Internationalization is a key initiative at Shoreline Community College and James Jansen, the new Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, is fitting right in.

Jansen was a presenter on Feb. 20, 2013, at the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) Annual Conference in New Orleans. Along with two co-presenters, Jansen spoke on “Re-Imagining Internationalization for a Networked World: The COIL Institute for Globally Networked Learning in the Humanities.”

COIL, or Collaborative Online International Learning, is the focus of a center based in Manhattan at the State University of New York system’s Global Center. The COIL Center works with a network of colleges and universities in New York, including Jansen’s former school, Corning Community College in Corning, NY. Jansen joined Shoreline this past summer.

Jansen’s presentation focused on how faculty can help students develop meaningful cultural interactions across borders by building classes in which both faculty and students can communicate and interact with international partners at other colleges using digital means.

Jansen views that goal as much the same as Shoreline’s campus internationalization effort to bring global awareness and globally competitive skills to both domestic and international students.

The AIEA, formed in November 1982, is composed of institutional leaders engaged in advancing the international dimensions of higher education.

COIL is working to develop and implement online collaborative international courses that can be team taught as a format for deepening cross-cultural learning and understanding.

SCC/Jim Hills