Abstract
An internationalized curriculum develops the international and intercultural perspectives of students. It is as much about the content (the information) as it is about the skills and attitude differences found in non-native countries. Within the allied health disciplines, opportunities to enhance international focus include international service-learning, clinical internships, and study abroad. Experiences such as these allow the opportunity for students to develop global competencies to practice successfully in diverse environments. At Fresno State, our mission and strategic plan emphasize the importance of providing students with global awareness and an internationalized curriculum. While study abroad programs and other forms of international travel, such as service-learning trips, are a valuable means to providing students with international experiences, these options are not available for all students. Changing student demographics, financial challenges, and low study abroad rates increase the importance of making sure all students are prepared to live and work in a global society. The purpose of this study is to describe a variety of strategies used to enhance the internationalization of allied health disciplines. The research explores the utilization of university resources and strategic partnerships to enhance international opportunities within the curriculum. Included in the discussion are campus-wide events such as international coffee hour; interdisciplinary study abroad programs focused on health care; international clinical internships and fieldwork opportunities; visiting international faculty and students; class assignments, and the integration of faculty research on international topics into courses.
Presenters
Nancy NisbettProfessor, Department of Recreation Administration, California State University, Fresno, California, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Education and Learning Worlds of Differences
KEYWORDS
International, Health Education, Curriculum
