International Education Practitioner - Foundation

​This course will prepare professionals in understanding core functions and concepts of the history and development of modern international education. Policies and trends in the internationalization of higher education in recent decades will be reviewed and critiques of the field will be explored. This course will provide foundational knowledge for those interested in employment in the field and a pre-requisite for recent practitioners pursuing professional development. ​An emphasis will be placed on the Canadian context.​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​The enrolment of international students to Canadian institutions has been a developing phenomenon for several decades, and the recent trajectory of this industry has been noteworthy. With annual revenues over $20 billion, the creation of hundreds of thousands of Canadian jobs, and development of entire business sectors associated with this industry, it is safe to say that international education is a vital and high stakes business. Recruiting and enrolling int'l students in a manner that aligns with an institution's ever changing interests and objectives can be challenging, and requires both forward and inward vision. Understanding and balancing the needs of the institution and the people who interact there (i.e. Faculty, staff and domestic students) with the interests of int'l students, recruitment agents, and other players, is critical to the success of those who work in this field. The International Student Recruitment and Enrolment course is designed for participants with entry to practice knowledge and skills, who wish to advance their understanding of the issues, practices, expectations, and risks associated with the recruitment and enrolment of international students to post-secondary institutions in BC. Current practices and trends in international student recruitment are reviewed and critically investigated. Focus will be given to the identification of regional markets appropriate to the programs and approaches required to align recruitment with enrolment practices and strategies with the expectations of the institution.​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​An overview of the core professional functions and concepts of outbound mobility in international education. Best practices and foundational considerations for planning and organizing international mobility in higher education will be explored through interactive activities, group discussions, and assignments.This introductory course will develop practitioner's competencies to support the effective planning and organizing of outbound mobility for students and faculty. ​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​An investigation of the lived experience of international students examines the relationship between cultural transitions, adjustments to daily life and stress during the acculturation process. Best practices for facilitating strategies that foster healthy student adaptation and inclusion in different cultures will be explored through discussion and assignments. This introductory course will develop practitioner's competencies to support international student adaptation.​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​An examination of the significance of cultural awareness for practice in culturally diverse settings. Intercultural competence frameworks and models from both western and non-western perspectives will be explored through discussion, reflective journaling and assignments. This course will develop professional competence in the implementation of strategies that promote inclusion and foster the academic and socio-cultural goals of internationalization. ​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.