and knowledge to interpret eventsaffecting our lives● learn from experiences elsewhere in the world● identify common interests and explorewider horizons.<strong>The</strong>se case studies demonstrate that there is nosingle model for introducing global perspectivesin higher education. <strong>The</strong> drivers for integratingthis approach into the curriculum have led tomany interesting and successful initiatives.<strong>The</strong> HEFCE strategic plan states: “in the contextof globalisation, the value of an internationaldimension to the curriculum and the connectionsof HE with other parts of the world should befurther supported within the sector.” 5In rethinking courses and curriculum development,how one understands views and perspectives fromdiverse cultures and countries and connections tothe wider world become critical. This publicationargues that overseas links and connections withother institutions are not enough in themselves.Good, successful international partnerships arebuilt on recognition of mutual learning.Opportunities for students to gain differentperspectives on understanding a subject areessential. Initiatives such as those at Northumbria,Glamorgan and <strong>University</strong> of Chester(3.6, 2.2 & 3.5) demonstrate clearly theadded value of such approaches.<strong>The</strong>re is now considerable evidence from opinionpolls, research and social movements that youngpeople are keen to engage with global issues. 6Many students want to be active global citizens;they are passionate about combating globalpoverty and wish to address the threat of climatechange. Many would like to spend part of theirstudies working or volunteering in a ‘developingcountry’. Courses that address wider world issuesare welcomed by students. <strong>The</strong> Newcastle-upon-Tyne Medical School and Leeds case studies(2.4 & 2.3), for example, demonstrate thisstudent demand.Such courses can also be a selling point forstudents whose cultural origins lie outside the UK.<strong>The</strong>refore recognising global issues andperspectives can be a mechanism for wideningparticipation and access from social groups whoare currently under-represented within highereducation. Several of the case studies alsoshow that wider world perspectives can bea mechanism for engaging civil society andcommunity organisations in the life and workof the institution.Employers are looking for high quality graduateswho can contribute to the economic wellbeingof society. This means they need in the era ofglobalisation to have transferable skills, beculturally sensitive and able to deal with complexproblems in a critical manner. 71. DEA (2005), available at www.dea.org.uk/publications5. HEFCE (2006) p.182. Higher Education Funding Council for England (2006) Strategic Plan March 2006/13 Guide6. DFID Opinion Polls 2000-2006; Darnton 2005; Mayo 2005; Edwards and Gaventa 20013. McKenzie, A. et al (2003) <strong>Global</strong> Perspectives in Higher Education London: DEA7. DEA (2005)4. Conference report available at www.dea.org.uk/publications<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum6 7


1Introduction continuedEnsuring high quality learning is at the heart of all higher education institutionsIndicators of successThis means above all that the methods and formsof learning must develop, challenge and enhancestudents’ understanding of the world in which theylive. Quality learning means addressing ways inwhich students learn and engage with issues.Many of the examples in this publication arebased on development education methodologicalprinciples of participatory learning, critical thinkingand student’s active engagement.Higher education institutions, it is argued,also have a social and moral responsibility tocontribute to a more equitable and just world.As Liz Beaty, Director of Learning and Teachingat HEFCE, commented, “critical awareness ofstudents of the rest of the world, and theirresponsibility within it, including the ethical andsocial basis of the values that they have, shouldbe part of what we are talking about.” 8 Forgraduates to see themselves as global citizens,institutions need to promote a culture thatvalues human rights, sustainable development,inter-cultural understanding and global humandevelopment. 9 <strong>The</strong>se perspectives have becomeimportant features of university wide initiativesat Bournemouth, Manchester and LeedsMetropolitan (section 2).<strong>The</strong> debates above also build on two importantUK Government initiatives, the Department forEducation and Skills’ (DfES) strategy ‘Putting theWorld into World-Class Education’ 10 and theHEFCE initiative on sustainable development. 11<strong>The</strong> former acknowledges the need for the globaldimension to be reflected within all aspects oflearning and promotes principles of active globalcitizenship. <strong>The</strong> latter in particular notes theimportance of developing curricula and pedagogyon sustainable development.<strong>Global</strong> perspectives provides a mechanismfor ensuring that the pressures of globalisation,international programmes, student intake, andwidening participation are linked and connected. 12<strong>The</strong>se debates and initiatives pose majorchallenges for higher education institutions whenconsidering their role in the twenty first century.For the DEA, the principles of developmenteducation provide a framework for taking thiswork forward. Development education is anapproach to learning that leads to a greaterunderstanding of global inequalities, why theyexist and what can be done about them. Itencourages learners of all ages to explore howglobal issues, such as poverty and sustainabledevelopment, link in with their everyday lives.By challenging stereotypes and encouragingindependent thinking, development educationaims to help people develop the practical skillsand confidence to make positive changeslocally and globally. It aims to bring globalperspectives into all aspects of learning - theschool classroom, universities, local communityactivities and the media.<strong>The</strong> DEA’s understanding of developmenteducation, in brief, means promoting ways ofunderstanding society by making connectionsbetween local and wider world issues; it meanslearning about an issue or a subject throughthe lens of globalisation and internationaldevelopment; finally, it means learning thatleads to responsible actions.As the case studies in this publicationdemonstrate, global perspectives can beembedded in any area of study and researchin higher education - physics, business studies,language learning, medicine and health,veterinary science, geography, teacher and youthwork training, media studies, performing arts - aswell as within the institutional policy and practiceof a university or college.In the life of a higher education institution two setsof indicators can point to a commitment to globalresponsibility:● Learning outcomes associated with globalperspectives (including local-global) inthe curriculum:● knowledge and understanding● cognitive, social and practical skills● values and attitudes.●Performance indicators associated withhigher education institution practice:● institutional ethos(mission and values)● accountability systems(social and environmental)● economic choices(purchasing and investment). 13<strong>The</strong> DEA and with key stakeholders in highereducation are working in partnership to takeforward these debates. This publication aims todemonstrate through a series of examples howthis work is developing. If higher educationinstitutions in the UK are to be ‘world-classinstitutions’ then they need to be global not onlyin outlook but in what and how their courses,degrees and research are developedand implemented.Dr Douglas BournDirectorDevelopment Education Association<strong>The</strong> DEA is a national network of 250 member organisations thatshare a commitment to development education. <strong>The</strong> DEA fostersand facilitates dialogue between our members and the widereducation community, and other networks; offers support andnetworking opportunities to our members; and advocates at localand national levels in order to increase understanding of globalperspectives in learning and their relevance. Phyllis Thompson,Deputy Director, leads the DEA’s higher education programmewith the support of Amy Dunkley. Dr Aileen McKenzie advises theDEA, alongside a committee of member organisations workingwithin higher education. For more information go towww.dea.org.uk/higher8. DEA (2005)9. See HEFCE document on Corporate Social Responsibility10. DfES (2004)11. HEFCE (2005)12. Lunn (2006), report of a DFID-funded research by the Royal Geographical Society with IBG<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum13. See www.dea.org.uk/higher8 9


UNDERSTANDING OFETHICAL ISSUESARISING FROMDEVELOPMENT INREPRODUCTIVE SCIENCEAND MEDICINE,THEIR IMPACT ONINDIVIDUALS, FAMILIESAND SOCIETY IN BOTHTHE ‘DEVELOPED’ AND‘DEVELOPING’ WORLD,AND TO DEVELOPSKILLS OFCOMMUNICATION,PRESENTATION ANDCRITICAL ANALYSIS.SECTION 2STUDENT & FACULTY INITIATIVESDr Aileen McKenzieHigher Education Adviser to the DEABournemouth <strong>University</strong><strong>University</strong> of Glamorgan<strong>University</strong> of Leeds<strong>University</strong> of Newcastle-upon-TyneOpen <strong>University</strong><strong>University</strong> College London (UCL)10<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum11


2Student & faculty initiatives2.1Bournemouth <strong>University</strong>:BA Hons Business Studies and BA Hons Business and ManagementEvidence is emerging of an increasing numberof undergraduate and postgraduate degreeprogrammes across the UK that offer core orelective modules and units featuring globalperspectives. <strong>The</strong> drivers for this trend includestudent demand and interest, the commitment ofcourse leaders and academics, and the impact ofexternal factors in the wider economy and societyon fields of study and professional development.<strong>The</strong> <strong>University</strong> of Leeds’ Life Skills and Spiritualitycourse is interesting in the way that it offersstudents the opportunity to connect contemporaryglobal issues with their own spirituality, as well asin the origins of the course. Though chaplainsplay an intellectual and spiritual role in theacademic and pastoral aspects of HEI life, manyremain an under-utilised resource and areparticularly well-placed to support institutionsseeking to explore values in the curriculum.To encourage first year students to start to thinkabout global citizenship as well as provide anunderpinning for work on global perspectives laterin their studies, two activities have been initiated.<strong>The</strong> first, a ‘preferred futures’ exercise is partof personal development, while the second,a business simulation, provides students with theopportunity to think about citizenship in the localsense, through engagement with communityissues and volunteering.Evaluation reveals that an early introduction toglobal issues is crucial. Student feedback indicatesthat they welcome the opportunity to think abouttheir role in society and, as one put it, “to realiseI have responsibility to effect change”. <strong>The</strong>simulation demonstrates that business knowledgeand skills can help bring about positive change.Students regard the experience as “empowering”and an “opportunity to learn about issues thatI might not have thought about otherwise”.In practice, global perspectives are often viewedthrough a discipline or subject lens. Bournemouth<strong>University</strong>, for example, shows how adaptationof a traditional module to incorporate globalperspectives can improve the quality of thelearning. <strong>The</strong> students themselves describe theirexperience of this curriculum as “empowering”.Bournemouth <strong>University</strong>’s BA Hons BusinessStudies and BA Hons Business and Managementengage students through participatoryapproaches. Participatory activities enable studentsto draw upon their own experience as a way ofexploring links with the wider world. This processdeepens their understanding of theinterconnectedness between the social, economic,environmental and political spheres and theimpact of any subject in its application to life.<strong>The</strong> <strong>University</strong> of Glamorgan – van Hall InstituutBSc Hons Physical Geography and MSc CoastalScience modules have an experiential element.Students from the two institutions undertakefieldwork together while exchanging opinionsabout global issues, questions and problemsrelated to their field of study.<strong>The</strong> Open <strong>University</strong> approach illustrates howa theme has been used to engage staff acrossdepartments and subject disciplines to developthe curriculum.Students are becoming much more vocal intheir expectations of their learning for the globalcontext. <strong>The</strong> <strong>University</strong> of Newcastle-upon-Tyneexample illustrates how academics areresponding to demands from the student body.<strong>The</strong> methodologies that universities have chosenfor integrating global perspectives into thecurriculum are varied. How far these approachesto learning will become embedded in UK highereducation curricula is currently uncertain. It isarguable that this is an approach to learningwhose time has come. <strong>The</strong> case studies collectedhere demonstrate a common commitment byacademics and faculties to equip students with thecapacity, the skills and knowledge to be active,informed participants in a global society.<strong>The</strong> ‘preferred futures’ exercise is a seminaractivity that gets the students to think abouttheir personal concerns in the context of theenvironment, poverty and conflict. Students areasked to consider their vision of the future in termsof their first year at <strong>University</strong>, their life in tenyears time and the world in twenty years time.<strong>The</strong> students are then required to consider whatthey and others will need to do to bring abouttheir ‘preferred future’. Individual responses andplanned action is then shared through groupdiscussion. This exercise is useful in raisingawareness and getting the students to realisethat they have an active role to play indetermining not just their life experience butthe future of the planet.<strong>The</strong> business simulation takes place towardsthe end of the first year and is an innovativeadaptation of a more traditional,business-planning scenario. Students work inteams to develop a community engagementproject. <strong>The</strong>y have to apply the knowledgeand skills they have acquired to a communityimprovement context. Outputs include a businessproposal, a poster presentation, a letter ofapplication to secure funds and student curriculavitae. <strong>The</strong> activity is delivered in partnership withthe Students Union who bring in expertise withcommunity programmes and Barclays whoprovide sponsorship.<strong>The</strong> next stage will be to extend the simulationactivity to enable the students to follow theirideas through and bring tangible benefits to thelocal community. Course leaders will also ensurethat actions identified in the ‘preferred futures’activity are integrated into PersonalDevelopment Planning.Chris ShielHead of Learning and Teaching, Institute ofBusiness and Law, Bournemouth <strong>University</strong>.email: cshiel@bournemouth.ac.ukweb: www.bournemouth.ac.uk/global_perspectives/curriculum_example.html12<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum13


2.2<strong>University</strong> of Glamorgan and van Hall Instituut,Leeuwarden Netherlands:BSc (Hons) Physical Geography and MSc Coastal Science2.3<strong>University</strong> of Leeds:Level 1, 2, 3 elective module in Life Skills and Spirituality:<strong>The</strong> Community ContextWithin the award structure for both BSc (Hons)Physical Geography and MSc Coastal Science isa module that considers Coastal ZoneManagement (CZM). A key theme in this model islearning from a shared field course abroad thatinvolves a Dutch institute in a reciprocal fieldcourse. <strong>The</strong> module requires students to developan understanding of the conflict-based problemspresented in a coastal zone.By visiting sites at risk of storm surges orvulnerable to flooding the student is introduced tothe actual impact of global climate change. <strong>The</strong>sites also emphasise global trade in coastal andmarine resources (e.g. between the ‘economicallydeveloped’ and ‘developing worlds’) and nationaleconomics (e.g. capital cities’ vulnerabilities, portand harbour protection, and national planningpolicies to counter accelerated sea level rise). <strong>The</strong>history of disasters is introduced by exploring the1953 storm surge, which affected the Netherlandsand UK, and subsequent national actions. Thiswas a catastrophic (and unforeseen) disaster thathad regional impact, and students discuss thelikelihood that such a threat is now enhancedby climate change, which changes the futuredevelopment of national coastlines.<strong>The</strong> field course in the Netherlands, mirroredby a field course on the South Wales coast,comprises a series of site visits involving UK andDutch students in examining CZM issues on theDutch coast. In addition to being introduced tothe coastal management agenda of the LowCountries, the students share group seminars andworkshops that consider many of the ethical andpractical issues facing coastal managers today.Using the 1953 storm surge, comparisons areeasily made between two EU countries withdiffering vulnerabilities. Students are invited tocompare the consequences of the managedrealignment policy of the UK and the technologybased defences of the Netherlands fromeconomic, planning and socio-culturalperspectives. <strong>The</strong>se choices are enhanced bygroup-work shared by the students, who arebrought directly into discussion with each other,and realise their different national andpersonal prejudices.<strong>Global</strong> perspectives are drawn out further throughan additional area of interest - the history of twocountries that competed for Empire rights for 300years. What the Netherlands do not influence inthe India-Far East axis, for example, Britain does(or did). Consequently, socio-economic issues ofcoastal and population vulnerability is addressedin terms of historic links with other global regionsand considerations of how each country, withinEU strictures, continues to project political andeconomic power to those areas.Sharing field course visits, lectures and workshopstogether, the debate is often fierce anddiametrically opposed opinions are often thestarting point when discussing coastal vulnerability,climate change, tsunami protection and managedrealignment. Putting a Dutch and a UK student ina room with a question will generate at least threeopinions and three answers.A fascinating element of the field course is thatthe shared marine histories of the UK andNetherlands often leads students to agree oncoastal issues, while, reaching a diverse range ofpossible solutions to global issues, problems andquestions based on national background.Dr Simon JonesScheme Leader, Earth and Space Sciences,School of Applied Sciences, <strong>University</strong>of Glamorgan.email: sdjones2@glam.ac.ukIn a post-modern world in which old religiouscertainties are questioned and a plurality of viewsexist on the basic values of life, there is anincreasing search for life meaning. <strong>The</strong>Chaplaincy Team at the <strong>University</strong> of Leedshave identified a need for an academic coursethat supports students’ exploration of issuesof spirituality.Students are expected to engage seriously withcontemporary global issues and deepen theircapacity to connect such issues to their ownspirituality. So, for example, as part of the‘Spirituality and the Earth’ unit, students:● research issues of wealth and poverty, identify‘Facts that disturb our spirits’ and comparetheir own definitions of poverty with Naryan’s(2000) ‘Voice of the Poor: Can anyonehear us?’● focus on sustainability, measure their own ecological footprint, critique the ideology oflimitless consumption and ask ‘What are thespiritual implications?’● analyse the concept of responsible globalcitizenship and debate the question of whetherspirituality is essentially attitude or action.Student comment: “Enjoyed citizenship andglobal issues. Relevant for everyone …”Delivery is learner-centred. <strong>The</strong>re is amandatory one-hour class each week wherediscussion is encouraged and learners areexpected to keep a weekly journal that informstwo one-to-one tutorials each semester.Assessment is 50% essay, 40% journal and10% review.Student comment: “It is a lot more interestingand you actually go away and reflect.”This is a ten credit elective module, run insemester two and building on a semester onemodule, ‘Life Skills and Spirituality in thePersonal Context’, which explores issues ofpersonhood, faith, emotions, health, life, deathand conflict resolution. <strong>The</strong> modules arecomplementary but stand alone and level 1, 2and 3 students from many subject areas signup to the modules. This is unusual and makesfor a lively class.Student comment: “It made you think.Challenged you.”<strong>The</strong> next step is to locate others engaged in similarwork in the <strong>University</strong> to contribute towardextending the level of curriculum commitment toglobal perspectives.Gwen Collins, & Nick BakerChaplains, Universities of Leeds andLeeds Metropolitan.emails: g.z.collins@leeds.ac.uk andn.baker@leeds.ac.ukwww.leeds.ac.uk/chaplaincy<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum14 15


2.4<strong>University</strong> of Newcastle-upon-Tyne:Undergraduate Medicine: <strong>Global</strong> Health Option2.5Open <strong>University</strong>:U212 Childhood<strong>Global</strong> health is not part of the coreundergraduate medical curriculum at the<strong>University</strong> of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. However, frompast conversations with medical students, it is clearthat many feel this is a significant omission.Indeed, as a result of this exclusion/omission andreflecting a personal interest in internationalhealth issues, one student used the opportunityprovided by fourth year Student SelectedComponents (SSC) to privately organise an optionin <strong>Global</strong> Health in 2006.All fourth year medical undergraduates at the<strong>University</strong> of Newcastle-upon-Tyne are required toundertake three consecutive six-week SSCs.<strong>The</strong>re is a list of those officially approved by themedical school, or students can arrange the SSCprivately with supervisors, with subsequent medicalschool permission.<strong>The</strong> privately organised SSC in <strong>Global</strong> Healthundertaken by Catrin van den Ende andsupervised by Dr Richard Walker offered theopportunity to develop greater appreciation of theglobal context and determinants of health. It wasstructured to allow for more in depth pursuit ofparticular areas of interest, and for considerationof the local and practical relevance of the issuescovered. <strong>The</strong> student spent time combiningbackground reading and worksheets withward-rounds and out-patient clinics in generalmedicine, infectious diseases and obstetrics andgynaecology, time at a GP practice for newlyarrived asylum seekers and with workers at theregional office of the Medical Foundation for theCare of Victims of Torture.Reflection on how experiences might differ in aneconomically developing country was facilitated byregular meetings with the supervisor, and by usingopportunities provided by the well-establishedhigher education link between NorthumbrianHealthcare NHS Trust and Kilimanjaro ChristianMedical Centre, Tanzania. <strong>The</strong> potential role ofthis link (especially the reciprocal elective studentaspect) in global health education is somethingthey hope to further build upon in the future.<strong>The</strong> student also undertook a review of theprovision of global health teaching (generallylacking) on the undergraduate medical curriculaof all UK universities.It is now planned for the <strong>Global</strong> Health SSC tobe included in the list of options approved by themedical school for students in 2007. <strong>The</strong> SSC willbe structured by students, using a resource packof compiled background reading, local contactsand a curriculum developed by the charity‘Medact’ to formulate a timetable that allowsthem to fulfil the general aims and objectives ofthe option, and others agreed with the supervisor.<strong>The</strong> aim is to increase understanding of globalperspectives on health and reflect on what canbe learnt about this from everyday practice.Assessment will be two-fold, comprising a talk orelectronic portfolio to be assessed by the medicalschool, and another method agreed with theSSC supervisor.Newcastle feel that this is a relatively uniqueinitiative, which has come about to fill an areaof perceived need. <strong>The</strong>y are very keen, however,to promote the establishment and inclusion ofinternational health within the core medicalcurriculum so that all students have exposure tothis important topic.Dr Richard WalkerConsultant Physician, Honorary Clinical SeniorLecturer, <strong>University</strong> of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.email: richard.walker@nhct.nhs.uk<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculumFirst presented in 2003, this Level 2 courseoffers Open <strong>University</strong> students, studying in theirown homes, an introductory, international andinterdisciplinary understanding of childhood. <strong>The</strong>course, which is studied by about 900 studentseach year, is part of a degree programme inChildhood and Youth Studies and reflects theOpen <strong>University</strong>’s commitment to this fastdeveloping area of interest and application.Course content includes major cross-national andglobal themes, many of which are explicitly linkedto children’s rights issues. <strong>The</strong>se are presented infour course books, co-published with John Wiley,and in a range of audio-visual materialsco-produced with the BBC. <strong>The</strong> audio-visualmaterials include case studies of childhood inthree locations around the world: Chittagongin Bangladesh, Cape Town in South Africa, andOakland, CA in the USA. <strong>The</strong>se form a keylinking thread through the course.Student comment: “I’ve found Childhood one ofthe best courses I’ve studied yet. It’s kept meengrossed all year. It’s helped me understanda lot more to do with my own parenting skills andhopefully helped me become a slightly betterparent. It’s been interesting to see what otherchildren’s lives are like globally as well.”<strong>The</strong> course asks important questions aboutchildhood. What does it mean to be a child intoday’s world? Do popular images of innocenceand dependence match the reality of children’slives? How are modern lifestyles and technologiesaltering their play and their identities? Do childrenhave different rights from adults, and if so why?What role do children themselves play in shapingtheir childhood?<strong>The</strong>se questions and many others are the startingpoint for this broad-based course, which coversthe 0-18 age range (childhood as defined by theUnited Nations Convention on the Rights of theChild). <strong>The</strong> approach of the course is:● Introductory: Childhood has a place in everyone’s lives, but personal experiences of beinga child are very varied. <strong>The</strong>se experiences areone of the starting points for the course andrelevant to parents, people who work withchildren or those simply interested in howyoung people are treated and understood.Interdisciplinary: Introduces a range ofperspectives on childhood, drawing on recentresearch and theories from different disciplinesand perspectives including sociology,anthropology, psychology, cultural studies,social history, philosophy, social policy andchildren’s rights.International: Looks at childhood at differenttimes and in different places, with modernWestern childhood as one among manyexamples. Diversity and inequality, poverty,ill-health and violence are central themes,as are the way in which childhood isbecoming globalised and replaced byuniversal standards.16 17●●<strong>The</strong> course is assessed by seven assignmentsand an examination. It can be studied as aone-off course or as part of an Open <strong>University</strong>BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies.Student comment: “I have been amazed atthe lengths that the Course Team went to inorder to provide us with case studies fromdifferent cultures. … I liked the example in thelast chapter of the nursery school childrenbeing given the opportunity to expressthemselves and it made me realise just howmuch adults generally do guide children oreven dictate to them. I have learnt far morehow to approach children and value theirthoughts and opinions …”Prof. Martin WoodheadChair of the Childhood and Youth StudiesProgramme, and Dr Heather Montgomery,Presentation Chair of U212 Childhood.email: Fels-Childhood@open.ac.ukweb: www.open.ac.uk


2.6<strong>University</strong> College London (UCL) Medical School:Reproductive Medicine, Science and Society Student SSMThis second year Selected Study Module (SSM)enables students to investigate ethical and socialissues in reproductive medicine and their impacton reproductive rights in a global context.<strong>The</strong> objectives are to develop understanding ofethical issues arising from development inreproductive science and medicine, their impacton individuals, families and society in both the‘developed’ and ‘developing’ world, and todevelop skills of communication, presentationand critical analysis.An international dimension in reproductiverights, particularly as they affect women in thedeveloping world, is made through a web-basedlink with the Biomedical Ethics Unit in the NelsonMandela School of Medicine in KwaZulu Natal,South Africa. <strong>The</strong> aim, as the module develops, isto have students enlisted on the course from bothKwaZulu Natal and UCL so they can interact.Examples of two areas of interest from a globalperspective are the impact of HIV/AIDS onwomen’s rights in Africa, and female genitalmutilation and cultural relativity in ethicaldiscourse. <strong>The</strong> groups report progress each weekand discuss core philosophical ideas. In their roleas ‘journalists’ group members interview selectedclinicians or other health care providers in theobstetric hospital, some of whom are invited todiscuss issues further in group meetings. In thesecond term each student completes furtherliterature research to produce a writtendissertation of 5,000–6,000 words.<strong>The</strong> course has been exceptionally well receivedby students with most saying that it “made us thinkcritically” and provided an opportunity to exploreand see issues in a way they had not formerlybeen able to do.SECTION 3UNIVERSITY-WIDE MODELSDr Aileen McKenzieHigher Education Adviser to the DEABournemouth <strong>University</strong>Leeds Metropolitan <strong>University</strong><strong>University</strong> of Manchester<strong>University</strong> of Winchester<strong>University</strong> of ChesterNorthumbria <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> module runs over two terms. Facilitatedstudy group meetings run in conjunction withan interactive web-based environment, wherediscussion boards and topic-based chat roomsin addition to interactive materials develop coreconcepts and provide links for further research.In the first term students work as an editorialgroup of 4-5 to produce a magazine article orradio programme on one of the following:● Reproductive Rights in the Developing World● Family Rights and Genetic Screening● Foetal Medicine and Women’s Rights● Premature Babies.Dr Ray NobleSub-Dean (teaching) Clinical Sciences,Medical Sub-Dean Life Sciences, Royal Freeand <strong>University</strong> College Medical School.email: r.noble@ucl.ac.ukweb: www.homepages.ucl.ac.uk/~rmjbnob/18<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum19


3<strong>University</strong>-wide models3.1Bournemouth <strong>University</strong>:Graduates as <strong>Global</strong> CitizensIt is clear that global perspectives can beintroduced into higher education institution policyand practice through a variety of different routes.What may have been started by an enthusedstudent or member of faculty as an innovativefaculty or department venture has the potential tobe scaled-up when university–wide collaborationtakes place.<strong>The</strong> challenge of how to disseminate globalperspectives policy and practice, enthuse staffacross the whole institution and scale-up suchinitiatives remains considerable. <strong>The</strong> degreeprogrammes showcased here suggest thatmultidisciplinary approaches, for example, canhave added-value for staff as much as students:● <strong>The</strong> work of one department at Bournemouthhas led to university-wide changes and specificstructural strategies to secure its sustainability.● At Leeds Met the strategy is to review thecurriculum in a rolling programme and it hasalso led to new non-academic awards in<strong>Global</strong> Citizenship, which are available to allstudents and staff.● Staff delivering the <strong>University</strong> CollegeWinchester course welcomed the opportunity towork and teach with colleagues from otherparts of the institution. Students from differentbackgrounds and disciplines have foundlearning together interesting and stimulating.Concluding this section, the universities of Chesterand Northumbria provide two examples of thechallenges institutions encounter in providingauthentic curriculum opportunities forengagement in learning that broadens globalperspectives. Both programmes take account ofthe wider impact and benefits for the institutionof the participants’ learning. For example,Northumbria has identified the possibility offuture research collaborations between thepartners involved.Each highlights the underlying prerequisite ofstaff at all levels as well as students across theuniversity who are committed to the notion of thegraduates as global citizens.Bournemouth <strong>University</strong> has been developing aninstitution-wide approach to global perspectivessince its early partnership with DevelopmentEducation in Dorset (DEED) in 1999. An initialcollaborative project enabled Bournemouth todevelop a ‘<strong>Global</strong> Vision for Bournemouth<strong>University</strong>’, a document which was subsequentlyendorsed by Senate.Contribution to the DEA <strong>Global</strong> Perspectives inHigher Education Project (documented in the<strong>Global</strong> Perspectives in Higher Education:Improving Practice Series 2004) has facilitatedtaking this agenda forward, to the extent thatthe development of global citizens and globalperspectives are a strategic priority for theuniversity and central to its Learning and TeachingStrategy. <strong>The</strong> development is led by the ‘<strong>Global</strong>Perspectives Group’, chaired by thePro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic). <strong>The</strong> groupreports to the <strong>University</strong>’s Learning and TeachingCommittee. Curriculum development across theuniversity has been ongoing since the initial workwith DEED (see also 2.1).<strong>The</strong> university is also ensuring that its ownbusiness practice is more ‘sustainable’.A holistic approach to the agenda will resultin recommendations for change underthree categories:● Corporate responsibility and behaviour – the<strong>University</strong> as a global citizen.● Curriculum and pedagogy – embedding globalperspectives into the curriculum.● Extra-curricular activities to support citizenshipand international awareness.Chris ShielHead of Learning and Teaching, Institute ofBusiness and Law, Bournemouth <strong>University</strong>.email: cshiel@bournemouth.ac.ukAs staff at the <strong>University</strong> of Manchester point out,however, care and sensitivity and the sense ofownership are critical to achieving any measure ofsuccess. One approach here is for four schools tolead on the development of an inter-disciplinaryapproach which, if successful, the faculty hope toextend in the future.An HE Leadership Foundation Fellowshipawarded in 2005, is currently enablingBournemouth to develop its strategy to achievea step-change, to ensure that by 2010, allgraduates understand what it means to bea global citizen and feel confident in dealing withissues relating to diversity, inequality, and injusticeacross all subject areas.20<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum21


3.2Leeds Metropolitan <strong>University</strong>:Internationalisation Strategy3.3<strong>University</strong> of Manchester:Teaching, Learning and Assessment StrategyTo ensure penetration across the institution andthroughout the student experience, any significantreform requires a combination of leadership ata senior level and commitment throughout.Leeds Met is working to provide an educationalenvironment which will enable students to developboth an awareness of the global context of theirsubjects and of themselves as global citizens,alongside the abilities and perspectives requiredto operate effectively and ethically in the culturalcomplexity of the modern world. <strong>The</strong> alliedconcepts of Cross Cultural Capability (CCC)and <strong>Global</strong> Perspectives (GP) are fundamentalto this work.This is supported at all levels, starting with theaspiration within the Vision Statement to bea <strong>University</strong> with “world-wide horizons”.<strong>The</strong> Internationalisation Strategy derives froma values-driven approach, and its six areas ofactivity include ‘Internationalising learning,teaching and research’, and ‘Enhancing theinternational experience of home students’,both of which draw upon CCC and GP. Bothare further embedded in the new Assessment,Learning and Teaching Strategy.Fundamental to driving forward this work,however, is its inclusion within the Corporate Planthrough the broad vision set out in Aim 5, “Todevelop students’ international opportunities andglobal perspectives, ensuring that an international,multi-cultural ethos pervades the university” to thespecific work detailed in Outcome 5.2.1:“An agreed percentage of courses in eachfaculty will be reviewed against ‘Guidelines onCross-Cultural Capability in the Curriculum’ in2004-05 through the Annual Review process.<strong>The</strong> process will be continued in subsequentyears, with all programmes having beenreviewed by 2008.”Because Annual Review processes are embeddedin quality assurance and curriculum developmentactivities across the <strong>University</strong>, Leeds Met believesthis to be the most effective possible mechanismfor ensuring the vision and the ethos becomeestablished at the core of our practice. <strong>The</strong> reviewwork is now underway in all faculties, and theconcept of “curriculum” is being extended in2006/07 through the introduction of nonacademic awards in <strong>Global</strong> Citizenship, availableto all students and staff.David KillickHead, International Programmes, LeedsMetropolitan <strong>University</strong>.email: d.killick@leedsmet.ac.ukFor further information on the Vision Statement, InternationalisationStrategy, Cross-Cultural Capability Guidelines and Corporate Plan(respectively) visit:www.lmu.ac.uk/about/ataglance/mission_aims.htmwww.leedsmet.ac.uk/lsif/docs/Internationalisation.docwww.leedsmet.ac.uk/lsif/Refreshing<strong>The</strong>CurriculumFinal.docwww.leedsmet.ac.uk/about/keydocuments/corp_plan_2004-08.pdf.A global perspective in higher education offersmany benefits, but these need to be balanced withserious responsibilities. A major change towardsinterdisciplinary learning and teaching for societalresponsibility needs care and sensitivity.<strong>The</strong> <strong>University</strong> of Manchester's first steps wereto foster informed opinion that encouragescolleagues and students to participate and todevelop a sense of ownership. <strong>The</strong> mergerbetween the <strong>University</strong> of Manchester Instituteof Science and Technology and the Victoria<strong>University</strong> of Manchester in 2004 presented anopportunity for new ways of thinking. ProfessorEngel delivered ‘<strong>The</strong> Ultimate Challenge’ at the2002 Teaching and Research DevelopmentNetwork Symposium of the two universities.Subsequent activities have included:1. Explorations with staff and students, modellinghow interdisciplinary groups could discussglobal issues, workshops with different triggers(at one the Deputy High Commissioner forNew Zealand described the challenges to smallisland communities) and sessions for new,experienced and visiting international staff.Further sessions are planned to explore currentworld dilemmas.2. An exploratory conference on the topic of‘Water’ involving representatives fromUNESCO, water companies, ManchesterMuseum, academics, students and members ofthe public. This has opened up potential forcurriculum development and involved expertsfrom other sectors.3. <strong>The</strong> team have presented papers along thistheme at conferences in the UK, Ireland,Holland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.4. <strong>The</strong> Royal Academy of Engineering issponsoring an inter-disciplinary project toembed sustainable development in thecurriculum. Initially students from threeengineering schools and the School of Earth,Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences willcome together in small teams to work onproblems in sustainable development, fora single course unit. If this is successful, thefaculty hopes to embrace a wider range ofdisciplines and to develop a longerprogramme, possibly running across the wholeundergraduate curriculum.Bland Tomkinson<strong>University</strong> Adviser on Pedagogic Development,<strong>University</strong> of Manchester;Rosemary TomkinsonHead of Teaching <strong>Support</strong> and Development,Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences;Professor Charles EngelVisiting Professor.For more information contact:email: rosemary.tomkinson@manchester.ac.ukweb: www.eps.manchester.ac.uk/tlc/projects/sustainable-development<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum22 23


3.4<strong>University</strong> of Winchester:MA in Managing Contemporary <strong>Global</strong> Issues3.5<strong>University</strong> of Chester:‘Get a World View’, International Perspectives in Higher EducationMarket research identified a demand for apostgraduate course that integrates managementperspectives with socio-cultural analysis. <strong>The</strong> MAin Managing Contemporary <strong>Global</strong> Issues followsa traditional modular structure with units such as‘<strong>The</strong>oretical approaches to contemporary globalissues: contexts, flows and counter-flows’,‘Socio-cultural analysis of contemporary globalissues: power, resistance and authority’ and‘Management responses to contemporary globalissues: challenges, responsibilities and strategies’.<strong>The</strong> first intake in September 2004 drew twelvestudents from England, South Africa, Palestine,Kazakhstan and Nigeria; over twenty studentsare now enrolled on the course, both fromdeveloped and developing countries. Fivestudents from the first cohorts have decidedto pursue doctoral research.<strong>The</strong> programme is innovative in the way that itwas designed and is being delivered by stafffrom Departments, Schools and Faculties acrossthe institution. A lecturer from BusinessManagement coordinates the delivery role tomaintain cohesion and integration and preventdisciplinary juxtaposition and confusion.‘<strong>Global</strong>isation’ does not mean the same thing inSociology, International Relations and PerformingArts. Students need to be aware of the differentperspectives associated with globalisation so theycan benefit from tutors’ inputs.Staff delivering the course value the opportunityto work with colleagues from other parts of theinstitution, not just through the odd guest lecture,as is sometimes the case, but also throughjoint preparation and joint sessions. A perfectillustration is a session on gender andglobalisation that eventually took the formof a debate, ‘How will feminism save the world?’,with panel members from Social Care,Media Studies and Education.Students favour local courses that meet theirneeds, suggesting that there may be a similardemand for interdisciplinary postgraduateglobalisation-focused courses in other partsof the country. Winchester’s experience is thatto be pedagogically sound and successful suchcourses need to draw upon a wide range ofstaff and subjects though this in turn presents anongoing source of challenge. In the end, though,it is worth it, for staff and students alike.Dr Paul SheeranProgramme Director, <strong>University</strong> ofWinchester.email: paul.sheeran@winchester.ac.ukIn 1996, the Chaplain of <strong>University</strong> CollegeChester set up <strong>Global</strong> Perspective (GP) as aninnovative, experiential learning opportunity forstudents. Chester releases all second-year students(except BEd and Nursing students) for the secondhalf of the second semester for Work Based orExperiential Learning for a six-week period.Students have the opportunity to stay at home,travel abroad individually or join a programmelike <strong>Global</strong> Perspective.<strong>The</strong> purpose is to engage students in learning witha wider opportunity, to focus on career objectivesor to learn more about themselves and the world.<strong>Global</strong> Perspective’s primary aim is to introducestudents to issues of the ‘developing’ worldthrough partnership projects thereby gaining skillsin global citizenship. It has become a key providerof knowledge, understanding and experience ofinternational issues for students. Most describe GPas a life changing experience, one that has turnedtheir values and priorities around.GP offers the chance to travel as part of a smallgroup to take part in a variety of activities withestablished partners. In the eight years that GPhas been offered, students have travelled toKenya, Uganda, <strong>The</strong> Gambia, Costa Rica,Honduras, Nicaragua, Brazil, Peru andBangladesh. In 2006, over seventy-five studentsare to participate in five programmes in sixcountries including: building infrastructure in thetown of Nosarita and assisting with LeatherbackTurtle conservation in Costa Rica; working in theCopacabana favela and the Bola pra Frenteyouth programme in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; andlearning how tourism can be used as a tool forpoverty alleviation in Uganda.Students who take part come from a wide varietyof subject areas. It is a cross-university opportunity.Students also achieve double module credit.Participants are assessed through a ReflectiveEssay, Development Report and DialogueAssessment completed during the programme,which is developed around three key themes:Personal Development, Community Interaction,and Environmental Awareness.On the Kenya/Uganda programme for example,students work with an indigenous NGO, ChristianCommunity Services (CCS), in Western Kenya.Divided into four groups to match the workingregions of the NGO, students travel out daily withfield workers. In any day they may meet issues ofHIV/AIDS, water and sanitation, agriculture,women’s empowerment, and education. Studentsobserve, participate, discuss issues with localpeople, and gain an understanding of povertyand development issues. <strong>The</strong>y also participate ina drama workshop learning how to sendmessages to communities, serving as a learningtool. Students and CCS workers then take theirmessage out to the community and present it.Environmental awareness goes hand-in-hand withdaily visits and students also visit the KakamegaForest, a heavily encroached area. In Uganda,there is a similar combination of field visits andmeetings including visits to and discussion withAgroforestry programme staff and farmers in theLake Bunyonyi region.Every year in October students of the GPprogramme present their experiences to the wideruniversity population at ‘UMOJA’. Students bringartefacts, souvenirs, photographs but most of alltheir verbal testimony of the experience, what itinvolves and what it has meant to them.Elissa WilliamsCoordinator, <strong>Global</strong> Perspective, <strong>University</strong>of Chester.email: e.williams@chester.ac.ukweb: www.global-perspective.org<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum24 25


3.6Northumbria <strong>University</strong>:Northumbria/CEDAR Development Education ProjectThis Project offers students in the School of Artsand Social Sciences an opportunity to participatein a short-term development engagement andeducation programme in partnership with CEDAR(Centre for Education Development Action andResearch), a capacity building NGO, and theAmerican College, a university college, bothbased in Madurai, South India.Following extensive research into best practice,the project builds on and strengthens an existinglink between the <strong>University</strong>, the NGO and theCollege to offer education and learning focusedplacements that fit with the diverse needs ofstudents and placement hosts. Working towardsproviding financial support to fit with wideningaccess principles, the programme already offsetsthe costs of training, assessment and organisation.<strong>The</strong> project reflects a commitment to promotingactive global citizenship amongst our students,and to fostering mutually beneficial learningbetween Northumbria, CEDAR and the AmericanCollege. In line with Voluntary Service Overseas’(VSO) Youth for Development Programme (YFD),all returning participants are expected toparticipate in university and local communityprojects which develop awareness ofglobal issues.During this week, students meet and finalisedetails with their host NGO before undertakinga series of visits over the coming three weeksto different types of organisations with diversedevelopment priorities. At each, studentsdocument their encounter with the projects,produce commentaries on the work taking placeand, when appropriate, undertake voluntary workfor the organisations. Following their placements,the students have a full debrief in-country with thehost NGO and partners and then another upontheir return to the UK.As the project develops it is not only evolving anddeveloping in the ways that the experience andlearning are structured, but is also providing thefoundation for research collaborations betweenthe three partners involved.Dr Matt SmithSenior Lecturer, Sociology and CriminologyDivision, Northumbria <strong>University</strong>.email: matt.smith@northumbria.ac.ukSECTION 4NETWORKS & EXTERNAL INITIATIVESDr Aileen McKenzieHigher Education Adviser to the DEA<strong>Global</strong> Perspectives in Higher Education NetworkCEWC and Kingston <strong>University</strong>Oxford Brookes <strong>University</strong> <strong>Global</strong> Dimension Network<strong>University</strong> of Sheffield and <strong>The</strong> Open <strong>University</strong>Universities of SouthamptonKeele and Liverpool (John Moores)Centre for <strong>Global</strong> Education and Queen’s <strong>University</strong> Belfast<strong>Global</strong> Dimension Trust (UK), Egerton <strong>University</strong> (Kenya),Kapila Khandvala College of Education (India) and <strong>University</strong> of Gloucestershire (UK)Skillshare International and <strong>University</strong> of Leicester Medical SchoolIn summer 2005 the first five students visitedCEDAR for a month. On arrival, studentsparticipated in a week of workshops, interactionsand training run in partnership between CEDAR,the American College (a local university)and Northumbria <strong>University</strong>. <strong>The</strong>se offeredintroductions to key social, cultural anddevelopment issues, as well as providingopportunities for students to meet withNGO teams and Indian students to shareexperiences and ideas.26<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum27


4Networks & external initiatives4.1<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> Perspectives in Higher EducationNetwork, UKStaff of higher education institutions (HEIs) havea number of means at their disposal for sharinginformation, providing support, accessingexpertise and reducing duplication. <strong>The</strong> casestudies cited here provide insights into threeroutes through which networking, research,and long and short-term collaboration withexternal partners can help to shape thedesign and delivery of the curriculum witha global perspective.<strong>University</strong> chaplains at Leeds Met and theE-Learning <strong>Global</strong> Welfare Project at Sheffieldand the OU provide examples of networksthat are emerging to provide support on globalperspectives in curriculum development.Oxford Brookes’ ‘community of practice’meanwhile makes a valuable contributiontoward the university’s strategic commitmentto internationalising the curriculum. <strong>The</strong>Southampton, Keele and Liverpool John MooresPOLIS online provision enables Politics andInternational Relations students to access theteaching activities, resources and material thathave been pooled by academics from the threeuniversities feeding into the project.HEIs and organisations sharing a commitmentto global perspectives in education, mostcommonly non-governmental organisations orNGOs, have evolved a number of successfulworking relationships. <strong>The</strong>se tend to either beongoing such as the Centre for <strong>Global</strong> Educationand Queen’s <strong>University</strong>, Belfast collaboration orshort-life programme-based partnerships, as inthe Council for Education in World Citizenship(CEWC) and Kingston <strong>University</strong> project. Suchrelationships appear to thrive on reciprocity andmutual respect, recognising the power balance.Each partner brings their strengths, perspectivesand experiences, which are valued andfully acknowledged.Finally, Skillshare International and the <strong>Global</strong>-ITEProject provide examples of the challenges andpotential of sharing and learning across ‘culturaland curricular boundaries’ to encourage andsupport the development of curriculum practicesfor a ‘global university’.It is encouraging to see networks andcommunities of practice emerging which involveacademics from many disciplines in institutionsacross the UK, where a few years ago lonechampions were developing global perspectivesinitiatives in isolation. From DEA’s experience,there may be many more academics still workingin this way. This emerging collaboration and peersupport can only strengthen the growingrecognition of the value of this approachto learning.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> Perspectives in Higher EducationNetwork exists to support and encourage seriousengagement with issues of global socialresponsibility and sustainability through the highereducation process. It is a university chaplaincyinitiative, launched at the British <strong>University</strong>Chaplains’ conference 2001, and operatingthrough occasional emails.Since 2001 others have joined, so that in 200564% of members were academics or peopleworking for global justice and sustainabilitythrough associated organisations, and 36%were university chaplains. Reflection on values atwork in higher education in relation to the globalcontext is at the heart of the network’s purpose.Network members work within higher education:● To promote responsible global citizenship.● To raise awareness on issues of sustainability.● To explore causes of global inequities and workfor change.● To stimulate debate on learning, teaching andresearch in Higher Education, in relation tothese global realities.● To challenge values that leave the global statusquo intact.● To demonstrate that a global perspectivesapproach enriches all academic disciplines.<strong>The</strong> email network supports this work by sharingexamples of good practice and giving informationon conferences and publications. <strong>The</strong>re arecurrently members of the network in over40 Higher Education Institutions andpartner organisations.<strong>The</strong> network is administered throughLeeds Metropolitan <strong>University</strong>'s LeslieSilver International Faculty.To join or for further details see:www.leedsmet.ac.uk/gpn/.28<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum29


4.2Kingston <strong>University</strong> & Council for Education inWorld Citizenship:Uniting Humanity: Learning Advocacy for Effective World Citizenship4.3Oxford Brookes <strong>University</strong>:<strong>Global</strong> Dimension NetworkThis project aims to increase understanding andparticipation in critical global issues at a local levelthrough a pan-European programme for learningeffective world citizenship. <strong>The</strong> primary targetgroup of this training programme are adulteducators working with unemployed people, tradeunionists, refugees, ethnic minority communities,people in economically depressed areas, women’sorganisations and staff from non-governmentalorganisations engaged in global issues.<strong>The</strong> main activity is the development of aone-year training and development programmewith three residential workshops, accompanied byvarious forms of research and support. Outputsinclude the increased sharing of knowledge andskills through networking and the increasedprovision of local level workshops such as:● ‘PC World’ - a workshop for part-time adulteducators, who work for the WEA, aboutunderstanding globalisation by looking at howand where computers are made.● Eradicating racism - to train, guide, andsupport global justice advocates, learning skillsin cultural competence. It will focus on the outcomes of the 2001 World Conference againstRacism and the 2007 anniversary of abolitionof the slave trade in the British colonies.● ‘Human rights’ - a four-day course for teachertrainers, then teachers in Eastern Europe onhow they can improve their own circumstancesand society, and how to make globalproblems personal.● ‘Culture and Migration’ - working with minoritygroups, using cultural tools such as dance,music, stories, myths, sports.● ‘Biodiversity and climate change’ - introductorysessions on each of these topics, which will beadapted for different target groups.Intended outcomes include an internationaltrainer-of-trainers programme for Europeanmultipliers (adult education trainers),country-based and special interest study circles,links between European groups and other partsof the world, two inter-related handbooks,a website and, where appropriate, the translationof core materials into partner languages.A European Union (EU) Socrates/Grundtvig(2004-2007) Programme, Learning for EffectiveWorld Citizenship involves a number of UK,European and Southern partners and involvessupport from the Kingston <strong>University</strong> BusinessSchool Centre for Work Life Research (CWLR),Kingston <strong>University</strong> School of Education and theCouncil for Education in World Citizenship,(CEWC). Accreditation will be offered by all threeuniversities involved using the ECTS (EuropeanCredit Transfer System).<strong>The</strong> project is being run in partnershipwith the Universities of Gavle (Sweden)and Bourgas (Bulgaria) and iscoordinated by Titus Alexander,Scarman Trust in association with:Professor Richard EnnalsDirectorKingston <strong>University</strong> CWLR.email: ennals@kingston.ac.ukLes StrattonDirectorCEWCemail: Les.stratton@cewc.orgUrszula Basiniemail: u.basini@kingston.ac.ukCynthia JonesKingston <strong>University</strong> School of Education.email: c.jones@kingston.ac.ukweb: www.unitinghumanity.org<strong>The</strong> Oxford Brookes <strong>University</strong> <strong>Global</strong> DimensionNetwork (GDN) for academic staff wasestablished in the School of Health and SocialCare in 2004. <strong>The</strong> School included a range ofinitiatives that ‘incorporated a global dimension’or ‘internationalised the curriculum’, in bothpre-registration and post-qualifying programmes.<strong>The</strong>se fell into five broad categories:1. Raising cross-cultural awareness, while in theUK and through placements overseas.2. Enhancing support for international students.3. Offering HE programmes overseas.4. Explicitly linking the local and global in thecurriculum with a focus on health inequalities.5. Introducing the global dimension tolearning into continuing professionaldevelopment (CPD).Though the School and the <strong>University</strong> hada strategic commitment to ‘internationalisingthe curriculum’, opportunities to draw togetherdifferent yet compatible initiatives were limited.Established cross-School bodies had a stronginterest in the first three categories above, forexample the Inclusion and Diversity Committee,the Academic Skills Development Group, theWidening Participation Group and theCollaborative Unit. However, linking the localand global was rare and tended to arise fromindividual programme teams, often in isolationfrom each other.Operating as a community of practice, the<strong>Global</strong> Dimension Network (GDN) drew uponparticipatory approaches that are often associatedwith teaching and learning through the globaldimension, such as collaborative exchange andmutual learning. <strong>The</strong> GDN also provided a forumfor debate and conceptual exploration in whichexpertise and visions were shared. Membershipwas initially open to academic staff across theSchool and students on the MSc HigherProfessional Education programme and includedprofessionals from nursing, midwifery,occupational therapy, dermatology, social careand education.MSc in Higher Professional Educationstudent comment: “I wasn’t sure about theglobal dimension at first – thought it was a bitPC – but having thought about it more now I’mthinking it is relevant. That paper from India wasreally relevant to us here. I won’t put a paperon one side just because it’s from overseas now.”Drawing upon literature and the experience ofmembers, the GDN selected the following focuses:● clarifying beliefs, values and terminology● developing new curriculum initiatives explicitlylinking the local and global● supporting international students and drawingon their experience to enhance the globallearning of all students● developing strategy and policy● networking and disseminatingStaff comment: “…I needed somewhere toexplore ideas with other lecturers first before I feltsufficiently confident to introduce (such ideas) intomy sessions. This is an area where we really doneed some joined up thinking. I’ve been amazedat the amount of experience around which I didn’trealise was there to be tapped into.”In April 2006 the <strong>Global</strong> Dimension Networkopened its membership to faculty across Brookesand has a thriving membership. Initiatives areshared via a series of seminars at which ongoingresearch projects and curriculum initiatives arepresented and discussed.Dr Katy Newell-JonesVisiting Fellowships with Nuffield Departmentof medicine, Oxford <strong>University</strong> andOxford Brookes <strong>University</strong>.email: kn-j@kn-j.comSally DavisProgramme Leader Rehabilitation.email: smdavis@brookes.ac.ukMary WoolliamsLecturer in Adult Nursing.email: mwoolliams@brookes.ac.uk<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum30 31


4.4<strong>University</strong> of Sheffield & <strong>The</strong> Open <strong>University</strong>:International and Comparative Social Policy Group, E-learning<strong>Global</strong> Welfare Project4.5Universities of Southampton,Keele & Liverpool (John Moores):Teaching Citizenship in Higher Education<strong>Global</strong> perspectives are central elements in socialpolicy studies and have contributed to theemergence of global welfare studies in the socialpolicy curriculum today. Institutional andintellectual developments as much as studentinterest and changing patterns of post-degreeemployment and student travel have fuelledthis change.<strong>Global</strong> welfare studies is a multidisciplinaryfield of study that is essentially internationalist,combining cross-national comparativeapproaches to analysis of social policy withthe transnational processes involved in thedevelopment of health and social welfare services.<strong>The</strong> integration of global welfare studies intoHEI social policy programmes has generallyproceeded in three ways:1. <strong>The</strong> most common approach, requiring theleast institutional adjustment, has beenincorporation within existing modules primarilyoriented toward British or European socialpolicy. However, time constraints often meanonly a taster of issues can be covered.2. Modules explicitly addressing the transnationaldimensions of social welfare issues and policydevelopments as they affect countries atdifferent levels worldwide (LondonMetropolitan’s ‘<strong>Global</strong> Social Policy’; Queen’s<strong>University</strong> Belfast’s ‘International Organisationsand Social Policy’; Sheffield <strong>University</strong>’s‘<strong>Global</strong>isation and International PolicyAnalysis’; Sheffield Hallam <strong>University</strong>’s‘European Social Policy in a <strong>Global</strong> Context’);and taught postgraduate programmes.3. Degree programmes on international socialpolicy are offered at both undergraduate(London South Bank <strong>University</strong>’s ‘InternationalSocial Policy’) or postgraduate level (Bath<strong>University</strong>’s ‘<strong>Global</strong>isation and Social PolicyAnalysis’ or ‘Social Policy and Planning inDeveloping Countries’ at the London School ofEconomics), as a single subject or combinedwith another subject such as internationalrelations, health studies, or development studies.<strong>The</strong> integration of a global perspective enhancestraditional social policy programmes by drawingattention to: new forms of collective actionattempting to address social needs; the rangeof factors shaping the development of healthand welfare arrangements; policy responses todifferent country contexts; and the social welfaredimensions and implications of foreign policyin relation to trade, aid, finance andeconomic development.<strong>The</strong> International and Comparative Social PolicyGroup (ICSP) is a special interest group operatingunder the auspices of the UK Social PolicyAssociation. <strong>The</strong> Group aims to advance globalapproaches to the study of human welfare bysupporting a wide range of learning andteaching activities.<strong>The</strong> Group’s website (below), part-funded by theHE Academy Subject Centre for Sociology,Anthropology and Politics (C-SAP), providesa common pool of resources freely accessibleby lecturers and students. This site is partnered bya collaborative E-library developed for the <strong>Global</strong>Welfare Project by Dr <strong>The</strong>o Papadopoulos at the<strong>University</strong> of Bath and Professor Bob Deacon, theDirector of the <strong>Global</strong>ism and Social PolicyProgramme run by the <strong>University</strong> of Sheffield andthe National Research and Development Centrefor Welfare and Health (STAKES), Finland.Dr Zoë IrvingLecturer in Comparative Social PolicyDepartment of Sociological Studies<strong>University</strong> of Sheffield.email: Z.M.Irving@sheffield.ac.ukDr Nicola YeatesSenior Lecturer in Social PolicyFaculty of Social Sciences<strong>The</strong> Open <strong>University</strong>.email: n.yeates@open.ac.ukweb: www.globalwelfare.nethttp://globalwelfarelibrary.orgwww.gaspp.orgThis is a three year consortium-based projectfinanced under phase 5 of the Higher EducationFunding Council’s Fund for the Development ofTeaching and Learning (FDTL) initiative. <strong>The</strong>project started in January 2005 and its goal isto develop a series of on-line learning activitieswhich will enable students of politics, internationalrelations and related disciplines to engage morefully with citizenship education.<strong>The</strong> activities are being designed in such a waythat they can be incorporated into subject-basedcurricula and either replace or complementexisting modes of teaching and learning. Foreach activity resources are being produced andsuggestions provided as to how they can beused to best effect. Through engagement withthe activities students will be able to considerand reflect on different aspects of citizenshipat a number of levels.One of the activities, which is currently beingdeveloped, relates specifically to ‘globalcitizenship’. This aims to raise student awarenessof the complex and contested nature of what itmeans to be a ‘global citizen’. By means ofa variety of learning resources, including fourvideo clips of academics giving their views onthe topic, and associated questions, studentswill be challenged to clarify their underlyingassumptions and to consider how they see theirposition in the world.<strong>The</strong>re is a dedicated project website providing freeaccess to the learning activities and associatedsupport materials. (<strong>The</strong> site was undergoinga makeover at the time of writing.) Likewise theexisting activities are being refined in the lightof feedback from students, tutors andeducational developers.Dr Graham SmithProject DirectorSchool of Social Sciences<strong>University</strong> of Southampton.email: gsmith@soton.ac.ukRoger OttewillProject ManagerSchool of Education<strong>University</strong> of Southampton.email: R.M.Ottewill@soton.ac.ukweb: www.politics.soton.ac.uk/citizened<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum32 33


4.6Centre for <strong>Global</strong> Education (CGE) &Queen’s <strong>University</strong>, Belfast (QUB)4.7<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong>-ITE Project:<strong>Global</strong> Dimension Trust (UK) in partnership with Egerton <strong>University</strong> (Kenya), KapilaKhandvala College of Education (India) and the <strong>University</strong> of Gloucestershire (UK)<strong>The</strong> Centre for <strong>Global</strong> Education in Belfast hasa long-standing and mutually rewardingrelationship with the Department of Sociology andSocial Policy at Queen’s <strong>University</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Centreprovides a range of educational services forstudents taking ‘<strong>The</strong> Sociology of Development’module at QUB. <strong>The</strong> module involves a series oflectures on development theory and practice anda written assignment which applies a theory ofdevelopment to a developing country through thestudy of a specific issue (such as aid, debt,transnational corporations and trade).<strong>The</strong> Centre provides students on the course witha reading list of appropriate resources availablefrom the Centre, the requisition of resourcesrecommended by QUB staff, the opportunity toborrow rather than buy specialist resources,research facilities including a computer databaseof books and periodicals, photocopying facilities,and access to box files on countries and issues,and professional guidance from the Centre staff.An additional benefit to the students is lectures bydevelopment personnel in the NGO sector thatbring a more immediate and insightful perspectiveon the issues covered by their course. For example,the Centre’s annual lecture is held on campusand is normally delivered to students from theDepartment of Sociology (and other departments)by an activist within the development sector.<strong>The</strong> Centre benefits from this relationship throughaccess to the 100-plus students who enrol forthe course annually, student membership andphotocopying fees, the promotion of the Centreand its resources at tertiary level.<strong>The</strong> Department of Sociology benefits froma reference point for students taking courses ondevelopment. <strong>The</strong> university library does notprovide the breadth of resources on developmentthat are available from CGE. Academic staff canalso call on the Centre to support lecture deliveryand identify speakers from within the statutory andnon-statutory development sectors, which helps tobroaden relationships within the NGO sectorand can lead to further collaboration on coursedelivery and research partnerships.<strong>The</strong> Department nominates a representative to siton the CGE Management Board. This helpsmaintain the Centre’s profile within the <strong>University</strong>and has led to CGE making links with otherdepartments, particularly Geography and Politics.In 2005, the Centre hosted a student from theDepartment of Geography under the new‘Geography at Work’ placement scheme forthe first time. This form of mutually rewardingcollaboration may offer an additional element toHEI-NGO partnerships in the future. <strong>The</strong> universitycan broaden its range of study options to studentsand the NGO can benefit from additionalvoluntary support, particularly in the areaof research.<strong>The</strong> Centre has recently started to extend itsservices to the <strong>University</strong> of Ulster at Jordanstownwhere development courses in the contextof Sociology are also being delivered. It isencouraging that new opportunities for the studyof international development are being createdat third level including Initial Teacher Educationwith new courses coming on stream in St. Mary’s<strong>University</strong> College (Belfast) and the <strong>University</strong> ofUlster at Coleraine. <strong>The</strong>se courses should,in turn, generate further interest in and use ofCGE services.Stephen McCloskeyDirectorCentre for <strong>Global</strong> Education Belfast.Madeleine LeonardDepartment of Sociology and PolicyQueen’s <strong>University</strong> Belfast.email: info@centreforglobaleducation.comweb: www.centreforglobaleducation.com<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong>-ITE Pilot Project initiative,coordinated by the <strong>Global</strong> Dimension Trust(a Gloucestershire-based NGO), placed greatemphasis on the ‘Sharing and Learning’ of localand global perspectives between the threeparticipating countries.<strong>The</strong> aim was to enhance incorporation of theglobal dimension (DfES et al 2005) within initialteacher education and training or ITET (termed‘Pre-service Teacher Training’ in India and Kenya)and so bring a more accurate, up-to-date andreal understanding of global citizenship to theschool curriculum.Project implementation centred on actionresearch, which was guided by a teacher educatorand carried out by a student teacher, duringpractice teaching in associated secondary schools.<strong>The</strong> approach was cross-curricular. Ideallyissue-based, it linked the school to local needsand included global connections.This action research centrepiece was supported bya variety of critical processes:● An annual launch conference in each country,and a joint international conference, rotatingbetween countries each year.● General workshops for PGCE and BEd cohorts,with more intensive guidance for studentteachers who selected a global dimension focus.● <strong>The</strong> design and development of an interactiveand dedicated website, including a discussionboard for teacher educators and studentteachers and posting of Action ResearchProjects (ARPs) and/or lesson plans.● Outreach to and incorporation of ideas andinitiatives from local and global NGOs toenhance and enliven the ARPs (and theteaching curriculum).● Study exchange for groups of educators(HEI staff, student teachers and practisingteachers), including vital experiences withinboth education and development sectors,to lead to heightened understandingand empathy.<strong>The</strong> total <strong>Global</strong>-ITE ‘package’ from this pilotprogramme in the three participating countriesaimed to develop ‘Shared Sustainable Practices’,underpinned by educators working in partnershipacross cultural and curricular boundaries. It isworth noting that in Kenya, project activitiesextended to the formation of ‘<strong>Global</strong>-ITE Clubs’in many schools and production of ‘<strong>Global</strong>’school newsletters. A <strong>Global</strong>-ITE project report isavailable from GDT, including a project summaryand details of the action research projectsand approach.Greig Whitehead,<strong>Global</strong> Dimension Trust (GDT)CheltenhamGloucestershire.email: info@globaldimensiontrust.orgDr Alison Scott-BaumannSenior LecturerSchool of Education<strong>University</strong> of Gloucestershire.email: asbaumann@glos.ac.uk<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum34 35


4.8Skillshare International & the <strong>University</strong> ofLeicester Medical School:Health and Development Special Study Module (SSM)This third year module was developed in 2002 tobring together medical and voluntary sectorexpertise to develop professional skills andincrease understanding of how the socio-culturaland the economic impact upon health care acrossthe globe. Led by Skillshare International’sreturned health trainers and senior academics, themodule also involves Skillshare International staffbased in Africa and India as guest speakers andonline mentors.Students are exposed to global perspectiveson health, access to health care services,global issues such as human rights, genderempowerment, infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS,and different sectors’ efforts to achievehealth-related Millennium Development Goals.<strong>The</strong> SSM has been delivered consecutivelyfrom Autumn 2002-2006. Over this period,64 students (including 12 from developingcountries and 10 from continental Europe)enrolled for the module. <strong>The</strong> continuingevaluations indicate that students’ understandingof development and health issues in Africa andIndia has expanded:SSM student: “Before the course startedI knew nothing about health issues indeveloping countries. <strong>The</strong> Health andDevelopment Special Study Module has mademe realise the problems people face. I’vealways wanted to work in Africa and theModule has reinforced my desire to do so.”SSM student: “It has challenged me ina number of ways. It has challenged my viewson the way the West actually interacts withdeveloping countries I am more inclined nowto believe the West holds the developingcountries in poverty rather than what I used tobelieve which was that we are quitesympathetic to their needs.”To support and encourage curriculumdevelopment for global health education beyondLeicester, Skillshare International in partnershipwith the medical school in Nottingham is nowoffering a new special study module on globalhealth and development, first term of runningwas autumn 2006.In addition in 2005, Skillshare International setup a Best Practice Network for <strong>Global</strong> HealthEducation with health professionals from otherHEIs and organisations. Two well-attendedmeetings took place in 2005. <strong>The</strong> Best PracticeNetwork aim is to focus on sharing practicethrough undergraduate education,inter-professional dialogue, professional bodies,influencing decision-makers and raisingawareness of the main issues in globalhealth education.Dr Raul Pardíñaz-SolísDevelopment Awareness OfficerSkillshare International.email: raul.pardinaz.solis@skillshare.orgDr Adrian HastingsSenior Lecturer in Medical Education<strong>University</strong> of Leicester.email: amh5@leicester.ac.ukSECTION 5WAYS FORWARDChris ShielBournemouth <strong>University</strong>Chair of DEA Higher Education CommitteeDr Adrian Hastings, the module leader andsenior academic at the medical school,has developed an attitude survey on how studentattitudes towards development issues and healthhave changed.36<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum37


5Ways forwardWorld events since 2001 have reinforced the importance of developing globalcitizens, who are equipped to live and work in multi-cultural contexts and whoare better stewards of this planet than their forbears. This is critical if we are tosecure a more harmonious and sustainable future. Higher Education (HE) hasan important contribution to make and, indeed, a key responsibility with regardto contributing to change: ensuring that graduates develop the appropriateknowledge, skills and values to be effective in a globalised world and areempowered to challenge inequity, injustice and unsustainable development,is vital if we are to achieve sustainable progress.As we move forward further into the UN Decadeof Education for Sustainable Development andwith the emphasis placed by government onglobal citizenship and sustainability, 14 thispublication is timely. It represents just one of aseries of outputs arising from partnership workingbetween the DEA and Higher EducationInstitutions (HEIs), as part of a progressivestrategy 15 to secure broader engagement with thedevelopment of global perspectives and educationfor sustainable development.<strong>The</strong> policy context (referred to in the introduction)and the employability drivers are significant.<strong>The</strong>y were articulated cogently at the DEA’s HEConference in 2005: ‘Graduates as <strong>Global</strong>Citizens: Quality Education for the 21st century’and reinforced at the follow on conference atBournemouth, ‘Education for SustainableDevelopment: Graduates as <strong>Global</strong> Citizens’.<strong>The</strong>se events, the publication from HEFCE 16 andthe interest of the HE Academy, underscore theresponsibility of HEIs to participate and devisenew approaches.Unfortunately, a historical review of policyinitiatives, with regard to sustainable developmentand global perspectives, reveals a history ofemphasising the criticality of the issues, followedby periods of complete inaction, particularly onthe part of Higher Education. ‘Inaction’ however,can no longer be an acceptable response: the UKGovernment’s ‘Sustainable Development Plan forEducation and Skills’ and ‘Putting the World intoWorld-Class Education’ present compelling driverswhich seem impossible to ignore. Indeed, theHEFCE consultation document ‘SustainableDevelopment in Higher Education’ (HEFCE 2005)represents not only the growing recognition bygovernment of the importance of sustainabilityand global perspectives but confirms theresponsibility of higher education in addressing it.“In our view the greatest contribution highereducation has to make to sustainable developmentis by enabling students to develop new values,skills and knowledge. <strong>The</strong> main (though not theonly) way to make this happen is throughcurricula and pedagogy.” (HEFCE 2005, p13)Albeit that the HEFCE publication was not entirelywelcomed by the sector (many institutionsdisplayed resentment, and some outrage, at theinterference of the Funding Council in areas whichwere seen as ‘outside of their remit’), such interestshould be applauded: one could argue that sincethe Toyne Report, higher education (HE) haslargely excused its role. That is not to say thatthere have been no developments with regard tosustainable development, but real progress hascertainly been patchy. ‘Progress’, it should beacknowledged, has included some excellentenvironmental initiatives under HEPS, and theDEA’s <strong>Global</strong> Perspectives in HE Project 18 hascertainly inspired change and establishedmomentum but evidence of substantial changeacross the sector, of a coherent and granderscale, is hard to identify.A partial explanation for the lack of dramaticchange may well lie in the difficulty in agreeingdefinitions of the concepts 19 and the turbulentcontext of higher education, where public fundingper student has more than halved in the past 25years, and yet, the number of initiatives thatrequire attention has increased. A culture where‘doing more with less’ has become normative,is hardly auspicious for persuading staff to takeresponsibility for including further issues of globalconcern within curriculum. However, curriculumchange (or broadening of curricula) is what seemsvitally important, if we are to respond to globalchallenges. This publication evidences that someinstitutions are developing initiatives which takeglobal perspectives on board and providesillustrations of curriculum development.<strong>The</strong> curriculum progress evidenced here ispleasing to note, particularly as the HEPS projectconcluded that while good progress had beenmade in some institutions with regard to the useof ‘natural resources’ (energy efficiency, reducingwaste for example). <strong>The</strong>re was ‘less progress withregard to human and social capital’ (HEPS 2003p29), with partners reporting that puttingsustainable development into the curriculum was‘harder’ and had met with ‘barriers’. HEPS 17recorded disappointment that the curriculumissues had not really been addressed.This is where the DEA’s higher education workhas had, and is making, a significant impact,contributing to the change agenda not merely byraising awareness of global perspectives amongstHE stakeholders but also seeking to facilitatechange. Developing global perspectives, andseeking to produce graduates who understand theinterconnection between the global and the localand the need for global sustainability, essentiallyrequires refocusing the curriculum; at the heart ofthe DEA’s HE work is a commitment to supportthis process.14. DfES (2004) Putting the World into World Class Education; Sustainable Development Action Plan for Education and Skills15. See DEA website, www.dea.org.uk/higher16. HEFCE (2005) Sustainable Development in Higher Education<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum17. Higher Education Partnerships for Sustainability (HEPS), was funded from 2000 as a three year project.It established a partnership group of HEIs, achieving their strategic objectives through engaging with the sustainable development agenda,with a view to guiding others in the same direction. 18 higher education institutions participated.18. DEA (2005)19. <strong>The</strong> Royal Geographical Society project, <strong>Global</strong> Perspectives in Higher Education,highlights the ‘multitude of terms’ in use and the ‘lack of mutual understanding’.38 39


5Ways forward continuedIncorporating ‘global perspectives’ into thecurriculum and the life of a higher educationinstitution is not without its challenges but therationale and benefits are clear. In summary(but not exhaustive):● <strong>The</strong> policy context provides an important driverfor change: policy documents link the termssuch as ‘global citizenship’, ‘sustainabledevelopment’ and highlight the role thateducation must play with regardto developments.● Learning which includes a global perspectiveaddresses more effectively the employabilityagenda: ‘employability’ is on the agenda ofevery HEI, with ‘global employability’ animportant goal 20 .● Developing a global perspective enhances thedevelopment of the ‘critical’ skills that are at theheart of learning outcomes for all graduates:it is the very role of education to help studentslocate knowledge in the wider political,environmental, social and economic contexts.It could also be argued that the very role of HEis to develop students who interrogateconventional wisdom. Can educators claim tohave fulfilled this function if they do not addressglobal issues?● A global perspective embraces‘internationalisation’ which is at the heart ofinstitutional strategies to be and become‘world-class’ but is also a key driver in terms ofoverseas recruitment. Introducing globalperspectives is compatible with, and enhances,internationalisation strategies.● <strong>Global</strong> perspectives better prepares students forcontexts of ‘diversity’ which in turn enhancesthe student experience of campus life: ‘diversity’is an issue that HEIs cannot ignore.●●As large employers, HEIs have a duty tocontribute to sustainable development throughthe more efficient use of resources and everyHEI has an interest in reducingenergy consumption.Developing graduates who are empowered tomake a better contribution to society meansthat we all stand to gain. “Any democraticsociety worthy of the name must ensure that itscitizens have the intellectual tools and culturalspace to meaningfully interrogate the validityclaims of powerful individuals and institutions”(Blewitt 2002).And finally, the sector may not be able to ignoresustainable development indefinitely: HEFCE’sintervention might not have been popular but theirinterest continues (a Strategic Review of SD in thesector is currently underway) and UK Governmentcontinues to push this agenda.So if the drivers are fairly obvious, what is the way forward and what canwe learn from the case studies presented in this publication?It could be hopefully assumed that the casestudies represent the ‘tip of the iceberg’. <strong>The</strong>ydemonstrate a range of activity going on in thesector across a variety of discipline bases. Suchvariety provides confirmation that there are manyways to engage: from the discipline level, toprogramme level, to institutional approaches.A common theme throughout is a commitmentto embracing a global dimension and enhancingthe learning experience of students, througha range of pedagogic approaches.Perhaps initiatives that directly address sustainabledevelopment (in an environmental sense) are lessapparent in this publication but an assumptionmight be made, that such issues are incorporatedwithin approaches to develop global perspectives.An important reminder is that:“A global perspective emphasises ‘human values’but not at the expense of ignoring the need forsustainable development and environmentalissues. An understanding of sustainabledevelopment is part of the knowledge required ofthe global citizen who will also comprehend thepotential impact of local activity on the global andvice versa, with regard to such things as pollutionand climate change, exploiting natural resourcesetc. Adopting a global perspective requires thatactions that secure more sustainable developmentare pursued; actions that are not sustainable arechallenged and; change is sought to ensure thatdevelopment does not compromise the quality oflife for future generations.” (Shiel 2005)An explanation for the diversity of approachesrepresented here, and why there seems to be no,‘one way’ to do this, lies perhaps in theimportance of champions: the champion(as change agent) often initiates action in thoseaspects of the organisation where they have someimmediate control and the most opportunity toinfluence. Another explanation lies in the ability ofthe ‘initiator’, to make the link between the globaldimension and their subject area: some subjectsmay lend themselves more readily to change thanothers. <strong>The</strong> challenge then becomes a question ofhow to escalate such developments to movebeyond subject and department boundaries,to involve a wider group of learners and subjectswhich may not, at first glance, appear amenableto incorporating global perspectives.At the level of developing curriculum, the casestudies provide evidence of a variety of new units,modules and initiatives, from undergraduate topostgraduate, to whole programme initiatives.<strong>The</strong>se are excellent offerings for those groups ofstudents who enrol, but if all students need todevelop global perspectives, how could theknowledge and experience integral to ‘electives’,or ‘named awards’, be developed in otherprogrammes of study? If the assumption is thateveryone needs to develop as ‘global citizens’,how could opportunities for learning be openedup to students whose course or programme,does not include ‘global’ in the title?20. Archer (2005)<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum40 41


5Ways forward continuedAs some case studies show, ‘internationalisation’is one aspect of developing a global perspective.However, it is important to note that perceptionsof ‘internationalisation’ should not be limitedto sending students overseas or recruitinginternational students (the latter being a commonperception in HE). Attention to what form‘internationalisation at home’ might take isequally important. Internationalisation at the‘local’ level needs to be about ‘integrating aninternational, intercultural, or global dimension’into education (Knight 2005). <strong>The</strong> developmentof courses that are ‘truly international’ in the sensethat course content and pedagogic approachesincorporate diverse perspectives, examples fromother cultures and opportunities for cross-culturallearning, is an important step in developinga global perspective.This publication shows that opportunities whichenable students to study in other countries, aspart of their studies, is a valuable approach indeveloping a global perspective. <strong>The</strong> benefits tothose students who participate are considerable,but bringing the global into the local is anequally important challenge. UK students whomay never go abroad, also need to appreciatethe global context of their lives, the globaldimension of their subjects, and the importanceof the local-global interconnections.A campus environment where diversity isenhanced by the presence of internationalstudents, offers a rich environment for developingglobal perspectives in the ‘local’. How many HEIsand UK students really capitalise on the potentialof learning from international students studying inthe UK? How many academics ensure that,in a multi-cultural learning environment, theirpedagogic approaches and assessment strategiesmaximise multi-cultural learning?International volunteering is also shown withinthis publication as a powerful vehicle to enablestudents to experience development issues at firsthand. <strong>The</strong>se opportunities may only be availableto a select few, but it is important not tounderestimate the learning that accrues fromvolunteering and community activity, at any level(Annette 2001). Community engagement is oneway to engender a sense of citizenship. Activitiesfor students to contribute to the local communityare also easier to implement on largeundergraduate courses. First-year students mayneed to explore local citizenship as a startingpoint, before they engage with broader concerns.Whatever the approach, the developmenteducation principle of ‘starting from where thelearner is’, seems an important one to note.It would be easy to assume that university-wideapproaches suggest the greatest potential to effectchange and bring the most exciting benefits.Once achieved, they certainly do seem to acquireinspirational momentum, but it is important not tounderestimate the difficulties of gaining broaderinstitutional ‘buy in’. Success is often dependenton a few committed academics lobbying forchange and aligning bottom up and top-downapproaches. Securing senior managementsupport to affect process and culture change isan important stage in developments.Bournemouth <strong>University</strong> (BU), Leeds Metropolitanand the <strong>University</strong> of Manchester all provideevidence where successful change has beenachieved through strategic approaches (involvingtop-down and bottom-up). BU and Manchesterevidence how change can be levered throughLearning and Teaching, while at Leeds Met afocus on ‘internationalisation’ has proved an entrypoint for wider change.<strong>The</strong> holistic approaches adopted at Leeds Metand Bournemouth are perhaps examples that allHEIs should be working towards. <strong>The</strong>se two casesevidence the substantial progress that theseinstitutions have made since their earlierengagement with development education 21 .A further feature that BU and Leeds Met share,is that from an early stage both institutionsestablished <strong>Global</strong> Perspectives Groups (internally)and enjoyed the support of university chaplains,in what can be a considerable challenge.<strong>The</strong> Manchester case study highlights animportant issue that institutional approachesalways face: working across disciplines is criticalwhen broadening the curriculum but handlingand encouraging interdisciplinary learning ‘needscare and sensitivity’.Influencing an institution’s Learning and Teachingstrategy certainly seems to be an important goal,if a global perspectives approach is to make animpact across the entire curriculum; leveragingchange through internationalisation also seemsa potential entry point for change. Most HEIs willhave an ‘Internationalisation’ strategy so makingalliances with an institution’s ‘International Office’would seem to offer certain advantages. A casethat argues that a global perspective enhances theexperience of all students and makes an institutiona more attractive place for international studentswill undoubtedly attract institutional favour.Similarly, demonstrating that including a globalperspective is compatible with beinga ‘world-class university’ should be an acceptablerationale to secure support from senior staff.Faculty-wide approaches and discipline-basedapproaches seem easier if you can sell the linksbetween global perspectives and the subject, orcreate new courses that generate new fee income.Teacher training case studies 22 provide evidencethat a context where ‘citizenship education’ ispart of the school curriculum, it has given rise toopenings for global perspectives initiatives across‘education’ faculty. <strong>The</strong> challenge then becomes,how to scale up these developments initiatedwithin ‘education’ programmes and disseminateacross other subject domains.Various cases provide evidence that developingand participating in networks serves as a usefulvehicle to scale up activities, share learning andbuild support for change. <strong>The</strong> SkillshareInternational/Leicester <strong>University</strong> case study, inparticular, shows how a network contributes toincreasing the quantity and quality of globalhealth education through a ‘Best PracticeNetwork’. Similarly, the <strong>Global</strong> DimensionNetwork (Oxford Brookes) for academic staff inhealth and social care acts as a ‘community ofpractice’ which enables collaborative learning,and provides a forum for debate and mutualsupport for development initiatives.Such networks may be mainly internal in focusto draw interested participants together, or extendacross subject specific disciplines externally(for example, POLIS, Politics on line and educationfor citizenship skills; the International ComparativeSocial Policy Group). If interest can be inspiredacross a subject domain, then opportunitiesbecome available to influence curriculumprovision across the sector.<strong>The</strong> positive role of Chaplains within thesenetworks is highlighted more than once. <strong>The</strong>y canmake an important contribution to institutionalchange, but may also bring different perspectiveson global issues and curriculum development,for example, <strong>University</strong> of Leeds (2.3).21. Both Leeds Met and BU were part of the DEA <strong>Global</strong> Perspectives in HE project.22. DEA (2004) <strong>Global</strong> Perspectives and Teachers in Training London: DEA<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum42 43


5Ways forward continuedSo where do we go from here?It is hoped that the variety of case studiespresented in this publication will serve asa springboard for others to consider ways thatglobal perspectives might be introduced, oractivities ‘scaled up’, within their own institutions.<strong>The</strong>y certainly suggest a range of possibilities toinspire change. Each case study provides contactdetails presenting the opportunity to find outmore, if an initiative described suggests potentialfor transferability.<strong>The</strong> Royal Geographical Society report,commissioned by DFID, highlighted howimportant it is to: “[showcase those] institutionswho are taking a strategic approach andembedding GP; support those who are interestedin taking it further; seek ways to demonstrateto those who have done very little thesignificance [of GP].”This publication has gone some way in providinga ‘showcase’ for examples of practice.<strong>The</strong> DEA’s ongoing higher education work willcontinue to provide support and brokerage forthose institutions that are interested in developingthese activities further. Exploring ways to increasecapacity across the sector and developingexamples of how global perspectives relate to thefull range of subject disciplines will be important:activity with the HE Academy and its subjectnetworks is already underway.As the commitment of senior managers is vitalto secure strategic change, a further DEApublication ‘<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong>: <strong>The</strong> Role ofSenior Manager’s, is planned for the future.Activities are also underway to engage student-ledgroups. Appreciating the perspective of thelearner has to inform the change process but isalso important if development approachesare to be deemed inclusive.Developments such as these are obviously greatlyfacilitated if initial funding provides a thrust:exploring new sources of funding and support fordeveloping the HE agenda will certainly impactupon success. However, equally important, isensuring that funding initiatives are in themselvessustainable: too much energy is already wastedacross the sector competing for small pots ofmoney, where only one organisation will succeedand many others will be unsuccessful.Achieving change on a grand scale is bound totake time, but what seems critically important isthat, rather than seeing this as an overwhelmingagenda, individual academics and curriculumdevelopers reflect on:● How their particular subject area might bebroadened to include global perspectives 23 ?● What areas that they could influence, to ensurethat more graduates develop as global citizens?● How the curriculum and the extra curricularexperience might be developed, such thatstudents feel empowered to champion change?● What networks they could join, or lever toinfluence change, remembering that NGOs(both local and national) offer supportand inspiration.● Which ‘significant others’ within their owninstitution, such as Chaplains, Heads ofLearning and Teaching, Pro-Vice-Chancellors,might provide support and encouragementto establish momentum for change?● How to initiate debate about what a ‘globaluniversity’ might look like, exhibiting thequalities of a responsible ‘global citizen’(at the corporate level), and how such a visionmight be achieved?<strong>The</strong> potential to bring about change through thelearning experience HEIs provide students seemsobvious: graduates can change the world ofwork and have opportunities to influencedecisionmaking structures throughout their lives.Higher education in this country needs to ensurethat students are equipped to face this challengeand to make a positive difference to the way theworld functions.However, the immediate challenge is to convinceacademics that their teaching should providestudents with the knowledge, skills and values toparticipate in a global society; create opportunitiesto explore values, attitudes and the perspectivesof others; and that students are empowered tochallenge perspectives. If we do not promotechange, then we are responsible for deliveringan education that supports the maintenance ofthe status quo.Two quotes seem particularly pertinent:“As educators we have a unique opportunity anda clear responsibility to help prepare our studentsto be responsible citizens of the future.”(Slater 2003).However, while “global perspectives are importantand relevant to Higher Education ... integratingthem across disciplines, departments andinstitutions is a huge challenge”. (Lunn 2006, p6)Hopefully, this publication will stimulate furtherdevelopments across the sector. <strong>The</strong> challengemay be ‘huge’ but with time, ensuring that thecurriculum incorporates a global perspective willbecome commonplace.Chris ShielBournemouth <strong>University</strong>Chair of DEA Higher Education Committee23. <strong>The</strong> earlier publication, <strong>Global</strong> Perspectives in Higher Education, McKenzie et al 2003,is a useful resource, providing an articulation of the range of knowledge, skills and dispositions required for a global perspective.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum44 45


SECTION 6REFERENCESAnnette, J. (2001)<strong>Global</strong> citizenship and learning communities,Development Education Journal, Vol 8.1, DEAArcher, W. (2005)<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong>: What are employers looking for?,Graduates as <strong>Global</strong> citizens:Quality Education for the 21st Century.DEA Conference, LondonBlewitt, J. (2002)New learning in the learning age,Development Education Journal, Vol. 8.3, DEADarnton, A. (2005)Mass Action and Mass Education,Make Poverty History in 2005, Development EducationJournal Vol.12.2, DEADEA (2005)Graduates as <strong>Global</strong> Citizens: Quality Educationfor Life in the 21st Century.Conference report available fromwww.dea.org.uk/publicationsDfES (2003)Sustainable development action plan for education andskills. Available from www.dfes.gov.uk/sdDfES (2004)Putting the World into World-Class Education:An international strategy for education,skills and children’s services. London: Department forEducation and SkillsDfES et al (2005)Developing the <strong>Global</strong> Dimension in the School Curriculum.DfES 1409-2005DOC-EN Departmentfor Education and Skills. Available fromwww.globaldimension.org.ukDFID (2000-2006)National Statistics Omnibus Survey on Public Attitudestowards Development and MORI Schools Survey on Attitudesof School Children to Development Issues. Available fromwww.dfid.gov.ukEdwards, M. and Gaventa, J. (eds.) (2001)<strong>Global</strong> Citizen Action London: EarthscanHEFCE (2005)Sustainable Development in Higher Education:Consultation on a support strategy and action plan.July 2005/28 Bristol:Higher Education Funding Council for EnglandHEFCE (2006)Strategic Plan March 2006/13 Guide Bristol:Higher Education Funding Council for EnglandHEFCECorporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Policy.Available from www.hefce.ac.ukHEPS (2003)On course for sustainability, Report of the Higher EducationPartnership for Sustainability 2000-2003. London: HigherEducation Partnership for SustainabilityKnight, J. (2003)Updating the definition of internationalisationof higher education,International Higher Education, Fall 2003Lunn, J. (2006)<strong>Global</strong> Perspectives in Higher Education. <strong>The</strong> RoyalGeographical Society with IBG research project report forDFID. Available from www.rgs.org/globalperspectivesMayo, M. (2005)<strong>Global</strong> Citizens. London: CSPI/Zed BooksMcKenzie, A. et al (2003)<strong>Global</strong> Perspectives in Higher Education,<strong>The</strong> Improving Practice Series. London: DEA.Available at www.dea.org.uk/publicationsNiezen, R. (2004)A World Beyond Difference. Oxford: BlackwellShiel, C. and Mann, S. (2005)A <strong>Global</strong> Perspective at Bournemouth <strong>University</strong>: Educationfor <strong>Global</strong> Citizens and Sustainable Development. HELeadership Foundation Fellowship project report,Bournemouth <strong>University</strong>Slater (2003)preface to <strong>Global</strong> Perspectives in Higher Education,McKenzie et al (2003), DEATomlinson, J. (1999)<strong>Global</strong>isation and Culture. Cambridge: Polity PressToyne, P. et al (1993)Environmental Responsibility: An agenda for furtherand higher education. London: HMSO46<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>University</strong><strong>The</strong> role of the curriculum47

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