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International Education. An opportunity for NWTC. Our Vision. We will provide all learners the highest quality, life-long learning opportunities that are: what you want when you want where you want, and how you want them So you may continue learning and
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International Education An opportunity for NWTC
Our Vision We will provide all learners the highest quality, life-long learning opportunities that are: • what you want • when you want • where you want, and • how you want them So you may continue learning and successfully engage in a career that enhances your quality of life in a global community.
Prior Board Discussion • Skilled workers need to be globally literate and feel at ease with cultures other than their own • NWTC goal: 10 new international students/year recruited worldwide • Market NWTC associate degree programs that articulate to baccalaureate programs: Engineering Technologies, E-Business, Supply Chain Management • 2 recruiting trips/year and half-time student support person • Program will be self-supporting by end of year 3
Proposed Project Funding from Fund Balances International Student Recruitment FY06 - $45,000 FY07 - $30,000 FY08 - $15,000 $90,000
Manager of International Education at NWTC • Charter created for the international education committee • Job description designed by the committee to have a champion for international activity at the college • Kelly Holtmeier hired April 2007
Policy Questions • Why should NWTC pursue international education? • Better prepare our students for the global workplace • Develop cultural diversity competence • What types of international activities should we pursue and what should be our priorities? • Enroll international students in certificate and degree programs • Short cultural visits from abroad • NWTC courses abroad for NWTC students • Seminars and training opportunities locally and abroad • Teacher/staff exchanges • Service learning opportunities for NWTC students • English Learner instruction
Policy Questions • To what extent should NWTC partner with other public and private organizations to provide international services? • How should we fund international activities? • Partial use of tax levy • Self-sustaining • Should we pursue only international students with the ability to pay full out-of-state tuition to the exclusion of those with lesser economic ability? • The maximum number of credits for which tuition will be remitted in any year is calculated on a system-wide basis, and the total form all 16 College can be no more than .5% of the total credits for the system.
Why is International Education Important? • “Education teaches more than students. It teaches all of us to see beyond our borders and boundaries, both real and imagined.” Margaret Spellings, U.S. Secretary of Education, November, 2006 • “… it is only by bridging the knowledge gap, that we can combat exclusion and marginalization and bridge the divide among peoples and cultures.” Kofi Annan, former U.N. Secretary General, November, 2001 • “What nations don’t know can hurt them…for their own future and that of the nation, college graduates today must be internationally competent.” Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program, November, 2005
What is International Competence? • Knowledge of one’s own and other pertinent cultures • Recognition of specific differences between cultures • Understanding of how culture influences behavior in the workplace • Ability to empathize with, adapt to and/or manage differences, as expressed in business structures, system and priorities, within multicultural work environments Society for Human Resource Management white paper, “Assessment Instruments for the Global Workforce”, by Douglas Stuart, Ph.D. c. 2006
Why Does International Competence Matter? The world has been watching the U.S. and has learned what we’ve done well. We have not kept pace. Jobs are going overseas (e.g., call centers and other positions). Other countries paid attention to the U.S., while we’ve rested on our laurels. The World is Flat, a Brief History of the 21st Century by: Thomas Friedman, c 2005
International Student Population 564,766 international students studied in the U.S. in 2005/2006* • 83,160 (14.7%) studied at Associate degree granting institutions* • 7,166 (1.2%) studied in Wisconsin* • 131 (.023%) studied within the WTCS system^ • 1 (.00018%) was at NWTC^ * Source: the Institute of International Education, 11/06 ^ Source: WTCS state office 8/07
Tuition and Fees • The average cost for tuition and fees for international students attending Community Colleges in the U.S. is $6,500 per semester Inside Higher Education ‘Branding Community Colleges Abroad’ July, 2007 • The average international student tuition and fees at UWGB (after scholarships and remission) is $4,417 per semester • The average international student tuition and fees at St. Norbert College (after financial aid) is $3,464 per semester. International student fees are often less due to additional scholarships. • Out-of-state cost for tuition and fees at NWTC is $6,962 (for 12 credits per semester) without grants or remission.
Regional Focus • Around the WTCS system, international education has various drivers • Some schools (MATC Madison and MATC Milwaukee) view international education as opportunities to send staff and students abroad • Some focus on incoming students (NTC and FVTC) • Potential partners looking to grow their international programs include Lakeland College, St. Norbert College, and UWGB
NWTC Has Been Involved in International Education • Without a strong focus: • Students have gone abroad with faculty • Germany; England • Students have attended international conferences • United Arab Emirates • Staff have gone abroad to further advance our international connections • Irapuato, Mexico; Luca, Italy; Hessen, Germany • Hosted international visitors from various countries • Netherlands; Germany
International Education at NWTC • Bringing in students to study at NWTC– specifically targeting Africa, Asia, and South America • Providing opportunities for students to go abroad • Providing opportunities for staff to go abroad • Enhancing training and seminar options for business
International Students at NWTC • Have been defined as those students coming to NWTC from another country of origin for the purpose of study. We have accepted students here on a F1 visa which is specific to study. Thus far NWTC has not accepted any other types of visas. We use the SEVIS system to process international students.
Department of Education Title VI B Grant • NEW International Business Project • Partnership with UW-GB, Green Bay Area Public Schools, and Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce • 2-year award, began July 1, 2007 • 13 projects in total, 9 of which are identified as all or in part by NWTC • 50% of Manager position, in-kind
Other Potential Initiatives to Pursue • Offer a Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity course abroad • Service Learning with nursing students in Mexico • Japanese visitors for short stay initiative • Growing the International Program to be cost neutral
Benefits of International Education • Heightened awareness of the College and Northeast Wisconsin on a global level • Preparation for business expectations • Fall 2006 Survey of Northeast Wisconsin Businesses • 59% indicated they are exporting outside the United States • Of the 41% not expanding their exporting globally, 19% indicate lack of knowledge about foreign business practices and/or culture is main concern • NWTC is located in an increasingly diverse world • 2005 census data shows 12.7% of Brown County is comprised of minority populations • Staying ahead of the competition • Intellectual and work experience capital • Foreign students gain appreciation of our society/way of life • Create friendships, educate future leaders, promote understanding • World’s diversity enriches education • Exposure for our students and staff to individuals of diverse backgrounds
Keys to a Successful International Education Effort • Identify goals • Support from the top • Prepare College community for increased diversity on campus • Environment of value provided by campus • Shared understanding as to why international students are desirable • Increase marketing– so NWTC is identified as an institution accepting international students • Know why students would want to come to NWTC • Realistic budget commitment • Payment plans, scholarships, on-campus employment • Analyze how we should grow the program • Dedicated advisor • International Center • Ensure fit with our current Multicultural Center
Potential Barriers • No clearly established path at NWTC • Relatively unknown nationally • Why choose NWTC over other options in US? • Language concerns • Tuition concerns • Housing issues • Awareness • 1 staff position dedicated to international, 50% of which is dedicated to Title VI B grant
Policy Questions • Why should NWTC pursue international education? • Better prepare our students for the global workplace • Develop cultural diversity competence • What types of international activities should we pursue and what should be our priorities? • Enroll international students in certificate and degree programs • Short cultural visits from abroad • NWTC courses abroad for NWTC students • Seminars and training opportunities locally and abroad • Teacher/staff exchanges • Service learning opportunities for NWTC students • English Learner instruction
Policy Questions • To what extent should NWTC partner with other public and private organizations to provide international services? • How should we fund international activities? • Partial use of tax levy • Self-sustaining • Should we pursue only international students with the ability to pay full out of state tuition to the exclusion of those with lesser economic ability? • The maximum number of credits for which tuition will be remitted in any year is calculated on a system-wide basis, and the total form all 16 College can be no more than .5% of the total credits for the system.