Cabrini is working to become a more globalized campus. There are ways, however, that the college already has a very globalized perspective. Through courses with an international focus, to professors from other countries and even studying abroad, students receive a broader international dimension.
The communication department recently welcomed Dr. Felicity Duncan to their staff from Johannesburg, South Africa. Johannesburg is a city of about seven million individuals. Duncan feels that she brings her culture into the classroom during each of her digital communication and social media classes.
“Because South Africa has a very complex and conflict-filled history, we have all had to learn to engage in dialogue and debate, and I definitely bring that openness and honesty into my classroom,” Duncan said.
Coming from a different country to teach comes with preconceptions of that country.
“It’s been interesting to talk to people about my country, and find out how different their ideas are from the reality,” Duncan said.
Among the international professors at Cabrini College, Dr. Alia Sheety was born and raised in Israel.
Sheety is currently working on a proposal for an Engagements with the Common Good course. Sheety stated in an email that she hopes that the course will, “provide an opportunity for Cabrini students to learn about the challenges and the social justice issues that the Palestinian community faces.” Both Cabrini students and Bethlehem University students will be engaged in discussing how they are involved in their communities and what their role is in repairing some of the injustices.
Sheety hopes to collaborate with a class at University of Haifa, Israel, to explore how both the American and Israel educational systems “work with the diverse populations, discuss injustices in the education system and lessons that could be learned from various experiences.” This course would be offered in the Educational Leadership graduate department.
“Students will be exposed to different cultures, which become an important aspect of the education of the person,” Sheety said. “If we talk about the ‘global village’ we need to learn about each other, communicate with each other and most of all learn to respect differences.”
Cabrini provides students with the opportunity to study abroad, with locations varying from studying on the green grasses of Ireland to working and learning side by side with the citizens of Guatemala.
For students, studying abroad provides opportunities for learning new languages, handling new currencies, providing career development and creating friendships and connections with those that they would not have previously learned from.
In research by the Chronicle of Higher Education, women account for two thirds of the participation in oversea programs. Also, it was reported that international students lead to the raising of the standards of colleges and universities doing their best to the world’s “best and brightest” in the fields that they are specializing in.
Senior Danielle Kane is currently utilizing Cabrini’s study abroad opportunity by traveling to different countries on boat with the Semester at Sea program. The program fits perfectly with both of her majors.
“Being an international business major I get to see how business work whether it be a major corporation or a merchant stand. Also, as a finance major I get to use different currencies of the countries I have traveled to and have been able to see the exchange rate change over the months of my voyage,” Kane said. “I believe that this study abroad opportunity has opened my eyes to so many things and that it has changed way I view the world.”
