Srinakharinwirot University
International College
Program Proposal and Overview
David T. Brown
16 December 2004 ● Srinakharinwirot University
Outline
Why create an International College?
Key Attributes of the proposed program
Defining Interdisciplinarity
Why Sustainability?
What is an Interdisciplinary Combined Major?
Integration of International Course Components
Timelines
Conclusions and Comments
SWU International College
Why create an
International College?
Why an international college?
Thai universities require
new programs which are:
academically excellent
international in scope and credibility
pedagogically innovative – emphasizing critical
thinking, interdisciplinarity, effective communication
skills, applied problem solving
socially and environmentally relevant
free from traditional bureaucratic constraints
attractive and accessible to Thai students
institutionally affordable (cost recovery basis)
SWU International College
Why an international college?
SWU’s response:
Srinakharinwirot University is committed in
principle to developing a new autonomous
College within the governing framework of
Srinakharinwirot University,
known provisionally as
Srinakharinwirot University
International College
SWU International College
Mandate of SWU IC
to provide a unique broad-based
interdisciplinary undergraduate educational
opportunity with a strong international
component for Thai students at SWU, featuring
strong core grounding in
environment and sustainability
to provide an internationally recognized and
respected joint-major Bachelor’s degree
(BA or BSc) program
SWU International College
Development targets
Make the program accessible to a wide
range of academically excellent Thai
undergrads
-> realistic English aptitude expectations
-> realistic cost
Fit within a standard 4-year university
degree time frame
SWU International College
Development targets
Maximize interaction with international
instructors and student peers from abroad
Minimize costs associated with
international / study-abroad components
Harmonize with domestic Thai programs
and programs in international institutions
SWU International College
Development targets
Retention of traditional liberal
undergraduate educational values…
Literacy
Numeracy
Critical analysis
Openness and receptivity to the
ideas and perspectives of others
Moral and ethical integrity
Social responsibility
SWU International College
Development targets
…and Innovation
through the introduction of:
a structured interdisciplinary perspective;
an integrated international experience that is
systemic, meaningful, and more affordable than
full-time study at an international institution;
a systemic emphasis on environment, ecology,
and principles of sustainability as a fundamental
basis for all activities.
SWU International College
Key attributes of the
International
College
Curriculum
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
Interdisciplinary Combined Major
Program Structure
Students in the program will have the
opportunity to be joint majors, combining
the College’s broad-based interdisciplinary
course offerings with a disciplinary major
from a participating department at SWU.
SWU International College
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
Focus on Environment, Ecology and
Sustainability
interdisciplinary core courses will
emphasize environmental literacy,
ecological awareness, and a strong
working knowledge of principles of
sustainability as a foundation for all
academic endeavour
SWU International College
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
Inherently International Perspective
accomplished through
collaborative program delivery with
international partner institutions;
international and domestic lecturers;
international study-abroad and exchange
opportunities for students, staff, and faculty
members
SWU International College
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
Inherently International Perspective:
How?
1. domestic courses / academic activities
offered in Thailand which involve
international faculty members as
instructors or co-instructors;
2. study-abroad courses (short and medium
term) mounted by SWU around the world
which may involve international faculty
members as instructors or co-instructors,
for SWU credit;
SWU International College
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
Inherently International Perspective:
How?
3. study-abroad course opportunities
(short and medium term) around the world
offered by cooperating partner institutions
for transfer credit;
4. term-abroad or year-abroad study
opportunities at cooperating partner
institutions around the world for transfer
credit.
SWU International College
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
Modular program format
An academic calendar that is complementary
to the standard Thai academic calendar as
much as possible
Course modules scheduled to take best
advantage of the academic calendars of
partner institutions in the northern and
southern hemispheres
Provides maximum flexibility in course
selection and allows for year-round study.
SWU International College
Target demographic group
Thai high school graduates and young
professionals who exceed national universitylevel entrance standards and SWU acceptance
standards
Thai students who have excellent academic
credentials and good functional oral English
skills, but who may lack university-level writing
aptitude in English
SWU International College
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
Emphasis on English language
program delivery
A significant proportion of the international content
of the program will be delivered in English. E.g.,
all course content delivered
by international instructors;
courses with joint Thai-international student
enrollment.
However…
SWU International College
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
…the intended target market for this
College is Thai students, so:
some foundation courses in the International
College core curriculum may be delivered in
Thai
some disciplinary co-major courses may be
taken in Thai
supplementary materials and explanation for
international courses may be provided in the
Thai language by Thai co-instructors.
SWU International College
Key Attributes of IC Curriculum
In some SWU-credit courses, students will be
given the option of submitting written work and
writing examinations in either Thai or English.
Students who choose to work entirely in English
will receive formal recognition of this fact in their
degree program through English-language
benchmark testing and a formal ‘English stream’.
Transfer credit courses will be conducted and
evaluated entirely in the language of instruction
of the home institution, except by special
arrangement.
SWU International College
Defining
Interdisciplinarity
Definitions…
disciplinary
Multidisciplinary
Interdisciplinary
- what are the differences?
Reference: Stefanovic, Ingrid. 1996. Interdisciplinarity and Wholeness: Lessons from
Eco-Research. Environments 23(3): 74-94.
SWU International College
Definitions…
Disciplinary:
of or pertaining to a discrete branch of learning
knowledge within generally accepted boundaries
often associated with discipline-specific
vocabularies, methods, and assumptions
Examples of disciplines: sociology, philosophy,
biology, political science, chemistry, economics,
geography, mathematics...
SWU International College
Definitions…
Multidisciplinary:
standard disciplinary approaches are applied to
a common research question, problem or issue
insights achieved through an approach which is
essentially additive rather than integrative
a spontaneous coalescence of these disparate
approaches is anticipated
arguably the approach which produces the most
substantive research results
SWU International College
ISSUE
discipline
ISSUE
discipline
discipline
discipline
Definitions…
Interdisciplinary:
a level of integration which involves more than
an additive analysis of the disciplinary
perspectives
insights are achieved through an approach
which is explicitly integrative
-> an a priori attempt is made at synthesis
across disciplinary boundaries
the issue, problem, or concern defines the
disciplinary expertise which is brought to bear
-> arguably the most effective policy-oriented
problem-solving approach
SWU International College
ISSUE
ISSUE
discipline
discipline
discipline
discipline
ISSUE
discipline
discipline
discipline
discipline
sector
sector
sector
sector
ISSUE
sector
sector
sector
sector
Interdisciplinary programs
…are not affiliated with a particular
academic discipline, but which attempt
to bridge disciplinary boundaries
diverse in scope and context, but share
some common attributes:
thematic
issue-based or problem-based
may incorporate a range of perspectives,
from theoretical to applied
SWU International College
Interdisciplinary programs
…are not a substitute for the traditional
disciplines which form the core of any
university
The two approaches are inextricably
interlinked and complementary:
Disciplinary endeavour provides depth
of knowledge
Interdisciplinary programs provide
breadth of knowledge
SWU International College
Interdisciplinary programs
Further details on handout:
A. The Disciplinary / Multidisciplinary / Interdisciplinary /
Transdisciplinary Continuum (pp. 4-6)
B. Rationale for the development of an interdisciplinary
core program in ecology, environment, and sustainability
(pp.6-8)
SWU International College
Why Sustainability?
Rationale and Overview
Sustainable development:
meeting the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own
needs.
- World Commission on Environment and Development
(1987): Our Common Future
A somewhat broad definition: “all things to
all people, therefore nothing to anyone”.
SWU International College
Sustainability
Some alternatives:
“A sustainable society is one that lives within the selfperpetuating limits of its environment. That society is not
a "no growth" society - it is, rather a society that
recognizes the limits of growth and looks for alternative
ways of growing.”
- James Coomer
[Sustainability is]..“achieving the ecological balance
which allows economic prosperity and social equity to be
achieved across generations.”
- James McNeil
SWU International College
Sustainability
…is not limited to one precise definition. Different
definitions of sustainability are useful for different
situations and different purposes, yet all the
definitions involve:
Living within limits;
Understanding the interconnections
among economy, society, and environment;
and
Equitable distribution of resources and
opportunities.
SWU International College
Sustainability
“A basic premise of education for
sustainability is that just as there is a
wholeness and interdependence to life in
all its forms, so must there be a unity and
wholeness to efforts to understand it and
ensure its continuation. This calls for both
interdisciplinary inquiry and action.”
Educating for a Sustainable Future: A Transdisciplinary
Vision for Concerted Action (UNESCO, 1997)
SWU International College
Sustainability
the sustainability triangle
SWU International College
Elements of sustainability
Environment
Economy
Society
- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987
SWU International College
Elements of sustainability
Environment
•biodiversity
•materials
•energy
•biophysical interactions
Economy
Society
- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987
SWU International College
Elements of sustainability
Environment
•money and capital
•employment
•technological growth
•investment
•market forces
Economy
Society
- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987
SWU International College
Elements of sustainability
Environment
•human diversity (cultural, linguistic, ethnic)
•equity (dependence / independence)
•quality of life
•institutional structures and organization
•political structures
Economy
Society
- World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987
SWU International College
Sustainability…
No longer a slippery ill-defined term
Qualitative and quantitative techniques are
employed in the study of sustainability
Theoretical and applied approaches exist
Emphasis on the continuum from
principles to policy to practice
Principles of sustainability are now well
established in the academic literature ->
frameworks for evaluating our practices
SWU International College
Principles of Sustainability
To be useful, principles must:
be easily understood
be applicable in many contexts
be transferable across scales
translate well from fundamental values into
applied policy and practical action
identify possibilities for change of all
magnitudes
SWU International College
Sustainability Education
Further details on handout:
C. Background on interdisciplinarity in postsecondary
environmental education from UNESCO (‘Education for
a Sustainable Future’) – p.9
Other resources:
Principles of Sustainable Development:
http://www.iisd.org/sd/principle.asp
The Sustainability Project
http://www.flora.org/sustain/lets_tlk.html
SWU International College
What is an
Interdisciplinary
Combined Major?
Credit structure
Interdisciplinary Core
Disciplinary Co-Major
(approx. 40% of total credit hours )
(approx. 40% of total credit hours)
General Education Courses
(approx. 20% of total credit hours)
SWU International College
Credit structure
Interdisciplinary Core
(approx. 40% of total credit hours )
Examples:
‘Non-traditional’:
• Biology
• Engineering
• Sociology
Disciplinary
Co-Major
• Chemistry
• Computer
Science
• Economics
• Education
• Geography
• Pharmacology
• Politics
• Business
• Law
• Languages
• Philosophy
• Health Science
• Psychology
General Education Courses
(approx. 20% of total credit hours)
SWU International College
Generic Course Schema
Year 1
Term 1
Introduction to Sustainability
Disciplinary Co-Major 1
Term 2
Applied Environmental
Policy
Ecology and Environment
Disciplinary Co-Major 2
Disciplinary Co-Major 3
General Education
Disciplinary Co-Major 4
General Education
General Education
* Disciplinary and General Education Courses may not occur in same terms
for all co-majors
SWU International College
Generic Course Schema
Year 2
Term 4
Term 3
Local Scale
Environmental Issues
Year 2 / 3 Core Elective*
Global Scale
Environmental Issues
Year 2 / 3 Core Elective*
Disciplinary Co-Major 5
Disciplinary Co-Major 7
Disciplinary Co-Major 6
Disciplinary Co-Major 8
General Education
General Education
* Sample year 2 / 3 core electives: Economics of the Environment
Ethics, Equity and Environmental Thought
Materials, Waste, and Recycling
SWU International College
Generic Course Schema
Year 3
Term 5 (abroad)
Field Course
Project and Journal
Interdisciplinary
Perspectives on…*
Term 6 (abroad or at home)
Year 2 / 3 Core Elective**
Disciplinary Co-Major 9
Urban Settlements
Disciplinary Co-Major 10
Ecozones and Biodiversity
Disciplinary Co-Major 11
Year 2 / 3 Core Elective**
Disciplinary Co-Major 12
General Education
* Sample “Interdisciplinary Perspectives on…”…Human Settlements: The Automobile
…International Issues: Globalization and Environment
…Environmental Issues: Toxins in the Environment
** Sample Year 2 / 3 core electives:
Environmental Legislation and Case Studies
Human Services Planning
Global Conventions on Environment and Development
SWU International College
Generic Course Schema
Year 4
Term 8
Term 7
Research
Project I
Literature
Review
Policy
Seminar I
Interdisciplinary
Perspectives
on…
Research
Project II
Policy
Seminar II
Yr. 3 / 4
Elective*#
Yr. 3 / 4
Elective*#
Disciplinary Co-Major 13
Disciplinary Co-Major 15
Disciplinary Co-Major 14
Disciplinary Co-Major 16
General Education
General Education
* Sample Year 3 / 4 core electives: Ecosystem-based Planning
Sustainable Agriculture
Gender and Environment
# May be Disciplinary Co-Major Course depending upon Year 3 Term Abroad or Year Abroad options
SWU International College
Integration of International
Course Components
Scheduling and Mechanisms
Scheduling
Respects standard 4-year (8 term) university degree timeframe
SWU International College
Scheduling
Respects standard 4-year (8 term) university degree timeframe
Respects standard SWU academic calendar in years 1,2 and 4
SWU International College
Scheduling
Respects standard 4-year (8 term) university degree timeframe
Respects standard SWU academic calendar in years 1,2 and 4
(standard Thai academic term deployment)
SWU International College
Scheduling
Respects standard 4-year (8 term) university degree timeframe
Respects standard SWU academic calendar in years 1,2 and 4
(standard Thai academic term deployment)
International instructors will teach during standard Thai terms
Intl. Instructors
Intl. Instructors
Intl. Instructors
Intl. Instructors
Intl. Instructors
Intl. Instructors
Intl. Instructors from:
Intl. Instructors
Intl. Instructors
Northern hemisphere
SWU International College
Southern hemisphere
Scheduling
Respects standard 4-year (8 term) university degree timeframe
Respects standard SWU academic calendar in years 1,2 and 4
(standard term deployment)
International instructors will teach during standard Thai terms
Year 3 (Terms 5 and 6) is different, and offers most intensive
international experience
SWU International College
Scheduling
Respects standard 4-year (8 term) university degree timeframe
Respects standard SWU academic calendar in years 1,2 and 4
(standard term deployment)
International instructors will teach during standard Thai terms
Year 3 (Terms 5 and 6) is different, and offers most intensive
international experience
SWU International College
Scheduling
Year 3 (Terms 5 and 6) is different, and offers most intensive
international experience
Term 5 is a study-abroad field course term (within May –Sept)
SWU International College
Scheduling
Year 3 (Terms 5 and 6) is different, and offers most intensive
international experience
Term 5 is a study-abroad field course term (within May –Sept)
SWU International College
Scheduling
Year 3 (Terms 5 and 6) is different, and offers most intensive
international experience
Term 5 is a study-abroad field course term (within May –Sept)
Example: Canadian Ecozones and
Urban Settlements courses
• land in Vancouver
• travel across country by motor coach, visiting
several major ecozones and important cities
• Accommodations in university residences along
the way – less expensive, and appropriate
• Guest lectures by local academics and experts
• One Thai and one Canadian instructor
• Hiatus (additional course and break) at Brock
University before stage 2 (eastern Canada)
SWU International College
Term deployment
Year 3 (Terms 5 and 6) is different, and offers most intensive
international experience
Term 5 is a study-abroad field course term (within May –Sept)
Example: Canadian Ecozones and
Urban Settlements course
• land in Vancouver
• travel across country by motor coach, visiting
several major ecozones and important cities
• Accommodations in university residences along
the way – less expensive, and appropriate
• Guest lectures by local academics and experts
• One Thai and one Canadian instructor
• Hiatus (courses and break) at Brock University
before stage 2 (eastern Canada)
SWU International College
Scheduling
Year 3 (Terms 5 and 6) is different, and offers the most intensive
international experience
Term 5 is a study-abroad field course term (within May –Sept)
Term 6 offers two options:
Study at
Brock
(1 or 2 terms)
SWU International College
Study at SWU
(regular
2nd term)
Scheduling
•Additional optional field or classroom courses may be offered
between semesters, including ESL training, at home or abroad
SWU International College
Timelines
Timelines
2004-5
• Program definition:
− Program title and scope
− Determination of substantive subject areas covered
− Assessment of academic resources available (books, journals, online
resources)
− University-wide workshop (January 2005) on program development
•
•
•
•
Curriculum analysis and development
Identification of full list of committed faculty members
Hiring of new faculty by SWU
Piloting of collaborative core course delivery in a Thai context at
SWU using Brock faculty
• Establishment of final program structure and administrative
mechanisms
Pilot Program Launch June 2005
SWU International College
Timelines
2005-6
• Advertising of new program
• Pilot Program Launch June 2005
• Deployment of some Year I course offerings
• Recruitment of SWU students into newly developed program
• Exploration and initiation of collaborative research programs
• Visiting International Scholar / University Mentorship program visits
to Brock for upper-year course development and collaborative
research
• Possible first iteration of joint Brock-SWU undergraduate field
course
SWU International College
Timelines
2006-7
• Deployment of Year 2 course offerings
• Development of short-term study-abroad course offerings for SWU
students
• Ongoing collaborative development of Year 3 and Year 4 courses
SWU International College
Timelines
2007-8
• Deployment of Year 3 course offerings
• First semester of Year 3 incorporates a systemic international
experience:
− For students without 550 TOEFL: May – August field term (5) in
Canada; return to Thailand for Term 6
− For students with 550 TOEFL: May – August field term (5) in
Canada, but staying on from Sept in study-abroad semester or
year
2008-9
• Deployment of Year 4 course offerings
• First graduating class
SWU International College
Conclusions and Comments