Internationalizing the Curriculum
of
Wisconsin Cooperative Extension
Thomas Cadwallader
Agricultural Development Educator
JoAnn Hinz
Assistant to the Dean
Setting and Need
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University of Wisconsin-Cooperative
Extension has had a long history of
international efforts.
It has had a working policy but no mission,
vision, goals or action plan.
International work has not been a high
priority.
In 2002 an International Retreat brought
together a small group of faculty and staff
members who had demonstrated a strong
interest in doing international work.
Setting and Need –
2002 International Team Retreat Summary
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12 UWEX faculty and staff participated
Established mission and vision statements
Outlined five goals:
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Create a Team International with designated
leadership.
Develop and maintain a scholarship context for
international programs.
Provide staff training related to international work.
Develop evaluation instruments that tout the
benefit of international work or at least speak to the
benefits.
Develop institutional capacity and context to
carry out international programs and to
support staff in this work.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
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Develop strategies to globalize
educational content and resources
used in educational programs in
Wisconsin
Explore resources aimed at building
an organization that reflects global
interdependence
Strengthen the connection between
global knowledge and experience
with diversity efforts
Primary Activity of the Project
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One-day workshop, 40 participants
representing all areas of CE
8-member planning committee
Keynote address, panel discussion
Participant input on– A global
Extension professional, Extension
organization, community would…
SWOT analysis
Action plans
Keynote Address
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Dr. Binaya Subedi, School of
Education, OSU
Components of a global educational
institution:
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Community outreach and dialogue
Issues oriented curriculum
Teaching, social action within the public
arena.
The Local Perspective
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Panel discussion on the importance of a global
perspective on the well-being of Wisconsin
Communities.
Panel Members:
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International dairy consultant
Director of Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program
(WRLP)
Dairy Farmer/WRLP Alumi representatives discuss
importance of global perspectives to keep Wisconsin
prosperous
WRLP is an Extension program that includes
an international experience
Facilitated
Small Group Discussions
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Participants divided up into six
groups.
Each group asked to describe their
preferred future by responding to
one of three statements:
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A global Cooperative Extension
professional would …..
A global community would …..
A global Cooperative Extension
organization would …..
Facilitated
Small Group Discussions (cont’d)
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Once the desired future was
described each group:
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Performed a SWOT analysis identifying
the positive and negative forces that
influence their achieving them.
Brainstormed action items to achieve
them.
Listed resources needed to help along
the way.
Identified individual and organizational
commitments needed to achieve
success.
A Global
Extension Professional Would ….
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Seek practical on-the-ground experiences
as an Extension professional in
international and cross-cultural settings.
Continually develop their knowledge and
understanding about how they influence
and are influenced by global changes.
Be willing to share their knowledge,
understanding and experiences with
colleagues and communities.
A Global
Community Would ….
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Find ways to celebrate its cultures and
diversity.
Appreciate divergent thinking.
Have leaders with a global perspective
and understanding of their community’s
place in the world.
Recognize and positively deal with
prejudice.
Seek international experiences for the
community and its residents.
Be a place where citizens feel a sense of
responsibility to the global community.
A Global
Cooperative Extension Would ….
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Provide a center for global
resources and activities.
Value differences and encourage
divergent thinking.
Celebrate and share global
experiences.
Infuse global awareness into
existing programming and
curriculum.
Summary of SWOT for Becoming
A Global Extension Professional
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Positive forces –
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Strengths/Opportunities
Core competencies in outreach education
Organizational partners to work with
Increasing diversity in communities
Ease of travel & English as international
language
Negative forces –
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Weaknesses/Threats
Isolationism & International unrest
Personal and community bias and prejudice
Lack of funds and resources
Current professional commitments
Summary of SWOT for
Becoming a Global Community
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Positive forces –
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Strengths/Opportunities
Progressive tradition & Wisconsin Idea
Civic organizations & Volunteer Groups
Changing cultural mix
Good models of community activities
Negative forces –
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Weaknesses/Threats
Isolationism & Fear of change
Lack of diversity in community leaders
Communities not prepared for immigrants
No tax, No spend mentality
Summary of SWOT for Becoming a
Global Extension Organization
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Positive forces –
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Strengths/Opportunities
A Strong model of outreach education
Wealth of experience among faculty and
staff
Business globalization
Technology bringing world closer together
Negative forces –
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Weaknesses/Threats
Isolationism & nationalism
Lack of political recognition of Extension
involvement in global issues
Mixed messages internally
Lack of funding internally and in
communities
Range of Action Items
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Global Extension Professional
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Global Community
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From taking current experiences and
highlighting benefits to communities, to
incorporating cross-cultural skill development
into core training.
From working with schools to develop
educational materials, to developing a
database of expertise and interests.
Global Extension Organization
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From creating an office of international
outreach, to raising the awareness of
international work with county committees.
How did we do?
Program evaluation respondents think we have room
for improvement.
(n=28)
Extent to which (your/Coop Extension's)
work has a global perspective.
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Not existent
Somewhat
Quite a bit
A great deal
Everything done
Your
Coop Extension's
How did we do?
The workshop acted to motivate evaluation
respondents to make changes
(n=28)
Workshop motivated me to do more at the
(personal/organizational) level to bring an
international perspective to my/our work.
50%
40%
Not at all
Somewhat
Quite a bit
A great deal
30%
20%
10%
0%
Personal
Organizational
How did we do?
The workshop only began to provide people with
information on how to change.
(n=28)
Workshop provided me with useful ideas that I can
apply.
50%
40%
Not at all
Somewhat
Quite a bit
A great deal
30%
20%
10%
0%
Personal
How did we do?
The workshop did begin to draw a map for change.
(n=28)
Workshop identified achievable steps that will help
the organization.
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Not at all
Somewhat
Quite a bit
A great deal
How did we do?
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The Project expanded our network
of individuals who see international
work as an important part of an
Extension curriculum.
The expansion of the network
increased our capacity to develop a
curriculum that meets diverse needs
of citizens.
Internationalizing Wisconsin Extension
Situation: WI-Extension lacks a coherent, purposeful process for building and sustaining
internal capacity to engage in international work necessary for institutional relevance
OUTPUTS
INPUTS
Committed
staff
Committed
leadership
Grant
UW
Partners
Research,
models &
experience
Phase 1 Conduct an
organizing
workshop
Create action
plan
Phase 2 Implement
action plan
plan
Monitor and
evaluate
Create and
maintain web
site
Faculty and
staff with
experience
and
commitment
All staff
Other
Extension
administrators
and UW
partners
OUTCOMES
Increased
understanding of
what internat’alizing means
Increased #s
engaged in
international
assignments
Increased
knowledge of/
and skills in Int
issues
Increased #s
integrating
international into
local program’g
Increased
knowledge of/
skills in being a
global educator
UW-Ext policies
created or
modified to
support Int.
Increased
understanding of
resources
available
Increased
commitment to
internationalize
More prof dev.
available
More resources
available
Improved
networking;
relationships
UW-Ext
embraces
values and
practices
of an
Internat’al
Org.
Internat’al
education
needs of
WI citizens
are met
Who came?
Agriculture
4%
7%
25%
Family Living
4H Youth Dev
32%
Community Dev
21%
11%
Program Dev &
Eval
Administration
For Further Information on UW-Coop
Extension International Work

John Preissing
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Tom Cadwallader
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Internationalizing Extension Project Chairman
thomas.cadwallader@ces.uwex.edu
JoAnn Hinz
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International Team Chairman
john.preissing@ces.uwex.edu
Assistant to the Dean of Coop Extension
joann.hinz@uwex.edu
International Team Website
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http://www.uwex.edu/ces/international/