Part I: International Study Tours

LEAD 789 Advanced Seminar: International Higher Education

Introduction:

In this course the mission of school of Education at Andrews University was reiterated, that is to “To serve an international clientele, preparing educators for excellence in thinking, teaching, service and research.  As companions in learning, students and faculty are committed to global Christian service.” (Course Syllabus).  As I embarked on the mission statement served as my frame of reference as we traveled from one country and university to another. 

The course was designed to introduce participants to the international and comparative dimensions of higher education through a study tour program. In the design, the various interpretations of international, comparative and globalization of higher education were considered. The tour focused on comparing what one would consider the five systems of higher education that have greatly influenced post-secondary education around the world - Great Britain, Germany, France, the United States, and Italy. On this tour, the study tour included visits to University of Paris, metonymically known as Sorbonne, University of Rome La Sapienza, Humboldt University of Berlin, and University of Cambridge.  We also visited Friedensau Adventist University in Germany, and Newbold College in Great Britain.  In the end I felt the that goals of the course were met.   The experience was profound, including the cross cultural phenomenon encountered as especially in countries where English is not the dominant language (France, Italy, and Germany).

The tour contributed significantly to my dissertation project topic, and also to a collaborative poster presentation at an Association of International Educators (NAFSA) conference in Los Angeles California in 2008.   It is during and post Europe tour that I conceived and developed the idea of pursing a research study in intentional student satisfaction, expectations and perceptions of service quality. This idea was refined and over time culminated into a dissertation project.  I also developed interest in understanding and exploring the Bologna Process.  My interest, and the review of literature in addition to the knowledge gleaned from the tour I was able to present a poster along with others at the NAFSA conference.

France (Paris)

Our first stop during the tour was in Paris France.  We visited the University of Paris.  An institution with 26, 000 students, 1,116 administrative and technical staff, and 1, 815 faculty members at the time.  Professor Michel Delamar, a former Rector (University President) at University of Paris, delivered a presentation about studying at Paris-Diderot.  He talked about the system of education in higher education institutions is 3 years (undergraduate) 2 years (Masters), and 3 years PhD.).  He mentioned that the undergraduate and masters level students can pursue either a general or professional degree.  He talked about research at the university, disciplines, and international relations. 

He mentioned that in France the higher education institutions focus on tuition, making the cost for tuition very affordable, while student housing and hospitality services are contracted.  That was a unique arrangement I was not aware of prior to the tour.

Italy (Rome)

Sapienza University has a large student population of 110, 000 of which 6, 000 are from outside Italy.

Germany (Berlin)

Humboldt University of Berlin is a university in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin Germany.  It is the oldest of Berlin's four universities. The university is divided into nine faculties, including its medical school shared with the Free University of Berlin, and has a student enrollment of around 33,033 students, and offers degree programmes in some 189 disciplines from undergraduate to postdoctorate level. The university is known worldwide for pioneering the Humboldtian model of higher education, which has strongly influenced other European and Western universities.

As of 2017, the university has been associated with 55 Nobel Prize winners (including former students, faculty and researchers), and is considered one of the best universities in Europe as well as one of the most prestigious universities in the world for arts and humanities.  It is linked to major breakthroughs in physics and other sciences by its professors such as Albert Einstein. Notable alumni and former faculty include eminent philosophers, sociologists, artists, lawyers, politicians, mathematicians, scientists, and Heads of State.   We toured Humboldt University of Berlin as part of our Euro2008 International higher education tour.

United Kingdom (England)

Supporting documents including assignments and activities for this particular area of growth are included in the links here below:

University of Paris- Diderot (PowerPoint Presentation) 

Sapienza University Di Roma: Erasmus PowerPoint Presentation (GAIA) 24-6-08)

Reflection Paper

LEAD 789 Advanced Seminar – Syllabus

REFERENCES

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Reinalda, B., & Kuleza, E., & Klingemann, H. D. (2005). The Bologna process:

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Riesman, D. (1980). On higher education: The academic enterprise in an era of rising

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Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, et. al. (1988). High school

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