Fostering Resilience Using Consortium-Based International Student Exchange Models
Session Th1: Nov 11, 11:00 AM
Abstract:
Partnerships between higher-education institutions often rely on continuous nurturing to remain engaging and productive. Most institutions have a range of partnership types, including those focusing primarily on student mobility and capacity building and those engaged in research, internships, service-learning, and other activities that involve students, faculty, and staff. A key component of partnerships is relationship management between international institutions, which requires deliberate and consistent attention to remain active and vibrant. During the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping track of the continuous changes occurring with multiple exchange partners, both at home and abroad, became a daunting task.
Of the many partnership models, we will highlight the consortium partnership model which worked well to not only maintain, but also grow partnership activities, during COVID-19. Two examples of consortium models will be described, including the IIE Global Engineering Education Exchange (Global E3) and the Ampere network, anchored in France. These consortia have somewhat different inter-institutional coordination, and both thrived during the pandemic through their respective engagement models. As a result, as the pandemic subsides, student mobility will quickly resume among members. The pros and cons of consortia, and how institutions can best utilize consortia and bilateral agreements to meet institutional mission will be discussed.