English department hosts 'Internationalizing the Curriculum' conference
The Virginia Tech Department of English, working with the Virginia Council for International Education Inc., will bring together colleagues from international education offices and Departments of English in Virginia for parallel and collaborative meetings in Blacksburg from March 29 through 31.
Held in the Skelton Conference Center at The Inn at Virginia Tech, the conference will encourage participants to explore initiatives to enhance statewide international education. Discussions will also focus on coursework and internship opportunities available within individual Departments of English.
“This conference is intended to begin an on-going collaboration among faculty and international educators on each of our campuses and among all our Virginia campuses,” said Joe Eska, professor and chair of the English department. “We plan to publish the proceedings of the conference, and the multicampus working groups we hope to establish are intended to further academic international outreach that we expect will inform (and perhaps reform) national practices, as well as statewide practices, in our fields.”
The conference is replete with workshops, panels, and small planning groups. Speakers include
- Ralph A. Cohen, Gonder Professor of Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature at Mary Baldwin College and director of mission and co-founder of the American Shakespeare Center
- Joan Gore, senior academic development director of the Foundation for International Education and director of adult education travel programs in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at the University of Virginia, author of the books “Dominant beliefs and alternative voices: discourse, belief, and gender in American study abroad” and “Cost-effective techniques for internationalizing the campus and curriculum”
- Peter Stearns, provost and professor of history at George Mason University, and author of the book “Educating global citizens in colleges and universities: challenges and opportunities”
The full program schedule may be found online. Registration is required. The conference is open to the public and walk-ins are welcome. For assistance, call 540-231-5182.
