What Comes Next?

By Vienne Lin

Consistent with CoP – ITL’s vision to work collaboratively, we organised a workshop on practical approaches to the internationalisation of teaching and learning together with HKUST and HKBU on 23 March 2018. It is our great honour to have Prof. Betty Leask, our CoP – ITL International adviser, as the speaker of the workshop and have more than forty participants across local institutions here with us.

The workshop began with an interesting ice-breaking activity in which participants were asked to share the meaning of his or her name among the groups. This icebreaker was more than a simple warm-up. It showed how cultural elements may come into play in such a small detail. Prof. Leask moved on to elucidate a new paradigm of internationalisation of the curriculum (IoC hereafter) along with some significant steps to making this happen. First, identify an issue. Second, figure out a possible intervention and this requires copious reading. Prof. Leask illustrated how IoC can be achieved with different constructive interventions from around the world. Third, plan the intervention with five elements: inputs (intended results of a project), activities (actions related to project goals), outputs (short-term results), outcomes (medium-term results), and impact (long-term consequences). Lastly, identify indicators of success. At its core, the success of a project is measured by whether it has had the desired impact. Towards the end of the workshop, participants were divided into groups to discuss potential interventions to IoC by a SMART goal setting worksheet, with their input and inquiries collected, categorised and elaborated. Prof. Leask remarked that IoC takes ongoing, rather than one-off, initiatives and efforts and that the keys to success are (1) working collaboratively; (2) planning for success; and (3) being flexible, imaginative and judicious.

Realising that the three keys to success are not easy, CoP – ITL has tried to offer help by easing some of the common concerns including colleagues’ busy work schedules, lack of funding and resources, questions of who to work with and how to work on the IoC. On the same day after the workshop, signed up members had an exclusive opportunity to consult their pilot project ideas with Prof. Leask. The private consultation sessions enabled members to raise their burning questions, receive professional advice, and polish their work. Another aspect that CoP – ITL offers is the collaborative platform it creates. We hope that this community of practice helps colleagues to meet and work together with like-minded members.