My class last night was too cool. It’s called Globalization in Higher Education and centers around the impact of globalization on higher ed and what changes may occur in the future; fascinating stuff!
While I’m the only non-PhD candidate in the class I feel like I actually have something to contribute just from applied experience working in the Education Abroad Office. Half-way through the class we introduced ourselves and we had to list our international experience among other things—while I may not the intense research and pedagogical theory that the others have, I realized I’ve spent the last 8 years become a subject area specialist just through practice. I think this is going to be an excellent course. Since I’m only taking one, I think I can keep focused and organized despite all the other stuff I have going on at work.
Organization is going to be key in the next few months. In addition to loads of reading and research I’m going to have to do for this course, I’ve picked up some of the more time consuming elements of a vacated position in our office. I was originally entertaining the idea of taking this other position (which would have been a sizable a pay raise – haven’t had one of those in about 3 years) but it really removes me from student interaction and tosses me deeper into the land of red-tape. While I’m sure I’d love working more closely with our Dean’s office, I’m going to stick to study abroad. Still, until the position is hired, I’m taking care of the Florida France Linkage AND all international agreements between USF and the rest of the world. Time consuming is really just a nice way of saying it, I think I spent nearly all of yesterday back and forth with one of the regional campuses and General Counsel, but honestly I know that these agreements are going to make a difference in the lives of at least 7 students, so it’s worth it. :-)
I’m helping organize some content for Dr. Mark Orr’s memorial service on the 2/1. He had such and amazing life, I think I’ll speak more about that close to 2/1.
I’m also helping organize our students to impress a visiting international delegation from INTO, which is some huge consortium of universities.
Oh! I also applied to teach in the fall. If I get accepted, I’ll go more into what that entails.
I'm also merging my internet presence. Next step, my twitter account now has the same name as this blog. You can follow me by clicking on the right of the screen OR search for @daidaloslost
Ok, lunch is wrapping up! So back to work I go.
Friday, January 15, 2010
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