Curriculum Curriculum DevelopmentDevelopment with with

International PartnersInternational Partners

How to Build a Joint How to Build a Joint Communication Degree Communication Degree

Program Program Kevin GoreKevin Gore

OutlineOutline

Why create international curricula?Why create international curricula? Which curriculum for development?Which curriculum for development? Where to actually begin?Where to actually begin? What we envision!What we envision! Our long-term goalsOur long-term goals

Why create international Why create international curricula?curricula?

International student exchange programs are International student exchange programs are well-established with large numbers of mobile well-established with large numbers of mobile studentsstudents

However, often it appears that the exchange is an However, often it appears that the exchange is an ”academic break” when it could offer much more”academic break” when it could offer much more

For students, a joint curriculum between For students, a joint curriculum between ”strategic” partner schools could add:”strategic” partner schools could add:– An extra incentive to study abroad An extra incentive to study abroad – Result in a concrete benefit: Result in a concrete benefit:

An area of specializationAn area of specialization For HAAGA-HELIA:For HAAGA-HELIA:

– Real input to our ”home” curriculumReal input to our ”home” curriculum

Which curriculum for Which curriculum for development?development?

In joint curricula and student exchange, In joint curricula and student exchange, high risk of overlapping subjects from the high risk of overlapping subjects from the student’s perspectivestudent’s perspective

However, one area is clear: However, one area is clear: CommunicationCommunication– Students report it is something they want to Students report it is something they want to

improveimprove– It is culture-specific, thus exchange enhances itIt is culture-specific, thus exchange enhances it– It is one of HAAGA-HELIA’s main foci in It is one of HAAGA-HELIA’s main foci in

educationeducation

Where to actually begin?Where to actually begin? Get together with all members involved in the Get together with all members involved in the

development and get to know each other!development and get to know each other!– We too have to communicate our aims, desires and We too have to communicate our aims, desires and

understanding of what we want to jointly create understanding of what we want to jointly create ((time-consuming but worth ittime-consuming but worth it))

– Have a clear ”driver” (Luuk van Leeuwen in our Have a clear ”driver” (Luuk van Leeuwen in our case)case)

Determine what is the ”competitive Determine what is the ”competitive advantage” of each ”strategic” partneradvantage” of each ”strategic” partner– HAAGA-HELIA: PBLHAAGA-HELIA: PBL– Hogeschool Utrecht: MultimediaHogeschool Utrecht: Multimedia– Fach Hochschule Wien: Integrated CommunicationsFach Hochschule Wien: Integrated Communications

Where to actually begin? Where to actually begin? (cont’d)(cont’d)

Come to a consensus on what is the joint Come to a consensus on what is the joint vision and missionvision and mission– ””The power of belief”The power of belief”

Do a detailed audit of what each partner Do a detailed audit of what each partner can bring to the table:can bring to the table:– Specific courses and contentSpecific courses and content– Credits, assignments, reading materials, class Credits, assignments, reading materials, class

size, electronic learning platform, etc.size, electronic learning platform, etc.– Clarity about Clarity about whowho teaches teaches whatwhat, , wherewhere whenwhen

and and how. how. (easy to say, hard to do)(easy to say, hard to do)

What we envision!What we envision!

SuomiSuomi– HAAGA-HELIAHAAGA-HELIA

NederlandNederland– Hogeschool UtrechtHogeschool Utrecht

ÖsterreichÖsterreich– Fach Hochschule WienFach Hochschule Wien

What we envision! (cont’d)What we envision! (cont’d)

Each school would send and receive 3-5 Each school would send and receive 3-5 students during their 4th-5th semester, students during their 4th-5th semester, spending (at least) one semester abroad spending (at least) one semester abroad

Students are integrated into current Students are integrated into current courses at each school, but special courses at each school, but special gatherings and seminars organized only gatherings and seminars organized only for them to create a sense of communityfor them to create a sense of community

Set ”core” communication curriculum at Set ”core” communication curriculum at each school, plus elective courseseach school, plus elective courses

Local language courses REQUIRED!Local language courses REQUIRED!

Our long-term goalsOur long-term goals

One semester is study, another is One semester is study, another is work placementwork placement, either in same , either in same country or other partner countrycountry or other partner country

Highlight to companies that we are Highlight to companies that we are offering work placement interns with a offering work placement interns with a specializationspecialization in communication in communication– E.g., work in internal communications E.g., work in internal communications

Platform for Platform for communication-communication-oriented thesesoriented theses (research and (research and execution)execution)

Our long-term goalsOur long-term goals

Lecturer exchangeLecturer exchange Exchange of pedagogocal practices Exchange of pedagogocal practices

– Interest in PBLInterest in PBL Easier to build and conduct joint Easier to build and conduct joint

research projects in an establish research projects in an establish networknetwork