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UISFL Grant

Objective #1

Establish a Global Engagement Fellows program at IWU

During January and February 2024, the project team worked on new curriculum development initiatives for this objective:Digital badge from IWU International Office recognizing completion of Global Engagement.

(1) Developed Global Engagement micro-credential opportunities open to all matriculated IWU students who intend to study abroad for any length of time involving UNIV 101, UNIV 102, and UNIV 103.

(2) Created an Academic Certificate in Intercultural Competence (CIC) that is open to all matriculated IWU students, and geared especially to students enrolled in pre-professional programs such as business, educational studies, and health professions; the certificate involves the following courses/experiences that were created with this grant:

(a) INST 240: Thinking Globally

(b) LC 250: Intercultural Communication

(3) Created a Global Engagement Digital Badge for students to earn once they completed the program requirements.

Two students smiling in a classroom.
UNIV 101: Study Abroad Pre-Departure (.25 units of credit)

Study Abroad Predeparture is an online asynchronous course that prepares students for a rich and meaningful study abroad experience. The course focuses on developing intercultural competence skills (self-awareness and awareness of others) as well as soft skills such as organization and project management.
UNIV 102: Study Abroad Re-Entry (.25 units of credit)

Study Abroad Re-Entry is an online ansynchronous course that helps students navigate, understand, and reflect on the culture shock they experience when returning home from studying abroad. Topics focus on cross-cultural understanding, multicultural engagement, and developing empathy and the ability to relate to others.

 Students walking on IWU's quad.
Students writing on sidewalk with chaulk.
UNIV 103 - Introduction to Intercultural Communication           (.25 units of credit)

Communicating effectively with diverse groups of people is one of the skills employers want in a college graduate. This asynchronous online course focuses on the concept of cultural awareness and the role that cultural difference plays in human communication. Emphasis is placed on real-life situations in a variety of workplace settings.
Intercultural Competence Academic Certificate

Data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) show that employers are seeking college graduates with strong skills in intercultural communication. An Academic Certificate in Intercultural Competence will provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to communicate effectively with people from different cultural and social backgrounds. An interculturally competent student understands the challenges of communicating across cultures, knows the basic theories of intercultural communication, and applies the skills required to communicate effectively with diverse groups of people in different social contexts. More specifically, by completing the Intercultural Competence Certificate, students will be able to (1) identify their own cultural values, beliefs, and assumptions (self-awareness); (2) develop an awareness of individual cultures and social groups different from their own (awareness of others); and (3) adapt to be more inclusive of different cultural perspectivs (cultural bridging) by acquiring the necessary skills to live and work in a diverse and complex global society.

The International and Global Studies (IGS) program together with the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures (WLLC) offer an Intercultural Competence Academic Certificate to those students who complete the following requirements:
Students working in the classroom on laptops.
  1. INST 240 - Thinking Globally: An Introduction (CHC, G)
  2. LC 250 - Intercultural Communication (G)
  3. Experiential learning component. This requirement might be met with one of the following:  a) an academic internship with a gloabl focus (UNIV 398 - Internal Supervised Internship, INST 397 - Internship, SPAN 397 - Internship); b) an independent research project related to culture and communication in a global society (INST 450, SPAN 491 or equivalent); or c) a study abroad experience with an IWU-approved program.
Three students working in a classroom.
INST 240 - Thinking Globally: An Introduction (1 unit of credit)

An examination of the changing forces, processes, and dynamics that have shaped our world. It explores how the world is interconnected through complex flows of people, technologies, goods, money, and cultures, providing an interpretive framework and historical context to understanding globalization in our modern world. This course is part of the Shared Curriculum's Encountering Diversity Program with the Encountering Global Diversity Flag and a General Education credit for Cultural and Historical Change. 
LC 250 - Intercultural Communication (1 unit of credit)

This course explores the relationship between language and culture by examining how communication is deeply rooted in cultural and social contexts. At the end of the class, students will be able to identify their own cultural belief-system and develop an awareness of individual cultures and social groups different from their own. This course is part of the Shared Curriculum's Encountering Diversity Program with the Encountering Global Diversity Flag.
Class meeting on tatami mats.