A Primer on Building the Student International Experience: Lessons Learned

Transcription

1 A Primer on Building the Student International Experience: Bernie Yevin, Dean Business Business Information Information Technologies Technologies Division Division Forsyth Forsyth Tech Tech Community Community College College Winston-Salem, Winston-Salem, NC NC

2 Plans are nothing. Planning is everything! General George S. Patton Local Local Scheduling Scheduling Host Host Country Country Analysis Analysis The The Right Right Students Students PLANNING PLANNING LOGISTICS LOGISTICS Travel Travel The The Trip Trip Student Student Preparation Preparation

3 Planning Logistics - Host Country Analysis Environmental Scan The Political Situation U.S. U.S. State Department U.S. U.S. Consular Service In In U.S. U.S. and and in in Host Host Country CIA CIA World Factbook Partner School Local Contact in in Host Country Preliminary Site Site Visit Visit if if Possible U.S. U.S. Consulate Point Person at at Partner School Exit Exit Plans for for Terrorism or or Disaster

4 Planning Logistics - Identifying the Right Student Participants Screening Criteria: Set to to your school s policies for for participation in in foreign study & travel abroad programs. Your judgment Are they a good fit fit for for foreign travel? Your judgment Are they a good fit fit for for the group?

5 Planning Logistics Planning the Trip Plan for for a Long Planning Timeline 8 to to Months Participant Commitment Date Deposit Sequence Refund & No No Refund Dates Trip Trip Confirmation Airline Tickets Passports & Visas Budgeting: Currency Fluctuations Student Direct Direct Costs Costs Faculty Faculty Expenses Tuition Tuition & Fees Fees Room Room & Board Board Extras for for Students Trip Trip Slush Fund

6 Planning Logistics Student Preparation Participation Policy Clearly Written Policy Statements: Payment, Refund & Cancellation Behavior Expectations Academic Expectations Have Students Sign (if (if minor, parents sign also) Release for for Medical Emergencies Emergency Contact Information Send Copy to to Parents/Guardian/Spouse

7 Planning Logistics Student Preparation Build Build Excitement at at Orientation Meetings!!: The The Information Information Packet Packet Country Country Maps, Maps, Brochures Brochures & Guidebooks Guidebooks (Country (Country Tourist Tourist Authority, Authority, Consulate, Consulate, Airlines, Airlines, Michelin Michelin Guides) Guides) Country Country Profile Profile from from CIA CIA World World Factbook Factbook Culture Culture Protocols, Protocols, CultureGram CultureGram (BYU) (BYU) Language Language Phrase Phrase Book Book Reading Reading List List of of Books Books on on History, History, Culture Culture & Travel Travel in in Host Host Country Country Show Show Travel Travel Videos Videos Speakers Speakers who who have have traveled traveled in in host host country country Students Students from from previous previous trips trips Understand and and Set Set Expectations: The The Student: Student: Their Their Expectations Expectations Their Their Concerns Concerns Their Their Fears Fears The The Trip Trip Coordinator: Coordinator: Your Your Expectations Expectations Your Your Concerns Concerns Your Your Fears Fears

8 Planning Logistics Student Preparation Cultural Orientation to Host Country: Social Protocols Expected Behaviors Gestures Language Key Phrases Local Laws of of Note

9 Travel Logistics Pre-departure Preparation Bags & Packing Carry-on Suit case Critical: What TO Take What NOT to to Take

10 Travel Logistics Pre-departure Preparation What What TO TOTake: Take: Passport Passport & Visa Visa (with (with photocopies) photocopies) Medicine Medicine in in Drug Drug Store Store Packages Packages Medical Medical Profile: Profile: Conditions, Conditions, allergies allergies & prescriptions prescriptions Electrical Electrical Converter Converter Kit Kit Digital Digital Camera Camera Travelers Travelers Cheques Cheques or or Prepaipaid check check card card (i.e.: (i.e.: Pre- American American Express) Express) Appropriate Appropriate Clothes Clothes Cell Cell Phone Phone w/ w/ International International Calling Calling Capability Capability What What NOT NOTto to Take: Take: Hair Hair Dryer Dryer & Curling Curling Iron Iron & Iron Iron CD CD Player Player & Entire Entire CD CD Collection Collection (take (take an an ipod ipod instead) instead) Inappropriate Inappropriate Clothes Clothes Laptop Laptop Questionable? Questionable? Contraband Contraband & Control Control Substances Substances

11 Travel Logistics Pre-departure Preparation: The Carry-on Bag What to Carry On Board: Passport & Visa Visa Tickets & Boarding Passes All All Medications in in Appropriate Plastic Bags Change of of clothes & underwear (1 (1 or or 2 Days) Emergency Toiletries in in Appropriate Plastic Bags Money Digital Camera Cell Cell Phone

12 Travel Logistics Pre-departure & Arrival Preparation Departure: Meet at at airport at at least 4 hours prior prior to to departure. Identify where to to meet at at Airport. Have their their cell cell phone numbers. Give Give them your your cell cell phone number. Dress for for travel. Hold Hold all all travel documents until until checkinin. Arrival: Dealing with with Immigration & Customs in in Host Host Country Dealing with with Jet Jet Lag Lag Land Travel Confirmed Exchanging Money Call Call Home Identify Local Reference Points to to Minimize Disorientation

13 Site Logistics - Local Scheduling Must Do Build balance between structured activities and unstructured free time. Structured Activities: Classes Tours Tours & Field Field Trips Trips Presentations Unstructured Free Free Time: Time: Individual Exploration Site Site Seeing Seeing & Shopping Fun Fun Stuff Stuff Must Do -Encourage students to to go out on their own and explore!!

14 Site Logistics Must Do s Must Always Carry: Passport or or copy of of passport, depending on on local local law. law. Address & phone number of of host host school or or host host family. Hotel matchbook if if staying at at a hotel. One One Traveler s Cheque Some Local Currency Must Learn: Landmarks for for orientation How How to to use use public transportation How How not not to to get get in in trouble locally To To deal deal with with Culture Shock To To ask ask questions They are are a guest in in host host country

15 Key Resources U.S. Department of of State CIA World Factbook CultureGrams IIEPassport Student Guide //info.iiepassport.org.studyabroadguide/part4.html

16 Please Share Your Experiences, Tips, Successes, Problems and Questions Thank You!