What I’m Reading: ‘Making Global Learning Universal’

There is no shortage of universities with internationalized curricula and excellent study-abroad programs. When our campus started thinking about global education more than a year ago, that is what we had in mind. But we realized we should be thinking more expansively after we invited Stephanie Doscher, one of the authors of Making Global Learning Universal: Promoting Inclusion and Success for All Students (Stylus Publishing, 2018), to speak to our faculty.

The book, which she wrote with two colleagues, makes a strong case that having a diverse campus is not enough for improved learning. Understanding and leveraging diversity can have a far greater impact on preparing students to become global citizens. The authors provide a practical road map that is informed by intended student learning outcomes, inspired by the concept of “inclusive excellence,” and aimed at producing “collective impact.”

The book asks and answers essential questions: What is the value of global education? Is internationalization enough? How far can a good study-abroad program take global education at a college? The authors take us through their journey at their institution, Florida International University. They describe how they redefined global learning, then engaged their campus community in designing a strategy and integrating that learning into their programs in a meaningful way. Their goal was to reach all students, not just those able to travel abroad.

Faculty members and administrators on any campus could use this book, as we did, to help them chart their own course.

Ilir Miteza is associate provost for graduate, global, and digital education, and a professor of economics, at the University of Michigan at Dearborn.