The Community-based Global Learning Collaborative, the Pennsylvania Council for International Education, and the Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development are cooperating to support a series of fall events designed to deepen understanding of local inclusivity and its relationship with global processes and understanding. Join us for these free, discursive webinars. 

September 18, 1:00 – 2:15 p.m. EST: Culturally Responsive Education Abroad: Addressing Explicit and Implicit Biases – Presenter / Facilitator: Boi Lucia Gbaya-Kanga, Assistant Professor, English Department, Community College of Philadelphia

Particularly as international travel is on hold, now is the time to deepen your and your team’s understanding of best practices in designing and implementing culturally responsive education abroad programs. Join Lucia Gbaya Kanga for an overview of practices and policies, and leave with lessons you can implement in your own office or organization.

Register here (closes at 9 a.m. EST on September 17)

September 23, 3:30 – 4:45 p.m. EST: Navigating Pennsylvania K-12 Resources and Materials for Global Competence – Presenters / Facilitators: Lifelong PA Educators Deanna Baird and Marcia Thomas

PACIE educators have developed and organized scores of global education resources relevant to Pennsylvania standards and competencies. Learn about the location of these resources on PDE’s SAS site and on the PACIE website and how to navigate the online repository. Consider the many ways you can use them to make your lessons more global in nature.

Marcia Thomas is a special educator with 40 years of experience training teachers at Duquesne and George Washington Universities, working with school districts across PA as a consultant with the PA Training and Technical Consultant (PaTTAN) and supporting inclusive practices for families, schools and children with disabilities in multiple countries.

Deanna Baird taught German and international studies for 43 years in the Upper St. Clair School District. She also was the district’s K-12 World Language Curriculum Leader, the coordinator for the German exchange program, and a leader in the focus on global education.

Both Deanna Baird and Marcia Thomas are Members of the Board with the Pennsylvania Council for International Education (PACIE). Additional PACIE K-12 resources include:

• PACIE Mini-Grant Application
• PACIE NEW Global Educator Toolkit
• PACIE/SAS Lessons/Units with Global Focus
• PACIE Monthly K-12 Tips and Webinars

Register here (closes at 9 a.m. EST on September 22)

September 25, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. EST: What NOT to Restart – and Opportunities Moving Forward: Global Engagement Post-COVID

Since the turn of the last century, higher education institutions have been touting global engagement and global experiences as important institutional offerings that build 21st Century skills. As the COVID-19 pandemic slows international trade and travel around the world, global educators must pause to ask: What have we learned and what should we avoid moving forward? Finally, how might we build better structures and programs toward the communities and the world we aim to co-construct in the years to come?

Panelists include:

• Jackline Oluoch Aridi, East Africa Regional Research Program Manager, Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame
• Ramaswami Balasubramaniam, Medical Doctor, Distinguished Visiting Professor at Cornell, Harvard, and other Universities, Founder, Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement
• Martin Punaks, International Development and Child Protection Consultant

The conversation will be facilitated by Eric Hartman, Executive Director, Center for Peace and Global Citizenship, Haverford College.

Register here (closes at 9 a.m. EST on September 24)

October 15, 3 p.m. EST: The State of the State and International Education – Presenters / Facilitators: Jeff Whitehead, Director, Study Abroad Office, University of Pittsburgh; Lisa Donatelli, Chief of Staff, The College of Global Studies, Arcadia University

Everyone is asking – what’s next for international education? While we won’t have definitive answers to this question, we look forward to hearing from two of Pennsylvania’s leading international education thinkers and administrators, who will share some insights and open discussion among this international education community of practice.

Register here (closes at 9 a.m. EST on October 14)