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