Internationalization Initiative

2016-2017 internationalization activities

Summer 2016

  • Several members of the Internationalization Steering committee participated in brainstorming sessions of the Peter Drucker process towards promoting internationalization at the college.
  • Committee members met with Dr. Lisa Avery, Sylvania Campus President and discussed specific projects of inviting international scholars in the STEM area to PCC.

Fall 2016

  • As part of International Education week, Internationalization Initiatives co-sponsored a preview of the documentary, “Gandhi’s Gift” to explore if Gandhi’s final years were his finest was hosted at Cascade campus on November 14 2016 with simultaneous telecast to Rock Creek and Sylvania campus. Cynthia Lukas, one of the producers was present at the showing and answered audience questions.
  • Professional Development Opportunities in the area of internationalization were offered through an application process with the following criteria:
    • Interested in bringing more global awareness to students?
    • Ready to learn how to infuse your courses with international perspectives and assignments?
    • Like to know how intercultural competence be emphasized/infused in curriculum?
    • Does knowledge of people and culture fascinate you?
  • Twelve faculty were awarded funds to attend the following conferences:
  • A speed culturing event was held between ESOL (Instructor: Mike Bene) and Business (Instructor: Michael Hohn) classes at Rock Creek. More details about the speed culturing event.
  • ESOL Instructors: Lucian Diniz and Sarah Bailee at Sylvania offered an ESOL Community Based Learning Project where students can tutor small groups of ESOL students from levels 1 or 3 under the supervision of ESOL instructor who will provide tutoring activities for each session.

Winter 2017

  • Korean Culture Night was held at Rock Creek on February 2, 2017 (postponed from December 2016 due to snow) was a great opportunity for the PCC community to experience and learn about Korean culture.
  • The Asian Studies Development National Conference was held from March 2-4, 2017 in Portland, OR. It was co-sponsored by Internationalization Initiatives. A panel on Obstacles and Synergies to Campus Collaboration was led by Martha Bailey, Anne Frey, Tiff Hayes, and Usha Ramanujam, members of the Internationalization committee and Dr. Kim Smith, Sociology Faculty, Sylvania.
  • The Institute of International Education Best Practices conference, hosted by Florida International University in Miami, FL March 13-14, was attended by Usha Ramanujam, Chair, Internationalization Steering Committee.
  • The Cascade Festival of African Films, held at Cascade, was co-sponsored by Internationalization Initiatives.
  • The following Speed Culturing sessions were held during winter ‘17:
    1. Business (Kamiar Daraee) and ESOL (Dan Davies) at Rock Creek.
    2. Business (Michael Hohn) and ESOL (Mike Bene) at Rock Creek.
    3. Dental Hygiene (Michelle Wilson) and ESOL (Luciana Diniz) at Sylvania.
    4. Communication Studies (Susan Mann) and ESOL (Jill Nicholson) at Sylvania.
    5. Luciana Diniz at Sylvania held the ESOL Community Based Learning Project.

Spring 2017

  • Supported Korean Club by promoting Korean Film Nite at Cascade, Sylvania and Rock Creek campuses during April 2017.
  • Celso Machado playing guitarCollaborated with Rock Creek Music department to bring Celso Machado, Brazilian guitarist and composer, for a performance and provide students and staff a unique cultural experience on May 3, 2017.
  • On May 19 2017, a faculty tour and a mini-workshop was organized at the Portland Art Museum to work with Dr. Graybill, Curator of Asian Arts, and learn how to use the museum’s staff and resources to enhance courses and enliven students’ learning experiences. Faculty teaching courses leading to Global Studies and Asian Studies Focus Awards and other art history faculty across the college attended this event.
  • On May 30 2017, some members of the Internationalization Steering Committee met with Dr.Shawn Smallman, Chair, Department of International and Global Studies, Portland State University to discuss a potential articulation agreement of the Global Studies Focus award and how to better leverage the Focus Award to support students’ movement toward PSU’s International Studies program.
  • The following Speed Culturing sessions were held in spring 2017:
    • Medical Lab Technology – CTE (Ana Sacramento) and ESOL (Jennifer Ruden) at Cascade.
    • Think Big Technology – CTE (Ish Rivas) and ESOL (Larissa Sofronova-Allen) at Rock Creek. Article on the session.
    • Business (Kamiar Daraee) and ESOL (Dan Davies and Sarah Barrett) at Rock Creek.
    • Think Big Technology (Ish Rivas) and ESOL (Larissa Sofronova-Allen) at Rock Creek (2nd time).
    • Business (Michael Hohn) and ESOL (Mike Bene) at Rock Creek.
  • Two Fulbright Scholar visits were made possible by the collaboration of Internationalization Initiatives with the Fulbright Scholar Program’s Outreach Lecturing Fund, which enables visiting scholars to share their research interests, speak about their home country, and exchange ideas with students, faculty, and community organizations.
Group of people

Reception for Dr. Wanna Prayukvong, Fulbright Scholar at Sylvania campus, May 2017

  • On May 9, 2017, Dr. Wanna Prayukvong, a visiting Fulbright scholar from Thailand and hosted at Babson College, Wellesley, MA spoke about Buddhist Economics Approach to an Inter connected Self to Philosophy students at Cascade.
Group of people

Reception for Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Jian Liu, at Rock Creek campus, May 2017

  • On May 17 2017, Dr. Jian Liu, a Fulbright scholar from China and a visiting faculty at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, spoke at South East about the development of Beijing as a historical city. Dr. Jian Liu presented about Beijing: an integrity of historic city and modern metropolis Urban and Rural Planning in China. She was the Chief Guest at the Asian/Chinese/Global Studies Focus Awards ceremony. Later, she spoke at Rock Creek to Building Construction Technology and ESOL students about Impacts of Urban Rural Dual System on Spatial Development: Can rural China be regenerated through planning? Dr. Liu’s visit was jointly coordinated along with Department of Urban Studies at PSU.