Reflections on Internationalizing Science Programs

1
Reflections on Internationalizing Science Programs
2
Overview

• Examining internationalization within the context
  of Science and Undergraduate Science Programs
• Initiatives at York
• Challenges and Opportunities

3
Defining Internationalization

• Internationalization is widely understood as
  being a universitys response to the big forces
  of economic, social and cultural change known as
  globalization.
• More concretely, internationalization means
  providing our students with opportunities for
  gaining international experience and for
  developing the skills to function effectively in
  the world. It also means providing our faculty
  with increased opportunities for international
  research collaboration and for pursuing their own
  international academic interests to the fullest.
• Source York International

4
Defining Internationalization

• In the context of Undergraduate Science
  education
• International elements in the Curriculum
• Niche areas in Science itself
• Language learning/Cultural Study within general
  education/complementary studies
• Student Experience
• Experiences abroad of a diverse nature
  including exchange terms, summer schools,
  internships and other extra-curricular

5
The International Nature of Science

• Science has always been international.
• Burton Richter, Nobel Prize Laureate, Physics,
  1976
• Science is international itself.
• Hinrich Seidel, Internationalisation a new
  challenge for universities. Higher Education 21
  289-296, 1991.
• Photo http//nobelprize.org/physics/laureates/197
  6/richter-autobio.html

6
Is there a need to internationalize the UG
science curriculum?

• Atomic structure gravityEinsteins Theory of
  General RelativityMendels LawsCell
  Theoryremote sensingroboticsearthquakes
• But
• Cultural effects in engineering design
• Conservation Ecology
• Biodiversity
• Environmental Science

7
Preparing our students for a global future

• Besides niche areas in the Science curriculum
  itself
• Undergraduate degree programs in Science do aim
  to develop the whole person

8
Building global competencies

• Sense of citizenship within a global community
• Experience living and working with people of
  other cultures
• Cross-cultural understanding, knowledge and
  sensitivity
• Openness to change and new experiences
• Flexibility
• Ability to see things from a different
  perspective
• Enhanced problem-solving skills
• Maturity that comes with encountering and solving
  problems in a new place and in another cultural
  context
• Second language skills

9
Preparing to work within the global community

• Research
• Science-related industries (pharmaceuticals,
  biotechnology, software development, geomatics)
• Other careers banking, government, health
  care, NGOs
• Working within a multicultural Canada
• Experiencing and evaluating the impact of Science
  and Technology around the world

10
Ways to Internationalize UG Science 1.
Instruction and Course Design

• Science and the Three Pillars

11
2. Opportunities for extracurricular
international experiences

• DAAD/RISE
• Internships
• London International Science Youth Forum2005
  Recipients Kasia Jerzak and Wendy Ng
• The forum changed my way of looking at science
  and the world, inspired me to look for more
  research and travel opportunities, and has given
  me tons of new friends all over the world

12
3. Building international experiences into the
curriculum

• Some initiatives within Yorks Faculty of Science
  and Engineering
• summer courses in Computer Science and
  Engineering
• the Canada-EU mobility program
• new International B.Sc. degree program (iBSc)

13
Summer Schools

• Originally a partnership between
• Department of Computer Science and Engineering at
  York and the Department of Computer Science at
  Fachhochschule Bonn-Rhein-Seig
• Financially supported by DADD
• York course offered at partner institution
• taught by local Professor
• Survival language instruction
• Organized cultural experience
• Evolved into an element of

14
Canada EU Mobility Program

• Project funded by HRDC as part of the Canada-EU
  Mobility Program
• Summer schools intended as an introductory
  experience
• to encourage students to undertake an exchange
  term
• Three Canadian institutions and three European
  institutions
• (York, Dalhousie, UNB, FH-BRS, Univ. of Crete,
  Warsaw Technological Univ.)
• Articulation of credit transfer (course
  equivalence)
• Investigation of offering courses via video
  conferencing

15
iBSc at York

• A New Program that combines a Science degree with
  an international component

16
History

• International Symposium on Science
  Internationalization
• York University, February 2004

17
International Component

• 12 language credits
• 18 international credits
• At least 1 term of study outside Canada.
• Denis GreenbergYork Exchange 2004-2005 Faculty
  of Science Engineering,
• Department of Computer ScienceMeiji University,
  Japan

18
Is the Science compromised/diluted? Does it take
more time/credits to complete?

• No
• 120 credits
• 90 science credits
• 30 international component credits

19
Subjects approved for iBSc

• Honours Major Computer Science
• Honours Specialized Biology
• Honours Spcecialized Biology,
• Conservation Ecology Stream

20
Implementation

• Where we are in the process
• programs approved by Senate last spring
• available to students this Sept.
• but limited advertising (not on application
  form)
• will be more visible to potential students for
  Sept. 07 admission

21
Contrasting the iBSc with similar initiatives

• Simon Fraser University - Zheijiang University
  Dual Degree Program
• For Canadian students
• Year 1 at SFU, years 2 and 3 at ZU, year 4 at SFU
• Intensive language component
• For Chinese students
• Year 1 at ZU, years 2 and 3 at SFU, year 4 at ZU
• Intensive language component
• BSc in Science International, Dublin City
  University
• Science with language programs
• Chemistry with French or German
• 3rd year abroad in France or Germany
• Physics with French or Germany
• 3rd year abroad in France or Germany

22
Advantages to the York iBSc

• less work up front for administrators
• more flexible for students
• language
• country
• institution
• timing and duration of international experience
• makes use of existing structures, relationships
  and funding opportunities for international
  exchange
• less pressure to meet enrolment targets or
  balance exchange numbers

23
Disadvantages

• More work for student

24
Challenges

• Advising support and coordination
• Science courses
• Language study
• International Content courses
• When and where to go abroad
• Preparing to go abroad
• Financial support
• Arranging transfer credit/course equivalence
  (need for goodwill)
• Ensuring variety of exchange partners with strong
  science programs
• Developing an interest and commitment at the
  departmental level

25
Challenges (contd)

• Flexible model may not work for all programs
• 90 science credits
• Highly structured programs
• Maintaining integrity of science content
• Integrating Research
• Motivating students

26
Motivating science students to take part in
international experiences

• Experience with Canada-EU Mobility project
• Despite range of communication (promotional)
  activities
• multiple information meetings, multiple
  broadcast email invitations, web site
  information, class visits, credit transfer
  articulation, one-on-one advising
• participation rate is low

27
But the news is not all bad

• York Internship Program
• 2004 - 5 applicants from Science Engineering
• 2005 - 2 applicants from Science Engineering
• 2006 - 16 applicants from Science Engineering
• How to improve motivation?
• Advertising
• Support make it easy
• Faculty member buy-in
• Advising
• Make it relevant to careers
• Give lots of options

28
Conclusions

• Science is so international many scientists do
  not see the need for internationalizing UG
  science programs.
• But its happening
• Need to educate faculty, students, build on
  existing strengths such as research
  collaborations
• Need to be flexible and provide variety - best
  approach will depend on the discipline