Srinakharinwirot University International College
Program Proposal and OverviewDavid T. Brown
16 December 2004 ● Srinakharinwirot University
SWU International College
Outline
Why create an International College?
Key Attributes of the proposed program
Defining Interdisciplinarity
Why Sustainability?
What is an Interdisciplinary Combined Major?
Integration of International Course Components
Timelines
Conclusions and Comments
Why create an
International College?
SWU International College
Why an international college?
Thai universities require new programs which are:
academically excellent
international in scope and credibility
pedagogically innovative – emphasizing critical thinking, interdisciplinarity, effective communication skills, applied problem solving
socially and environmentally relevant
free from traditional bureaucratic constraints
attractive and accessible to Thai students
institutionally affordable (cost recovery basis)
SWU International College
SWU’s response:Srinakharinwirot University is committed in principle to developing a new autonomous College within the governing framework of
Srinakharinwirot University, known provisionally as
Srinakharinwirot University
International College
Why an international college?
SWU International College
Mandate of SWU IC
to provide a unique broad-based interdisciplinary undergraduate educational
opportunity with a strong international component for Thai students at SWU, featuring
strong core grounding in environment and sustainability
to provide an internationally recognized and respected joint-major Bachelor’s degree
(BA or BSc) program
SWU International College
Development targets
Make the program accessible to a wide range of academically excellent Thai undergrads
-> realistic English aptitude expectations
-> realistic cost
Fit within a standard 4-year university degree time frame
SWU International College
Development targets
Maximize interaction with international instructors and student peers from abroad
Minimize costs associated with international / study-abroad components
Harmonize with domestic Thai programs and programs in international institutions
SWU International College
Development targets
Retention of traditional liberal undergraduate educational values…
Literacy
Numeracy
Critical analysis
Openness and receptivity to the ideas and perspectives of others
Moral and ethical integrity
Social responsibility
SWU International College
Development targets
…and Innovation through the introduction of:
a structured interdisciplinary perspective;
an integrated international experience that is systemic, meaningful, and more affordable than full-time study at an international institution;
a systemic emphasis on environment, ecology, and principles of sustainability as a fundamental basis for all activities.
Key attributes of the
International College
Curriculum
SWU International College
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
Interdisciplinary Combined Major Program Structure
Students in the program will have the opportunity to be joint majors, combining the College’s broad-based interdisciplinary course offerings with a disciplinary major from a participating department at SWU.
SWU International College
Focus on Environment, Ecology and Sustainability
interdisciplinary core courses will emphasize environmental literacy, ecological awareness, and a strong working knowledge of principles of sustainability as a foundation for all academic endeavour
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
SWU International College
Inherently International Perspective accomplished through
collaborative program delivery with international partner institutions;
international and domestic lecturers;
international study-abroad and exchange opportunities for students, staff, and faculty members
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
SWU International College
Inherently International Perspective: How?
1. domestic courses / academic activities offered in Thailand which involve international faculty members as instructors or co-instructors;
2. study-abroad courses (short and medium term) mounted by SWU around the world which may involve international faculty members as instructors or co-instructors, for SWU credit;
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
SWU International College
Inherently International Perspective: How?
3. study-abroad course opportunities (short and medium term) around the world offered by cooperating partner institutions for transfer credit;
4. term-abroad or year-abroad study opportunities at cooperating partner institutions around the world for transfer credit.
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
SWU International College
Modular program format
An academic calendar that is complementary to the standard Thai academic calendar as much as possible Course modules scheduled to take best advantage of the academic calendars of partner institutions in the northern and southern hemispheres Provides maximum flexibility in course selection and allows for year-round study.
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
SWU International College
Target demographic group
Thai high school graduates and young professionals who exceed national university-level entrance standards and SWU acceptance standards
Thai students who have excellent academic credentials and good functional oral English skills, but who may lack university-level writing aptitude in English
SWU International College
Emphasis on English language program delivery
A significant proportion of the international content of the program will be delivered in English. E.g.,
all course content delivered by international instructors;
courses with joint Thai-international student enrollment.
However…
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
SWU International College
…the intended target market for this College is Thai students, so:
some foundation courses in the International College core curriculum may be delivered in Thai some disciplinary co-major courses may be taken in Thai supplementary materials and explanation for international courses may be provided in the Thai language by Thai co-instructors.
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
SWU International College
In some SWU-credit courses, students will be given the option of submitting written work and writing examinations in either Thai or English.
Students who choose to work entirely in English will receive formal recognition of this fact in their degree program through English-language benchmark testing and a formal ‘English stream’.
Transfer credit courses will be conducted and evaluated entirely in the language of instruction of the home institution, except by special arrangement.
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
Defining
Interdisciplinarity
SWU International College
disciplinary
Multidisciplinary
Interdisciplinary
- what are the differences?Reference: Stefanovic, Ingrid. 1996. Interdisciplinarity and Wholeness: Lessons from
Eco-Research. Environments 23(3): 74-94.
Definitions…
SWU International College
Definitions…
Disciplinary:of or pertaining to a discrete branch of learning
knowledge within generally accepted boundaries
often associated with discipline-specific vocabularies, methods, and assumptions
Examples of disciplines: sociology, philosophy, biology, political science, chemistry, economics, geography, mathematics...
SWU International College
Definitions…
Multidisciplinary:standard disciplinary approaches are applied to a common research question, problem or issue
insights achieved through an approach which is essentially additive rather than integrative
a spontaneous coalescence of these disparate approaches is anticipated
arguably the approach which produces the most substantive research results
ISSUE
ISSUEdisciplinediscipline
discipline
discipline
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cip
line
dis
cip
line
discipline
discipline
dis
cip
line
dis
cip
line
discipline
discipline
discipline
discipline
disciplinediscipline
SWU International College
Definitions…
Interdisciplinary:a level of integration which involves more than an additive analysis of the disciplinary perspectives insights are achieved through an approach which is explicitly integrative -> an a priori attempt is made at synthesis across disciplinary boundariesthe issue, problem, or concern defines the disciplinary expertise which is brought to bear -> arguably the most effective policy-oriented problem-solving approach
ISSUE
ISSUE
disciplinedisciplinedisciplinediscipline
disciplinediscipline
disciplinediscipline
disciplinediscipline
disciplinedisciplinedisciplinediscipline
disciplinediscipline
ISSUE
sectorsector sectorsector
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sectorsector sectorsector
sectorsector
ISSUE
SWU International College
Interdisciplinary programs
…are not affiliated with a particular academic discipline, but which attempt to bridge disciplinary boundaries
diverse in scope and context, but share some common attributes:
thematic
issue-based or problem-based
may incorporate a range of perspectives, from theoretical to applied
SWU International College
Interdisciplinary programs
…are not a substitute for the traditional disciplines which form the core of any university
The two approaches are inextricably interlinked and complementary:
Disciplinary endeavour provides depth of knowledge
Interdisciplinary programs provide breadth of knowledge
SWU International College
Interdisciplinary programs
Further details on handout:
A. The Disciplinary / Multidisciplinary / Interdisciplinary / Transdisciplinary Continuum (pp. 4-6)
B. Rationale for the development of an interdisciplinary core program in ecology, environment, and sustainability (pp.6-8)
Why Sustainability?
Rationale and Overview
SWU International College
Sustainable development:
meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
- World Commission on Environment and Development (1987): Our Common Future
A somewhat broad definition: “all things to all people, therefore nothing to anyone”.
SWU International College
Sustainability
Some alternatives:
“A sustainable society is one that lives within the self-perpetuating limits of its environment. That society is not a "no growth" society - it is, rather a society that recognizes the limits of growth and looks for alternative ways of growing.”
- James Coomer
[Sustainability is]..“achieving the ecological balance which allows economic prosperity and social equity to be achieved across generations.”
- James McNeil
SWU International College
Sustainability…is not limited to one precise definition. Different
definitions of sustainability are useful for different situations and different purposes, yet all the definitions involve:
Living within limits; Understanding the interconnections among economy, society, and environment;
and Equitable distribution of resources and opportunities.
SWU International College
Sustainability
“A basic premise of education for
sustainability is that just as there is a wholeness and interdependence to life in all its forms, so must there be a unity and wholeness to efforts to understand it and ensure its continuation. This calls for both interdisciplinary inquiry and action.”
Educating for a Sustainable Future: A Transdisciplinary Vision for Concerted Action (UNESCO, 1997)
SWU International College
the sustainability triangle
Sustainability
SWU International College
Elements of sustainability
Environment
Economy Society- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987
SWU International College
Elements of sustainability
Environment
Economy Society- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987
•biodiversitybiodiversity•materialsmaterials•energyenergy
•biophysical interactionsbiophysical interactions
SWU International College
Elements of sustainability
Environment
Economy Society- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987
•money and capitalmoney and capital•employmentemployment
•technological growthtechnological growth•investmentinvestment
•market forcesmarket forces
SWU International College
Elements of sustainability
Environment
Economy Society- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987
•human diversity (cultural, linguistic, ethnic)human diversity (cultural, linguistic, ethnic)•equity (dependence / independence)equity (dependence / independence)
•quality of lifequality of life•institutional structures and organizationinstitutional structures and organization
•political structurespolitical structures
SWU International College
Sustainability…
No longer a slippery ill-defined term
Qualitative and quantitative techniques are employed in the study of sustainability
Theoretical and applied approaches exist
Emphasis on the continuum from principles to policy to practice
Principles of sustainability are now well established in the academic literature ->frameworks for evaluating our practices
SWU International College
Principles of Sustainability
To be useful, principles must:
be easily understood
be applicable in many contexts
be transferable across scales
translate well from fundamental values into applied policy and practical action
identify possibilities for change of all magnitudes
SWU International College
Sustainability Education
Further details on handout:
C. Background on interdisciplinarity in postsecondary environmental education from UNESCO (‘Education for a Sustainable Future’) – p.9
Other resources:
Principles of Sustainable Development: http://www.iisd.org/sd/principle.asp
The Sustainability Projecthttp://www.flora.org/sustain/lets_tlk.html
What is an
Interdisciplinary
Combined Major?
SWU International College
Credit structure
Interdisciplinary Core(approx. 40% of total credit hours )
Disciplinary Co-Major(approx. 40% of total credit hours)
General Education Courses(approx. 20% of total credit hours)
SWU International College
‘Non-traditional’:
• Engineering• Computer Science• Education• Pharmacology• Business• Languages• Health Science
Credit structure
Interdisciplinary Core(approx. 40% of total credit hours )
General Education Courses(approx. 20% of total credit hours)
Examples:• Biology• Sociology• Chemistry• Economics• Geography• Politics• Law• Philosophy• Psychology
Disciplinary Co-Major
SWU International College
Generic Course Schema
Introduction to Sustainability
Disciplinary Co-Major 1
General Education
Ecology and Environment
Disciplinary Co-Major 2
Applied Environmental Policy
Disciplinary Co-Major 3
General Education
Disciplinary Co-Major 4
Year 1 Term 1 Term 2
* Disciplinary and General Education Courses may not occur in same terms for all co-majors
General Education
SWU International College
Generic Course Schema
Local ScaleEnvironmental Issues
Disciplinary Co-Major 5
General Education
Year 2 / 3 Core Elective*
Disciplinary Co-Major 6
Global Scale Environmental Issues
Disciplinary Co-Major 7
General Education
Year 2 / 3 Core Elective*
Disciplinary Co-Major 8
Year 2 Term 3 Term 4
* Sample year 2 / 3 core electives: Economics of the EnvironmentEthics, Equity and Environmental ThoughtMaterials, Waste, and Recycling
SWU International College
Generic Course Schema
Field Course Project and Journal
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on…*
Disciplinary Co-Major 10
Disciplinary Co-Major 11
Year 3 Term 5 (abroad) Term 6 (abroad or at home)
Ecozones and Biodiversity
Urban Settlements
Disciplinary Co-Major 12
Disciplinary Co-Major 9
General Education
Year 2 / 3 Core Elective**
Year 2 / 3 Core Elective**
* Sample “Interdisciplinary Perspectives on…”…Human Settlements: The Automobile …International Issues: Globalization and Environment …Environmental Issues: Toxins in the Environment
** Sample Year 2 / 3 core electives: Environmental Legislation and Case Studies Human Services Planning Global Conventions on Environment and Development
SWU International College
Generic Course Schema
Research Project I
Disciplinary Co-Major 13
General Education
Disciplinary Co-Major 14
Disciplinary Co-Major 15
General Education
Disciplinary Co-Major 16
Year 4 Term 7 Term 8
Policy Seminar I
Literature Review
Research Project II
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on…
Yr. 3 / 4 Elective*#
Yr. 3 / 4 Elective*#
* Sample Year 3 / 4 core electives: Ecosystem-based PlanningSustainable AgricultureGender and Environment
# May be Disciplinary Co-Major Course depending upon Year 3 Term Abroad or Year Abroad options
Policy Seminar II
Integration of International Course Components
Scheduling and Mechanisms
SWU International College
Scheduling
Respects standard 4-year (8 term) university degree timeframe
SWU International College
Scheduling
Respects standard 4-year (8 term) university degree timeframe
Respects standard SWU academic calendar in years 1,2 and 4
SWU International College
Scheduling
Respects standard 4-year (8 term) university degree timeframe
Respects standard SWU academic calendar in years 1,2 and 4 (standard Thai academic term deployment)
SWU International College
Scheduling
Respects standard 4-year (8 term) university degree timeframe
Respects standard SWU academic calendar in years 1,2 and 4 (standard Thai academic term deployment)
International instructors will teach during standard Thai terms
Intl. Instructors Intl. Instructors
Intl. Instructors Intl. Instructors
Intl. Instructors Intl. Instructors
Intl. Instructors
Intl. Instructors
Intl. Instructors from: Northern hemisphere Southern hemisphere
SWU International College
Scheduling
Respects standard 4-year (8 term) university degree timeframe
Respects standard SWU academic calendar in years 1,2 and 4
(standard term deployment)
International instructors will teach during standard Thai terms
Year 3 (Terms 5 and 6) is different, and offers most intensive international experience
SWU International College
Scheduling
Respects standard 4-year (8 term) university degree timeframe
Respects standard SWU academic calendar in years 1,2 and 4
(standard term deployment)
International instructors will teach during standard Thai terms
Year 3 (Terms 5 and 6) is different, and offers most intensive international experience
SWU International College
Scheduling Year 3 (Terms 5 and 6) is different, and offers most intensive
international experience Term 5 is a study-abroad field course term (within May –Sept)
SWU International College
Scheduling Year 3 (Terms 5 and 6) is different, and offers most intensive
international experience Term 5 is a study-abroad field course term (within May –Sept)
SWU International College
Scheduling Year 3 (Terms 5 and 6) is different, and offers most intensive
international experience Term 5 is a study-abroad field course term (within May –Sept)
Example: Canadian Ecozones and Urban Settlements courses
• land in Vancouver
• travel across country by motor coach, visiting several major ecozones and important cities
• Accommodations in university residences along the way – less expensive, and appropriate
• Guest lectures by local academics and experts
• One Thai and one Canadian instructor
• Hiatus (additional course and break) at Brock University before stage 2 (eastern Canada)
SWU International College
Term deployment Year 3 (Terms 5 and 6) is different, and offers most intensive
international experience Term 5 is a study-abroad field course term (within May –Sept)
Example: Canadian Ecozones and Urban Settlements course
• land in Vancouver
• travel across country by motor coach, visiting several major ecozones and important cities
• Accommodations in university residences along the way – less expensive, and appropriate
• Guest lectures by local academics and experts
• One Thai and one Canadian instructor
• Hiatus (courses and break) at Brock University before stage 2 (eastern Canada)
SWU International College
Scheduling Year 3 (Terms 5 and 6) is different, and offers the most intensive
international experience Term 5 is a study-abroad field course term (within May –Sept)
Term 6 offers two options: Study at Brock
(1 or 2 terms)
Study at SWU (regular 2nd term)
SWU International College
Scheduling •Additional optional field or classroom courses may be offered between semesters, including ESL training, at home or abroad
Timelines
SWU International College
Timelines
2004-5• Program definition:
− Program title and scope− Determination of substantive subject areas covered− Assessment of academic resources available (books, journals, online
resources)− University-wide workshop (January 2005) on program development
• Curriculum analysis and development• Identification of full list of committed faculty members• Hiring of new faculty by SWU• Piloting of collaborative core course delivery in a Thai context at
SWU using Brock faculty • Establishment of final program structure and administrative
mechanismsPilot Program Launch June 2005
SWU International College
Timelines
2005-6
• Advertising of new program
• Pilot Program Launch June 2005
• Deployment of some Year I course offerings
• Recruitment of SWU students into newly developed program
• Exploration and initiation of collaborative research programs
• Visiting International Scholar / University Mentorship program visits to Brock for upper-year course development and collaborative research
• Possible first iteration of joint Brock-SWU undergraduate field course
SWU International College
Timelines
2006-7
• Deployment of Year 2 course offerings
• Development of short-term study-abroad course offerings for SWU students
• Ongoing collaborative development of Year 3 and Year 4 courses
SWU International College
Timelines
2007-8
• Deployment of Year 3 course offerings • First semester of Year 3 incorporates a systemic international
experience: − For students without 550 TOEFL: May – August field term (5) in
Canada; return to Thailand for Term 6 − For students with 550 TOEFL: May – August field term (5) in
Canada, but staying on from Sept in study-abroad semester or year
2008-9
• Deployment of Year 4 course offerings• First graduating class
Conclusions and Comments