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The Inspiration of Malala Yousafzai

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Malala

MalalaToday’s guest post is by a friend of the hive  – Tom Millington.  We deeply appreciate Tom’s voice and are delighted that he has written a guest post about such an inspiring  young woman, Malala Yousafzai.

Like many people around the world I was horrified to learn that Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head on October 9, 2012 by a member of the Taliban. This young woman embodies the spirit and ambition that international educators would like to see in the global citizens that we purport to manufacture through ‘intervention’ and other pedagogies and methodologies in study abroad. I thought that it was only natural that the international education community would issue a statement condemning the attack, expressing solidarity with Malala and her community and serving as light or beacon of hope in the darkness to guide other advocates of education around the world.

According to the latest research, thirty two million girls around the world are not in school. This is tragic and unacceptable.  While we in the international community may disagree in choosing how to advocate for education for all people, we should all be in complete agreement that at the very least we can stress the positive and emphasize the symbolism of figures like Malala. Immediately after the shooting the world reacted.  With this in mind I created a petition asking NAFSA: Association of International Educators to take some action to recognize Malala and everything she stands for. I also contacted NAFSA on several occasions, but with no positive responses. After submitting the petition to NAFSA last week, I realized that it is very likely that nothing will be done.  This is sad. Many organizations, even those not even remotely associated with education have publicly recognized the bravery of this young woman. Why will NAFSA not do the same thing?  I am not sure, but I can’t help but think that we have missed a wonderful opportunity here. Time magazine has named Malala one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World,” and Vital Voices set up a fund in Malala’s name. Newsweek called her the “Bravest Girl in the World.” Clearly, the word is getting out. It is a wonderful opportunity for collaboration with different organizations and entrepreneurs for a very worthy cause, a cause that I believe is an essential part of international education. If not, then we run the risk of promoting an international education that suits American interests. I see no better way to promote education for all people than by recognizing what Malala has done and what she represents.

More importantly, I think inviting Malala or someone who works closely with her to speak at NAFSA would resonate much more with international educators than paying huge sums of money to have former world leaders or politicians speak at the annual conference. Kofi Annan is a great individual and he will deliver a reasonable message, but he will present, like many past keynote speakers, the tired point that we should pat ourselves on the back for the work that we do, ‘that we should always support student exchanges,” etc. Wouldn’t it be nice to listen to someone much younger than us, but who has had much more life experience? We can learn a lot from our youth, if we would only allow ourselves to listen.

There are other ways to promote Malala and her cause. I already mentioned the Malala Fund started by Vital Voices (link above). Another excellent program is to work with an organization based in New York City called 10 x 10. It has promoted a film titled “Girl Rising” (www.girlrising.com) that features the stories of nine girls around the world and their struggles to receive an education. The organizers are looking for people to arrange screenings around the country. This is a perfect opportunity for study abroad returnees to work on a project where they can reflect on their own international experiences and what it means to have an education in the US and abroad. To learn more about 10 x 10, visit its website at: http://10x10act.org/. Another project promoted by UN Special Envoy on Global Education, Gordon Brown, seeks protection for pupils and teachers in Pakistan. You may learn more about it by clicking on this link: www.educationenvoy.org.

Malala Yousafzai continues to do her work advocating for education for all girls around the world. Although we might not be able to publicly recognize her efforts we can each work with the Malala Fund and 10 x 10 to make sure more people and communities are aware of the challenges facing girls around the world today. If we are unable to do this, then I fear we have failed as international educators.

TomMillingtonAbout the Author: Tom has worked for nearly 15 years in international education beginning with BCA, a program provider based in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. While there he was involved with the Pennsylvania Council on Education Abroad (PaCIE). He has also worked as Director of International Programs at Emmanuel College in Boston and as Director of Study Abroad and Global Learning at Western Kentucky University, where he worked closely with the Kentucky Council on Education Abroad (KCEA). His interests focus on issues of peace and justice, social thought, positive psychology, philosophy of international education, resilience and semiotics. He comments on issues related to study abroad through his blog at www.abroadia.com. He is working on a book to be published in late 2014 and has accepted a position to be resident director in Havana, Cuba for Spanish Studies Abroad in the fall.




The Real Deal: Secrets of the NAFSA National Conference

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Carrie and Jessica at the NAFSA conference

Carrie and Jessica at the NAFSA conferenceToday’s guest blog is by Carrie Niesen (she’s on the left in the photo), who I consider an expert on the subject of how to tackle the NAFSA national conference!  Here are some of her tips for how to approach St. Louis at NAFSA 2013!

You’ve been abroad.  Perhaps multiple times as a student and intern.  Those experiences have been paramount in shaping your life’s path.  You completed a master’s program, spent countless hours in the collegiate classroom teaching, have work experience in a variety of different sectors…but you want something more.  You yearn for a rewarding career related to global exchange and fostering intercultural awareness.  You want to correct the ever-present stereotypes running amuck on your generation because you *do* care.  You love learning, you love people, and you want to pay it forward by helping to create the same transformative experiences for others.  You’re creative, innovative, and are dead-set on making a difference in this world.

However…your Excel sheet is getting longer and longer in tracking the jobs you’ve been applying for over the years, all while you continue to work your behind off for that first break into the field.  You’ve enthusiastically applied for the gamut of positions and can officially dominate the competition at trivia night on international education job titles.  The positions have been enticing, exciting, enthralling…study abroad advisor, international admissions counselor, global program manager, cross cultural experience coordinator…but you haven’t had much response beyond, “Thank you for your interest in X position, but we have selected another candidate.  We wish you the best of luck in your employment search!”.  You start to lose hope.

Yet, amidst the growing number of rejection emails and countless drafts of your resume, you meet a kind, wonderful soul that recommends this conference you’d never heard of called NAFSA.  She suggests how helpful it’d be to learn about the intricacies and subsets of the international education field all while connecting with seasoned professionals.  You’re intrigued, and without much convincing, you’re registered for your first national NAFSA conference.  The ‘I’m-so-excited-I-might-be-sick’ butterflies start to kick in.  What now?

If any of this sounds familiar, then you’re exactly where I was last year preparing for my first NAFSA conference experience in Houston, Texas (US).  Luckily for me, I had five conferences under my belt from graduate school and taking students to conferences, so I understood the basic structure…but I knew this time would be different.  I had to be more strategic and plan carefully.  I wanted to make the most of my (expensive!!!) experience and figure out what I was doing ‘wrong’ in my enthusiastic attempts to break into the field.  Below are three key lessons I learned as I navigated the Career Center and wore my bright red NAFSA VOLUNTEER sash in hopes of networking and discovering what I wasn’t doing to break into the field.

Career Center

1      Know your audience. I beelined it for the Career Center on NAFSA Day #1.  I was the *first* to get my resume reviewed at 8 AM sharp, and boy, was I thankful for that!  I showed up with a 13 page teaching CV and one of the reviewers asked, “What, did you start when you were 14 years old or something!?”  From their guidance and coaching, I learned the fine art of international education resume writing.  This is where I learned I was marketing myself in all the wrong ways.

2      Plan ahead.  Once I trimmed my 13 page CV down, I stopped by the on-site Kinko’s (yes, you read that correctly…NAFSA has their own Kinko’s!) to print out copies of my new one.  I intended to have my resume reviewed again, but little did I know the entire resume reviewing sessions would fill up for the ENTIRE WEEK by Day #2!  Now, you can sign up in advance to book your reviewing appointments to avoid making my mistake.

3      Take a risk.  While I was waiting (read: hoping someone wouldn’t show up for their appointment so I could get my new resume reviewed), I perused the center to see what employers were hosting round table information sessions.  I wanted to be productive with my time and avoid coming off as a circling vulture.  I sat in on a session that I wasn’t all that interested in initially, but grew more so after meeting the employer, learning about the position, and getting to know the director.  As a result of my risk…I landed a job interview later on in the week.

Volunteering

1      Get involved.  Volunteering was crucial because it helped ease the financial burden of such an expensive conference.  Without the volunteer opportunities, I wouldn’t have been able to go at all.  Because of the 25+ hours I put in, I got half of my conference registration fee back, and it helped me learn the behind-the-scenes aspects of a large scale, well known conference.  Don’t forget—volunteering at the conference is something you can put on that resume, too!

2      Be strategic.  Study the sessions and attend ones where you want to make connections—your volunteer status gives you the perfect excuse to strike up a conversation.  Volunteer based on your conference goals as well as personality.  If you would prefer to do behind the scenes types of tasks, then work in the Local Arrangements Team Office on evaluations quality control.  Social butterfly?  Then work the hospitality, registration, or bookstore.  Read more about the volunteer positions from the link above and sign up for your shifts using NAFSA’s volunteer scheduling system, Shiftboard.  And yes, there’s an iPhone and Android app for that!

3      Wear that red ‘NAFSA VOLUNTEER’ sash with pride!  It’s a great way to spark a conversation with any attendee and to offer assistance.  I went well out of my way to ensure what I was doing in my various volunteer posts exceeded expectations.  Some volunteers are clearly just there to get reimbursed, while others (like myself) gladly took initiative to go above and beyond.  Folks of all professional levels volunteer, so it’s not just a newcomer thing to do.  It’s a great way to make friends, too. (See the photo above of me proudly showing off my NAFSA volunteer sash and nametag swag with my new friend, Jessica.)

Want to hear more of my experience and advice?  Do you have specific questions you want answered?  Want to network with other first timers before the conference?  Join me and Melibee founder, Missy Gluckmann, for the newest MelibeeU course on NAFSA Conference Tips.  We’ll share our seasoned and former newbie perspectives on navigating and capitalizing on your NAFSA experience to help you achieve your conference goals.  Join us this Friday, May 10 at 1 PM EST for our authentic, real-deal, information packed session with plenty of time for Q&A.

Carrie NiesenAbout the author: Carrie Niesen is an Innovation Associate with Melibee Global.  She has taught public speaking courses and served as an academic advisor at the university level for five years, both at Winona State University (Minnesota) and The University of New Mexico.  She holds an MA in Intercultural Communication from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where her thesis focused on re-entry and how it impacts students’ lives individually, interpersonally, and professionally.  Previously, Carrie worked in nonprofit, security management, and finance sectors.  She is a Spanish speaker that has lived in Spain, Argentina, and Ecuador, and has been to nearly 10 countries. She’ll be returning to NAFSA as a second timer and a more informed job seeker.  Want to meet her at NAFSA?  Connect with her on Twitter, or reach out through the NAFSA Conference Connection tool!

 




Professional Development: Alternatives to NAFSA and the Forum

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So many international educators and graduate students are eager to attend international education conferences.  The challenge, of course, is funding.  It has become increasingly difficult, unless you work for a very well funded university or other organization, to receive approval to attend the two main conferences in our field – NAFSA and the Forum on Education Abroad.  They are such outstanding events, but the average educator is challenged with the cost of paying “out of pocket.”

To address this, MelibeeU will be offering several affordable, online professional development workshops during the weeks of both of these conferences.  All you need is a computer and phone line or mic.  There is no hotel charge, per diem for meals, or flights.  In fact, you can even wear your jeans to these events – they are all online – YET interactive (we use chat and voice technology for dialogue.) MelibeeU is also all about participation – so you will have opportunity to communicate, network and learn – even if you can’t be at NAFSA or the Forum this year.  (And if you are attending those conferences and still want to participate – even better!)

Please know that I do understand how hard it is to scrape up thousands of dollars to attend these face to face conferences.  It is important to me to ensure that no one else misses out on professional development because we ALL need it, even if your employer is facing budget cuts or you’re a student and simply can’t swing the additional expense.

I’d greatly value your input about what topics you would like covered online.  Please email me at info@melibeeglobal.com or comment below.  I really do value your input!

If you haven’t heard much about MelibeeU yet, here is some feedback from our first two evaluations of workshop:

“This was my first webinar and while the overwhelmingly positive experience I had makes me want to participate in so many more, it will be difficult for future ones to live up to this one!  Very much exceeded my expectations.”

“The exercises … were very well chosen and implemented.”

“You handle yourself like a pro.”

“…You are obviously people who have thought deeply about these topics. I liked how the sessions were divided. Each one had clear PowerPoint with wonderful examples and other resources/recommendations.”

“Incredibly valuable information from both a philosophical and practical viewpoint.  You did a great job convening and facilitating the discussion throughout.”

“Your little examples here and there were so great – they were thoughtful and a variety of audiences could relate.”

 ”It was obvious that my opinion was heard and valued.”

“Very good presenters and information.  The resources shared are extremely helpful!”

“Resource guide is really great…very helpful…”

Be sure to check MelibeeU in the coming weeks for the schedule!




The Forum on Education Abroad Conference: Blog

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I will be departing for the Forum on Education Abroad’s Annual Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina (USA) in one short week.  I am looking forward to this conference – it is much smaller than the NAFSA Annual Conference and will provide a different dynamic, perhaps with more depth in content.

According to their web site,  The Forum conference theme, “Vision and Value in Education Abroad” takes up the central importance of creating and maintaining a compelling vision for education aboad while communicating its value.  The conference will focus on articulating the vital nature of education abroad and the many benefits that it brings to students, organizations, institutions, communities and societies.  This theme is especially important as we address the challenges brought on by the current global economic crisis, when both the vision and the value of education abroad may be called into question.

I will be blogging from this conference – recognizing that many university budgets will not permit travel during this difficult economy.  I will also be blogging for those in international education who have been laid off or are underemployed, in recognition of their unique challenges. I hope to give you all a bird’s eye view of the dialogue, best practices and hot topics.




Learning the Field of International Education: The NAFSA Academy

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NAFSA (Association of International Educators) is running the Academy program again in 2010.  For those of you who don’t know NAFSA, it is one of the primary professional associations for international educators. Headquartered in Washington DC, it offers a massive national conference that attracts educators and 3rd party providers/partners from around the world.  NAFSA also offers regional conferences each fall, which are more intimate gatherings with colleagues from a several state region.

The Academy is the training program for those who are interested in exploring the field of international education. This is an excellent opportunity for those who are relatively new to the field and who would like exposure to various career tracks under the umbrella of international education.  Those who are accepted into the Academy must commit to a 9 month program and develop learning goals. They will be paired with a seasoned mentor who will work closely with them to work toward their learning plan goals and to assist in networking within the field so that they are pulling from the most appropriate resources for their own learning paths.  Having served as a mentor in this program,  I have seen the added benefit of Academy participants bonding with a cohort of peers who will become friends and “go to” colleagues down the road.

Academy participants learn the basics of International Admissions, International Student Advising, Education Abroad and Management. They are expected to attend a training in the Spring in Atlanta, Georgia (US)  and then to attend the national and their local regional conferences. Membership to the organization is given for up to 18 months as part of the program and mentoring is continuous throughout the 9 month period, although it typically takes place by phone and email during the bulk of the program.  Participants will also have access to NAFSA’s online manual during this period.

Applications for the Academy are due by December 1st, 2009.  There is a fee of $1649 to participate, but this typically  includes membership and registration fees for the 3 face to face meetings/conferences (although the region determines whether to discount or waive the regional conference fee).  Travel costs to conferences are additional, but many employers will contribute to the program fee and travel costs.

If you know anyone interested in the field of international education, please do tell them about the NAFSA Academy. And if you’re a seasoned professional and would be interested in volunteering your time as a mentor, it is a very rewarding experience and offers a tremendous opportunity to give back to our field, which has given us so much.




“Crossing Borders” – A Must See Documentary

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This posting must begin with the recognition that the Yankees were playing last night (and ultimately won) the World Series last night.  Now keep in mind, that I do realize that it is incredibly ethnocentric for the US to call the North American baseball series a “World Event”.  However, I was born and raised in NY and have not missed a World Series Yankee game in my life.  So last night, while at the NAFSA conference, I debated whether to slip away from the TV to watch a 72 minute documentary about 4 Moroccan and 4 American students who spend a week traveling together.  Boy am I glad that I did.

The film “Crossing Borders” by Arnd Wachter is POWERFUL.  I cried and I laughed.  It moved me to my core and reminded me why I usually cannot believe that someone pays me to create opportunities for dialogue across cultures, for better understanding across people and nations, and for the joy of watching students see the world through different lenses.  As my friend and colleague James Leck, from Boston University, often says, ”international educators are the quiet revolutionaries.”  This film reminds me that there is nothing more true or important than the work that we do.

“Crossing Borders” is a documentary that follows 4 Moroccan and 4 American University students as they travel together in Morocco and in the process of discovering “The Other”, they discover themselves.   This film is the brainchild of Director Arnd Wachter, who was raised in East Germany.  It was his response to the events of 9/11 and the Iraq war – when we all asked ourselves the impossible question – how can I deal with living in a world with such violence and hatred? What can I do to change this?  How can I make sure that I am not sitting by silently?

One of the challenges of being in international education is you often don’t get to experience, first hand, those “a-ha” moments that the students experience when they are in their host country.  We know that they are happening, constantly, but we usually hear about them when they return, or if we’re lucky, via an email or skype conversation.  What is remarkable about this film is that we witness 8 young people from 2 markedly different cultures experience those “a-ha” moments about each other as if we are sitting side by side with them.  They bravely address 9/11, the media, stereotypes, dignity and respect, wealth and poverty, religion, their commonalities, ignorance, loneliness, family and so much more in such an incredibly honest and  humorous way. Wachter does a magnificent job of representing the Moroccan culture.  The transitions he uses between scenes, editing of 70 hours to a mere 72 minutes while effectively getting the message to the viewer, along with the quotes that he strategically places throughout the  film, are nothing short of masterful.

That Wachter is anxious to bring the film to campuses around the world is particularly exciting.  This film will be a very effective tool to create dialogue about religions and how they can better understand each other and create opportunities to dispell myths and work together.   Wachter will provide materials about intercultural tension prior to each campus screening, will present the film and answer questions and will assist in the facilitation of dialogue about religion and culture.  I cannot think of a more appropriate time in our history to advocate for this film to be seen.

After the screening, while wiping away tears, I thanked Wachter for his deeply meaningful, witty and educational film.  I did not regret missing the final game of the World Series – as I watched something much more genious than Matsui’s 6 RBIs!  Needless to say, I committed to spreading the word about this film. My hope is that you will do your part in helping to educate others about the opportunity to experience how these youth, with nothing but 7 days to spend together, were able to break down the supposed “clash of civilizations” between Islam and the West.

Please enjoy the trailer of the film and I look forward to your comments:

http://crossingbordersfilm.org/




NAFSA’s Bi -regional Conference in Springfield, MA (USA)

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nafsa I will be attending the NAFSA: Association of International Educators Bi-regional Conference (regions X & XI) in Springfield, MA from November 2nd – 5th. I will be co-presenting in a pre-conference workshop entitled “Fundamentals of Short Term Education Abroad Programming” on November 3rd.
There is still time to register for this conference. The bi-regionals are always an added bonus, as colleagues from both regions representing NY, NJ, CT, MA, VT, NH, ME and RI will be in attendance, sharing a wealth of knowledge and creativity.
Please look me up if you attend!