THE WORLD IN YOUR
BACKYARD:
INTERNATIONALIZATION
OF EXTENSION
Overview
1. Why incorporate?
2. What is internationalizing?
3. Implications for leaders
Why Incorporate Global
Perspectives?????
Shrinking Global Village
Market & Economy
Health and Wellness
Environmental Stewardship
Community and Partnerships
Technology
What are leaders saying?
America’s future rests on its
ability to understand and compete
in a world which year by year
moves rapidly toward economic,
political and social
interdependence.
The Jack Welch of the future cannot be
like me. I spent my entire career in the
United States. The next head of General
Electric will be somebody who spent time in
Bombay, in Hong Kong, in Buenos Aires. We
have to send our best and brightest
overseas and make sure they have the
training that will allow them to be the
global leaders who will make GE flourish in
the future.
J. Welch, 1998
The great international economic, technical,
geo-political forces reshaping the world
are hardly by-passing higher education.
We will not only lead new developments in
globalization and technology,
we will be reshaped by them.
Expanding the International Scope of Universities, May 2000
William E. Kirwan, Chair Commission on International Affairs
Peter Magrath, President of NASULGC
2000 U.S. Extension Systems Study
50
land grant directors
contacted - 98% response rate
1990
- 40 states had no or
minimal efforts to globalize, 9
were globalizing
2000
- 13 states had minimal
efforts, 35 states moving
toward globalizing, 1 was
globalized
2010
- 14 states globalize, 30
continued progress and 5 minimal
efforts
Changes in Extension
Systems in USA



1990 - 80% have low or no
globalization
2000 - 71% are becoming globalized
2010 – Director’s predict 88% will
be globalized
Source: Ludwig, 2000
Poston & O’Rourke, 1991
What does
Internationalization
Mean?
The Vision
Globally competent stakeholders,
faculty and students who live,
compete, work well in an ever
dynamic and interdependent world
community.
GASEPA STANDING COMMITTEE 1998
Bobby D. Moser, Chairman
Sample Goals for Internationalizing
TO DEVELOP A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE IN EXTENSION
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS



Expand exchange of knowledge with citizens
of other countries.
Facilitate economic and cultural opportunities
for clientele.
Provide Extension personnel with professional
growth opportunities.
Source: OSU Extension
Characteristics of a
Internationalized
Extension System





Clientele understand interdependencies
Stress impact of international economic forces
Incorporate into on-going Extension activities
Relationship between Extension’s mission and
international issues
Performance evaluation rewards global efforts
Ludwig, 1997
Possible Barriers
Time
Clientele support
Colleague support
Administrative
support
Family commitments
Expertise
Not program priority
No rewards
Negative career
impact
No P&T recognition
No teaching
materials
No training
No financial support
Language
Cultural
Barriers Identified by Agents
To Local
Programming:
(1) Time
(2) Not a program
priority
(3) Expertise
(4) Financial support
(5) Clientele support
To Work Outside
the Country:
(1) Family
(2) Time
(3) Not a program
priority
(4) Financial support
Point & Counterpoint for
Globalizing Extension
POINT: We have enough problems and issues at
home to resolve. We are losing touch with our
customers and are not dealing with the serious
problems and concerns they face.
COUNTERPOINT: Almost everything now has a
worldwide impact in terms of trade and economic
issues, environmental issues and human
development. Interdependency as well as
competitiveness in the global marketplace are at
stake.
Extension professionals speak…
We see ourselves as the best… maybe there
is something we can learn from others in
the world
There’s no way, no time, no resources
for those of us on the front line,
the system has not yet built in
these (international) experiences.
Extension professionals speak…
How do we deal with people who don’t
want to make changes?
Don’t let language be a barrier
Most European Americans don’t
understand our own culture …and
how others view us.
Potential Activities
Host visitors
Involve clientele in study
tour
Add global activity to
current program
Communicate by e-mail
Subscribe to
international publication
Join an international
organization
Get involved in an
international research
project
Sister city projects
Participate in study tour
Work on an international
development project
Develop a local
international festival
Study international
tourism in local
community
Develop an inventory of
local global resources
Language study
Extension professionals speak…
Education opens the public’s eyes that
we are part of a world community…
think about the impact you have
when you give knowledge…
It’s ironic, we don’t recognize the
benefits here of international
programs
“Would you tell me please, which way
I ought to go from here?”
“That depends
a good deal on where you want to get to.”
Alice and the Cheshire cat , Alice Through the Looking Glass
Implications for Leaders





Communication of support
Professional growth and
development
Creating cross cultural competency
Small grants and travel grants
Hiring candidates with international
experience
U. S. Land grant, European Advisory Services and Extension Centers
globally are challenged to look beyond traditional roles and provide
leadership for maintaining sustainable communities.
We are NOT your
GRANDFATHER’S
Extension Service
Becoming --- a system
engaging people and
communities in
education on critical
issues and part of a
global community
“You have to be responsive
both to local issues that have
global impact and to global
issues that require local
action.”
R. Foster, 1999
Global Consortium of Higher Education
and Research for Agriculture
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A PUBLICATION OF
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
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