Speakers:

Dr. Gretchen Neisler, Vice Provost and Director of the Center for Global Engagement

Bernard Burrola, Vice President of the Office of International, Community & Economic Engagement | Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU)

Description:

A comprehensive data presentation will showcase key global engagement metrics, trends, and insights, laying the foundation for informed discussions and strategic planning.

Presenter:
Todd Beard, Director of English Language Institute
Stephanie Sieggreen, Director of International Recruitment

Description:
International recruitment is the engine of an institution’s international strategy. In this session, participants will understand how to utilize the university’s English Language Institute to impact their international student recruitment plan. Learn how UTK’s English Language Institute is uniquely positioned to be agile in a dynamic international recruitment landscape. Whether you are a dean, department head, administrator, faculty or staff member at the undergraduate or graduate level, this session is for you.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the English Language Institute
• Understand your college’s / unit’s current international recruitment plan
• Understand data trends in international student recruitment

Intended Audience: This session is designed for deans, department heads, administrators, as well as faculty and staff members engaged at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Presenter:

William Vittetoe, Director of International Student and Scholar Services

Erik Simons, Assistant Director of International Student and Scholar Services

Description:
This session is designed to provide a functional understanding of the processes and best practices necessary for an academic department to hire, on-board, and maintain the status of an international student on a F or J visa.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand basic F and J status compliance requirements.
• Apply compliance processes and requirements to the on-boarding and hiring of F and J status students.
• Plan successful business processes that meet the compliance needs of F and J status students.

Intended Audience: This session is designed for faculty, staff, and administrators seeking knowledge on hiring, onboarding, and maintaining the status of international students on F or J visas

Presenters:
Danielle Walters, COIL Manager in Office of Asia Engagement
Rossy Toledo, Distinguished Lecturer, World Languages and Cultures

Description:
Just as VOL is a verb, so is COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning). Immerse yourself in the dynamic landscape of COIL, a transformative and innovative educational modality redefining the higher education experience. COIL represents a paradigm shift in learning, empowering students to engage in virtual collaborations that transcend geographical boundaries. In this presentation, we will provide a comprehensive overview of COIL, shedding light on its principles, methodologies, and the profound impact it has on student learning outcomes in the modern classroom.

At the heart of our discussion lies a compelling case study, where we delve into a project that brought together honors Spanish students from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and their counterparts from Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), Mexico. Through this virtual cross-cultural exchange, students embarked on a journey of shared knowledge, cultural exploration, and collaborative problem-solving. The COIL initiative served as a bridge, connecting learners from diverse backgrounds to collectively tackle real-world challenges, thereby fostering critical thinking skills.

We will explore the intricacies of this project, highlighting the nuances of virtual collaboration, cultural exchange, and the development of a global perspective. Profesora Rossy Toledo, who led this COIL initiative, will present a detailed case study, offering insights into the pedagogical strategies employed and the outcomes observed. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the practical implementation of COIL, witnessing firsthand how this innovative, modern approach can amplify learning, cultivate critical thinkers, and nurture global citizens in the ever-evolving field of higher education. Join us as we COIL into the future and explore the transformative power of COIL in reshaping the classroom for a changing educational landscape.

Learning Outcomes:
Participants will:

• Leave with practical knowledge on implementing COIL in their courses.
• Discover teaching strategies, methodologies, and principles associated with COIL, providing them with tools to enhance their own teaching practices.
• Be inspired to explore cross-disciplinary partnerships and enrich their teaching with diverse perspectives through interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Be encouraged to create dynamic learning experiences that foster student engagement and success.
• Embrace educational innovation, recognizing COIL as a transformative modality that reshapes the classroom for a changing educational landscape.

Intended Audience: This session is designed for faculty member seeking to implement COIL in their courses, enhance teaching practices, and explore interdisciplinary collaborations.

Presenters:
Kate Scott, Director of Programs Abroad Office
Annalise Bryant, Assistant Director of Programs Abroad Office
Laura Miller, Associate Professor and Director of Study Abroad, School of Communication Studies, College of Communication and Information
Annachiara Mariani, Associate Professor of Italian, World Languages and Cultures, College of Arts and Sciences

Shawn Lenker, Assistant Director of Global Security, Risk, and Resilience

Description:
The Programs Abroad Office staff is here to assist our colleagues who wish to establish new international education programs. In addition to encouraging students in the classroom to explore educational experiences around the world, faculty and staff also have the opportunity to plan, create, and teach an education abroad program. We provide administrative and logistical support for all faculty-directed programs at UT. We work with faculty and staff to deliver faculty-directed programming to students in every college.
Whether you are a faculty member renewing your program or desiring to develop a brand new program or you’re a campus stakeholder wishing to know about the process of building a faculty-directed program, come learn how Programs Abroad supports you across all components to ensure you build a high-quality education abroad program, including:

• Program Development
• Logistics and Itinerary
• Academic Integrity and working with Providers
• Recruitment
• Program Budgeting and Finances

In this session, we will also feature faculty who have successfully developed and led programs abroad to share their first-hand experience and provide tips, recommendations, and points to consider throughout the process. This year’s featured faculty are Laura Miller, Associate Professor and Director of Study Abroad, School of Communication Studies, College of Communication and Information; and Annachiara Mariani, Associate Professor of Italian, World Languages and Cultures, College of Arts and Sciences.

Learning Outcomes:
After this session, participants should be able to:

• Describe the major components of a Faculty-directed Program and the role that Programs Abroad play in each.
• Find useful resources pertaining to Faculty-directed Program development.
• Outline points to consider when deciding on how to begin the process of developing a study-abroad program.
• Connect with other faculty who have had program development experience.

Intended Audience: This session is designed for faculty members engaged in renewing existing programs or interested in developing new ones.

Presenters:

• Studying Abroad: Making Unexpected and Unforgettable Memories | Jovan Yoshioka
• Cultivating Dreams: My Journey from Farm Life to Representing UTK in Valencia, Spain | Abbie Simon
• Past The City Limit Sign: From Albany, Texas to Siena, Italy | Curry Wilson
• Exploring Mexico City’s Interior Architecture: A Global Perspective | Emmie Barnett
• Honors in Cambridge | Shrujana Senthil, Haley Henderson, Marshall Heim, Tea Rugolo, and Sarah Hanna
•  Academy for Global Scholars | Alexa Powers, Eliza Bettis, Kayden Newman
•  Trek Across Indochina | Kiera Rupp and Kate O’Neil
• A World of a Difference | Marissa McKeague
• Campus Social Infrastructure for International Students | Jenny Ott and Madison Watts
• Introduction to Sister City of Muroran Representative High School Kaisei Gakuin | Hiyori Kato, Haruka Susumago, Mihiro Sakamoto, Ryo Kawamura and chaperone, Jack Brodowski

Topics and Presenters:

PDF of Handout

• Food Security | David Ader & Tom Gill
• Carbon Connections Between Forests, Forest Products & Climate Change | Adam Taylor
• Tackling the Effects of Climate Change on Smallholder Farmers in the Caribbean | Dimitris Herrera
• Opportunities for Digital Craft and Global Academic Exchanges | Hojung Kim
• Partnership with the University of Poitiers/Aftermath of Crisis in the Middle Ages | Gregor Kalas and Anne-Helene Miller
• Validation of Blood-based Pregnancy Test in South American Camelids | Andrea Lear
• Structures and Networks of Climate Delay in Indonesia | Paul Gellert
• Gender & IT: Mental Health of Women in Computing, a Global Perspective | Vandana Singh
• Russian Propaganda/Disinformation & Digital Activism Among Young Adults in the Czech Republic | Catherine Luther

Presenters:
Rachel Rui, Director of the Office of Communications and Office of Asia Engagement
Guilherme B. Zuccolotto, CASRE Industry Program Manager and Global Engagement Liaison People-Centric Operational Excellence Programs Coordinator ISE Post-Doc Research Associate

Description:
In this session, the presenters will provide an overview of two distinctive international programs: the 2+2 undergraduate dual-degree program and the short-term summer program, Lean Enterprise Systems Program. The speakers will delve into the process of establishing these programs, discuss their impacts, and address how they align with the university’s overarching goal of internationalization. The speakers will allow ample time for discussions and questions.

The 2+2 undergraduate dual-degree program is a collaboration between the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations at UT and the Journalism School at Liaoning University, China. Coordinated by the Office of Asia Engagement at the Center for Global Engagement, the program development involved multiple campus units, including the Transfer Center, International Recruitment team, Registrar’s Office, International Student and Scholar Services, English Language Institute, the English Department, and garnered strong support from the College of Communication Information and the Tombras School. Anticipating the arrival of its inaugural cohort in Fall 2024, the program continues to yield positive impacts on both collaborating institutions.

The Lean Enterprise Systems Program, a five-week multicultural initiative at UT Knoxville conducted by the Center for Advanced Systems Research and Education, has successfully graduated over 950 students from diverse backgrounds. By combining distance education with on-campus weeks, it emphasizes lean enterprise concepts and people-centric operational excellence. Participants, hailing from Mexico, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, and the U.S., to name a few, actively engage in industrial projects, visit companies such as Amazon and Toyota, and develop skills as global compassionate servant leaders. The program’s success is rooted in fostering cross-cultural learning, efficient critical problem-solving, and maintaining impressive work standards that transcend language, educational, and cultural differences.

Learning Outcomes:

After the session, participants should be able to

• Obtain a clear understanding of what each program entails
• Understand the process of establishing international programs
• Identify program opportunities within the audience’s own unit or department
• Gain perspective of program logistics from program administrator’s view
• Gain insights into the behind-the-scenes planning and how the program impacts the department or unit
• Understand and being able to articulate the impact of international programs

Intended Audience: This session is designed for faculty, staff, and administrators who are considering developing international programs or internationalization strategies for their units; the speakers also welcome others who are running international programs to share their experiences

Presenter:
Lauren Wood, Director of International House
Cymone Samuels, Program Coordinator of International House

Description:

As UT’s global community center, the International House exists to prepare students to be global citizens, but it also supports them as the global citizens they already are.

This session will outline the programs and resources International House provides in alignment with our mission to educate, engage, and support all students as members of a global, culturally diverse society. It will highlight how and why we:

• Facilitate opportunities to reflect on one’s own cultural identity;
• Facilitate engagement and reflection to enhance learning;
• Organize activities that focus on the cultural values, current events, and historical and cultural traditions of featured countries, regions, and cultural groups and the U.S.A.;
• Educate students to lead cultural sharing activities;
• Partner with stakeholders to enhance student learning and experiences; and
• Communicate information about learning and engagement opportunities to our target audience.

Whether you are a faculty or staff member who has participated in I-House activities or are curious about how you can collaborate with us or encourage students to engage in our activities, come learn how we support all students in making connections, building community, and applying their learning.

Learning Outcomes:
After attending this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe International House mission and values.
• Understand the purpose of each International House program.
• Identify activities that may be suitable for students you work with.
• Discover opportunities for collaboration with International House.

Intended Audience: This session is designed for faculty and staff interested in learning how International House programming may benefit their students, and how they can collaborate with us to enhance the student experience. 

Presenter:
Shawn Lenker, Assistant Director of Global Security, Risk, and Resilience

Description:
This workshop, facilitated by the Global Security, Risk, and Resilience team within the Center for Global Engagement, is tailored for faculty and staff interested in developing international programs and experiences for students abroad. It is designed for those seeking guidance on navigating health, safety, and security risks, as well as other associated challenges, and offers practical insights, strategies, and resources for safe and effective program development abroad.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understanding of Risk Assessment: Participants will learn how to conduct comprehensive risk assessments for international programs and locations, including identifying potential health, safety, and security risks, and strategies for mitigating these risks.
• Awareness of Legal and Regulatory Requirements: Participants will become familiar with relevant legal and regulatory requirements governing international programs, including duty of care obligations and compliance with US and local laws.
• Ability to Develop Emergency Response Plans: Participants will learn how to develop effective emergency response plans for international programs, including protocols for medical emergencies, natural disasters, and security incidents.
• Knowledge of Resources and Support Services: Participants will become aware of available resources and support services for managing health, safety, and security risks in international programs, including institutional resources and external assistance.

Intended Audience: This session is designed for faculty and staff interested in developing international programs and experiences for students abroad.

Presenter:
William Vittetoe, Director of International Student and Scholar Services office

Description:
This session is designed to be a functional overview of the necessary requirements for hiring international staff, faculty, and researchers. In addition, this session covers the basic requirements for the placement of J Exchange Visitor Scholars in an academic department.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the visa options available for the hiring of international staff, faculty, and researchers including: Permanent Residency, O, TN, and H-1B sponsorship.
• Understand the requirements and process for the placement of J Exchange Visitor Scholars with an academic department.
• Plan hiring processes to best utilize employment-based visa sponsorship as a tool to attract talent.
• Develop J Exchange Visitor Scholar processes that ensure compliance and maximize the utility of the Exchange Visitor Program.

Intended Audience: This session is designed for administrators, HR professionals, and department heads involved in hiring international staff, faculty, researchers, and managing J Exchange Visitor Scholars.

Summary of Topic:
Do you want to gain insight on how to increase your grant success rate as well as maximize your global network? If yes, then this panel is for you. Panelists will provide valuable insight on keys to winning grants and building global networks drawing on real world experiences. The keys to winning grants segment will provide insight on identifying the right grant opportunities, communicating with funders, tips on developing high quality proposal and budgets, and perhaps most importantly how to avoid common pitfalls. The global networks segment will focus on how to effectively develop, grow, and nurture new and existing multi-level global partnerships for long term and impactful projects and programming.

Moderator:

• Sean Lawrie
  Assistant Director for Global Partnerships, Research, and Innovation, Center for Global Engagement

Panelists:

• Jill Passano
  Senior Director, Research Development & Foundation Engagement
  Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development (ORIED)
• Marcy Souza
  Professor and Associate Dean
  Office for Outreach and Global Engagement
  College of Veterinary Medicine
• Hans Goertz
  Assistant Director of Project Development
  Smith Center for International Sustainable Agriculture
  University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA)

Host: Will Jennings, Faculty Director of Global Learning and Student Impact

Description: The on-campus portion of the Global Engagement Summit will conclude with a drawing for 3 special prizes! Attendees must have registered and be present to win. All attendees will receive a token of appreciation from CGE.