Developing Leadership in International Education

Dafina Blacksher Diabate, Assistant Director, AIEA Katy Rosenbaum, Program Associate, AIEA

2014 NCAIE Conference, Durham, NC

Welcome!

As you come in, please take an index card and answer the following question:

What are the most important characteristics for leadership in international education?

Welcome and Overview

• Introductions • Brief summary of 2011 AIEA Survey on Senior

International Officers • Reflection and discussion of survey results • Individual activity • Small Group Discussion • Closing

2011 AIEA Survey on Senior International Officers

• …Based on 184 responses from SIOs (Senior International Officers)

• What are key knowledge, skills, experiences, characteristics, challenges?

• Think about your strengths, and identify top 1-2 in each category

IE Leader Survey Results: Top Knowledge Areas

• International issues in higher education

• Current world affairs• Business principles & practices• Cross-cultural theories &

methods

IE Leader Survey Results:Top Skills

• Interpersonal • Advocacy • Networking• Communication

IE Leader Survey Results: Top Experience Areas

• Managing an organization• Academic administration

• Managing budget/finance• Overseas living

IE Leader Survey Results: Top Personal Characteristics

• Vision• Energy/Passion

• Flexibility• Creativity• Entrepreneurship• Pragmatism

The Senior International Officer as Change Agent

• Diplomacy/tact• Imagination• Teamwork• Flexibility• Listening• Administrative experience• Networking/Coalition Building(Heyl, John. The SIO (Senior International Officer) as Change Agent. Durham, NC: Association of International Education Administrators. November 2007.)

Thomas Barwick / Getty Images

Developing Global Leaders

• Establishing intention• Developing a global mindset• Building relationships• Seeing from others’ perspectives • Diagnosing the situation • Self-assessing and enhancing ICC• Engaging in critical reflection• Becoming more adaptable

Leadership Perspectives on Internationalization

Key points:• Intentionality & vision• Collaboration & communication• Intercultural competence development &

cultural humility• Critical reflection & assessment• Relationship building(Deardorff, D.K. (2012). Looking to the future: Leadership perspectives on internationalization, a synthesis. AUDEM Journal. (invited paper))

Reflection

• What is your reaction to these survey results? What was surprising? What stood out?

• From your perspective, is there something (knowledge, experience, attitudes) missing from the list? Was there an idea on your index card that was not brought up?

• How do leadership skills and personalities of the SIO influence the IE community?

Worksheet: Strengths

• Identify your top 1-2 strengths in each of the categories listed on your worksheet

• Find somebody you do not know who has identified a strength that you did not check off on your worksheet. Spend 4-5 minutes discussing the steps they took to develop these skills and exchange contact information to continue the discussion post-conference!

Small Group Discussion

• How do I see leadership traits, qualities, or priorities being implemented at my institution currently? What can be done better as a community at my institution?

• How does this impact my current role at my institution?

• What can I do if I aspire to leadership in the future? What can I add to my professional development plan?

Wrap-Up

• Sharing from small group discussion • General reflections on leadership in IE

Thank You!

• SIO Survey: summary available at www.aieaworld.org

• Contact: – Dafina Blacksher Diabate: dafinanc@duke.edu– Katy Rosenbaum: kathryn.rosenbaum@duke.edu – The Association of International Education

Administrators (AIEA): aiea@duke.edu • Session Evaluations