Getting Career-Ready: Global Education and The Workforce

Research points to global education and other thoughtfully designed global experiences as high impact practices correlated with positive outcomes for diverse student populations in higher education. How can educators and administrators more intentionally connect these high impact practices with career planning and trajectory? How can we highlight the assets global education alumni bring to shaping a globally diverse and inclusive workforce, in all sectors and fields? What additional research/scholarship can be developed to inform university practices, as well as  professional recruitment, hiring, and development opportunities that support diverse work environments?

Acknowledgements

A special thank-you to members of the Diversity Abroad consortium for supporting thought leadership at the intersection of global education and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Introduction

Jinous Kasravi, PhD

Director, Membership and Community | Diversity Abroad

Employers define specific qualifications and skills in their job descriptions, and for new college graduates there is focus to exemplify experience in these areas. As professionals working with students who will soon graduate, we try to provide an opportunity for them to attain some of these skills through their formal curriculum as well as other opportunities offered during their higher education studies. As international educators, we promote global experiences as being a high impact practice which leads to positive outcomes on the personal, academic, and professional level for students. 

Yet, how can we help our students who have participated in some form of global education experience to critically reflect on the benefits that they gained and the  positive outcomes which can be relayed in their job applications and interviews? What are some of the transferable skills to their future career which are not often at the forefront when discussing international experiences? We need to help them effectively articulate to their future employers and move beyond the image that our diverse and underrepresented students had the opportunity to “travel overseas.” Our efforts should also include international students in this conversation. While online learning and the pandemic were difficult for all students, this population in particular were not able to participate and engage in in-person conversations and activities which are essential in their navigation of a new language, culture, and curriculum. 

The transformative experience of an overseas program greatly shapes our students personally and professionally and can additionally benefit their employer, colleagues, and their future work environment. One of NACE’s Career Readiness Core Competencies has now been updated to Equity & Inclusion, and more employers are adding some form of this specifically into their desirable job qualifications. The assets that our global education alumni contribute to building diverse work environments are at the forefront now more than ever. 

The following articles in the Winter 2023 edition of the Global Impact Exchange highlight some programs, strategies, and tips for helping our global education alumni in their career planning. This edition also includes several opinion pieces which provide insightful questions and issues that we as international educators should consider in the work that we do.  

As you read the articles, if you are inspired to share how you or your office or organization is collaborating together to advance equity and inclusion in global education, I invite you to reach out and share a best practice with us. We would love to hear from you. Please share your reflections and ideas with us at [email protected]. We also invite Diversity Abroad members to join the conversation on our online community forums.

 

Editorial Board

The main task of the Editorial Advisory Board is to review article submissions for the Diversity Abroad Quarterly publication. While not a peer-reviewed academic journal, the Diversity Abroad Quarterly publication compiles articles to advance domestic and international conversations around diversity, inclusion, and equity in global education with respect to the thematic focus identified each quarter.

  • Helena Gillespie | Professor Of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, School of Education & Lifelong Learning, University of East Anglia
  • David Wick | Associate Professor, International Education Management, Middlebury Institute of International Studies
  • Jinous Kasravi | Director of Membership & Community, Diversity Abroad

 

Table of Contents

  • Decolonizing Education for Professional Success: Building Cultural Agility Through DEI-Informed Global Learning
  • Career Readiness Through Intentional Reflection of Cultural Intelligence
  • Candid Testimonies: Historically-Marginalized Alumni Promote Study Abroad and Global Careers
  • Building Career-Readiness for International Students Through Demystifying Small Talk
  • Together We Fly Higher-Advancing Equity in Global Education and the Workforce: A Case for Academy and Industry Partnerships
  • When Gray Area is a Good Thing: Developing Global Readiness Through Ambiguity
  • Developing T-Shaped Professionals Through Expanded International Experiences
  • Global Educators Encouraging Participants to Find Their Unique Voice to Speak Their Absolute Truth

Publication for Download 

Winter 2023 Edition: Getting Career-Ready: Global Education and The Workforce

Note: To access the articles, you must be logged in as a licensed member user. Once logged in, the list of articles will appear below.

Global Impact Exchange | Winter 2023

Decolonizing Education for Professional Success: Building Cultural Agility| GIE Winter 2023

2/1/2023

This article presents how Agnes Scott College’s global learning and inclusive leadership curriculum integrates career-relevant cultural agility competencies


Building Career-Readiness for International Students Through Demystifying Small Talk

2/1/2023

This article will discuss the importance of small talk, factors impacting the perception of small talk, and call for more inclusive support in international students’ career readiness as they navigate their journey in another country and culture.


When Gray Area Is a Good Thing: Developing Global Readiness Through Ambiguity | GIE Winter 2023

2/1/2023

This article explores the opportunity that global educators have to positively prepare students to navigate and interact with ambiguity as they enter the workforce.


Global Educators Encouraging Participants to Find Their Unique Voice | GIE Winter 2023

2/1/2023

This article outlines a 3-pronged approach that practitioners can use to unearth their own biases, create opportunities for participants to use their voice and finally highlighting these voices.


No Way Forward Without Us: Doctoral Student Reflections on the Future of DEI | GIE Winter 2023

2/1/2023

This opinion piece introduces the reflections of the field from three Black PhD students who aspire to assume senior-level faculty and administrator roles in international education and beyond.


Candid Testimonies: Historically-Marginalized Alumni Promote Study Abroad and Global Careers

2/1/2023

This opinion piece reflects on how aprogram alumni at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill help historically-marginalized students pursue global opportunities.


Career readiness through intentional reflection of cultural intelligence | GIE Winter 2023

2/1/2023

This article discusses a new criteria for Career Readiness Core competencies and a tool created through the partnership of Dr. Maggie Mahoney and the Cultural Intelligence Center to define cultural intelligence and improve career readiness.


Global Impact Exchange | Winter 2023

The Winter 2023 edition of the Global Impact Exchange features articles and opinion pieces that explore how practitioner can help prepare students to prepare for their career through a DEI lens.


Together We Fly Higher | GIE Winter 2023

2/1/2023

The article offers insight into a multi-institutional project with Delta Air Lines that connects academy, industry, and career development.


Developing T-Shaped Professionals Through Expanded International Experiences | GIE Winter 2023

2/1/2023

In this article the concept of the T-shaped professionals is presented as a lens to consider connecting career competencies with international experiential experiences.


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