OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

Faculty Report

Name MARLOWE J. BERG

Faculty/Rank Professor, Director of Doctorate in Education

Department SDSU-USD Joint Doctoral Program

College Education

Office phone 41378

Other phone (619) 222-9510

E mail address berg@mail.sdsu.edu

Proposal title INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIPS FOR DOCTORAL

STUDENTS IN LITERACY OR EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

Country/ies visited England

Institution visited Kingston University

Dates of travel July 18-24, 2001

Number of student participants: NA

Previous IP proposals submitted and grants awarded 0

(list titles, countries and dates):

Have all required reports been submitted? Yes

Other funding for this activity available/applied for: None

Proposal Abstract (75 word maximum):

Leaders in education today need to view it through a global lens. While an experience locally can provide doctoral students with a strong background in selected areas of specialization, an opportunity for candidates to spend time with research faculty in universities abroad can potentially expand their knowledge base and global perspectives. Internships developed for a short intense summer experience provide the flexibility and opportunity for working professionals to take advantage of an extraordinary venture.

Travel report:

I. Opening/overview of intentions/activity

In preparation for establishing internships for the doctoral students in the SDSU-USD Doctorate in Education, a personal dialogue with faculty who would be involved at an appropriate university was deemed crucial. Several potential university sites were considered. Since language could be a factor in determining the success of an internship experience, a predominantly English-speaking institution seemed the most appropriate. Great Britain possessed the largest number of institutions with comparable education programs. A survey of the universities cited in HERO (Higher Education & Research Opportunities in the UK) revealed interesting programs at the University of London and Kingston University. These two institutions were examined in more detail with potential contacts identified.

II. In preparation for the trip abroad

- Collaborated with…

Faculty on the Joint Doctorate Program Steering Committee, and representative doctoral students met to review the options available to students to participate in an internship experience within the context of the program schedule.

- e mail contacts

Dr. Keith Grieves,School of Education, Kingston University and Dr.Steven Connor, Birkbeck College, University of London were initially contacted to explore meeting in England.

- researched university statistics and compared to SDSU(e.g. number of students enrolled Both Kingston University and Birkbeck, University of London were comparable particularly in compatible research and postgraduate programs. The menu of options is greater at the University of London.

- confirmed that prospective university is “recognized” by the Ministry of Education Kingston University and the University of London are both sanctioned by the British Ministry of Education

III. Upon arrival/specific activity

- What/who are the contacts made at the prospective partner university?

Dr. Keith Grieves and two of his colleagues in the School of Education met with me on July 18 and 19 at Kingston University to discuss the possibilities of offering doctoral students internships with School of Education and Information Systems faculty at Kingston University in the summer of 2003.

Dr. Steven Connor, Pro-Vice-Master, International and Research Students was out of the country when I was in England but we agreed to continue communication via e-mail and possibly arrange to meet to discuss developing an international internship at Birkbeck College, University of London. Real time dialogue on program development can be much more fruitful than electronic conversation as the environmental elements that can impact a program are much more readily discernible.

-What particular major/minor is of interest?

The programs at both Kingston and Birkbeck that focus on language/linguistics and information systems offer opportunities for joint doctoral students to engage in appropriate internship research activity.

IV. Conclusion, recommendation, and next step?

- Why is this particular institution valuable for SDSU?

Kingston University has been involved in international programs with San Diego State University in the past. In light of that experience the likelihood of an appropriate educational encounter for doctoral students appears greater. The University of London has a reputation for educational excellence and the research faculty in Birkbeck College are highly respected in their fields.

- Sustainability of project (is there a high likelihood that students in the department will be interested in studying the proposed subject area at

the prospective partner university and vice versa)?

Students in the Joint Doctoral Program were canvassed regarding interest in participating in an international internship prior to my finalizing plans to visit England. Eleven students responded positively to exploring the possibilities of the internship should it become a reality. A number of programmatic and logistical issues must be resolved before final plans can be made, however.

- How will this exchange program (or expansion) increase participation by students in international activities, or enhance international learning environments for students?

If the international internship can be successfully implemented it will provide doctoral students with an increased awareness of international educational policy making, faculty avenues of research and, through personal interactions, an expansion of their global perspective. There is a high probability that future educational leaders will operate on an international stage and therefore need to be sensitive to the diversity that surrounds us in our global society.

- What students will benefit?

The students who will benefit are the current members of the first Ed.D cohort. Each candidate would develop a broader international

perspective as a result of an internship at a university outside of the United States. The fit of the faculty research endeavors with the

interests of the doctoral students will be critical to the success of the internship project. If the initial program is a success it is anticipated that additional internships will be orchestrated for students in the upcoming program cycles.

- What will be their activities (e.g. course work, international internships, field research, etc.)?

The internship for doctoral students will be available as an elective experience for doctoral students in both the literacy and the educational technology areas of concentration. The elective option is projected to occur during the summer of 2003. The dialogue with colleagues at Kingston University revolved around shaping the internship experience to include a pre-activity that would be an electronic exchange resulting in a research focus. The internship with the faculty member in England will take place during a four week summer period at which time the predefined research activities would occur. Following the international experience, an analysis of the results gleaned from the activity would occur and culminate in a written product worthy of submission to an appropriate journal for publication.

What will be your role in promoting and supporting these activities?

As Director of the Doctorate in Education my role has been to shape the internship experience for students by investigating and preparing opportunities at an appropriate international site. The next steps will revolve around continued dialogue with Kingston University faculty. At the end of the visit in July it was agreed that faculty members at Kingston who were interested in working with a doctoral intern would send a short statement of research interests for circulation among the doctoral candidates. A faculty -student fit could occur following electronic conversation about compatible research interests. My responsibility would be to coordinate the possible faculty-student match. Additionally, it would be my responsibility to maintain an active link with Dr. Grieves at Kingston in communicating how we might work through the logistics of student lodging, costs and other institutional issues from either university that need to be addressed.

An additional next step will be to continue the investigation of the University of London as an internship option for students. It is hoped it might be feasible to apply for support for another visit to London for a dialogue with faculty at Birkbeck College. The faculty members who would be central to setting up any internship experience were not on campus during the past month of July. And, in my opinion a site visit is very necessary to ensure a measure of success for an internship project. A personal scan of the educational context is crucial for gauging the prospects for success or the pitfalls that may exist and must be addressed. Faculty cannot structure an international experience through electronic means alone.

V. Additional Information

- The current developments on the international scene may deter some doctoral students from planning an internship experience. Should the situation become dangerous for students to travel abroad the efforts to implement an internship will be postponed until the second cohort group is in place. It is hoped that at that time the climate will have settled and an international experience will once again become something that enhances a doctoral program’s richness without putting students in harm’s way. . At this time, however, the dialogue with Kingston faculty will move forward. A conversation with Birkbeck with also proceed with the possibility of a site visit to review the goodness of fit for a doctoral internship abroad.

All information should be sent to The Office of International Programs via e mail:

oip@mail.sdsu.edu