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College of Notre Dame (Baltimore,
MD)
International
Cooperation in Service
Summary
International Cooperation in Service is a cross-cultural service-learning
program that relies heavily on student leadership
to create a residential living/learning community and provide cultural
peer support for participating international students. Closely aligned
with the College of Notre Dame’s mission,
“to build inclusive communities, to engage in service to others,
and to promote social responsibility,” this annual summer program
is the result of a coordinated, collaborative planning
and implementation process with a Japanese sister college and local community
partners. Assessment of student learning and community impact
is essential to this collaborative endeavor.
The Practice
International Cooperation in Service is a three-week residential program
that seeks to create an inter-cultural service-learning community by (1)
combining classes, field observation, and community service to introduce
students to a variety of social issues and human service delivery systems
and (2) promoting cultural exchange among all program participants (students,
faculty/staff, and community partners).
When Nanzan Junior College (NJC) of Nagoya, Japan approached the College
of Notre Dame (NDM) to become the U.S. host for the fieldwork component
of a new academic program in International Cooperation, a collaborative,
year-long development and design process was undertaken.
Key program leaders and faculty members from each campus met in the
U. S. for a week-long planning session in the summer of 2000. In addition
to providing time for community and program visits, the planning session
enabled both institutions to conceptualize a program as a joint effort
to meet curricular goals for Nanzan and simultaneously create a mutually
beneficial opportunity for Notre Dame students and community partners.
During the next academic year, the collaborators determined curricular
content, service placements, and participant selection.
The program was inaugurated in the summer of 2001 with 12 students. Program
implementation is coordinated by NDM’s Office of Service Initiatives
and co-facilitated by NDM and NJC faculty, with community partners serving
as co-teachers for various aspects of the program. Program costs are covered
through a combination of fees, grant-based support, and institutional
funds contributed by each college.
All students in the program assume leadership
by identifying goals for the cross-cultural learning community as well
as personal learning goals. Students live, study, and serve together throughout
the three-week experience. The student-to-student relationships have proven
critical to program success. NDM students are selected to serve as Peer
Ambassadors, and paired with Japanese students. Peer friendships enable
Japanese students to (a) assimilate and navigate American culture in a
short time, (b) enhance their immersion in the use of English language,
and (c) operate successfully as volunteers in diverse community settings
in Baltimore. Leading and participating simultaneously, Peer Ambassadors
benefit from intense interpersonal cross-cultural contact, while gaining
exposure to program content areas relevant to their academic major, and
new service experiences in Baltimore. NJC and NDM students develop culture-sharing
projects. Traditional Japanese games, songs, crafts, and rituals serve
as the basis for interactive culture-sharing activities, which NJC students
lead at their respective community sites.
In addition to being directly aligned with salient aspects of the College’s
mission, the program addresses particular goals of NDM’s
International Programs Office and the Office of Service Initiatives. By
forming a global partnership to develop and deliver an educational program
of benefit to both Japanese and American students, the College extends
and deepens its relationship with one of its sister institutions. Using
the philosophy and pedagogy of service-learning, the Office of Service
Initiatives develops cross-cultural service projects/programs to build
the capacity of students to provide service locally and globally. The
College is able to extend its outreach to the local community, offering
new options for cross cultural exchange and service-learning.
Effectiveness
To date, 32 students (50 percent NJC students and 50 percent NDM students)
have participated. Both process and summative evaluations are used to
assess program effectiveness. Students provide
evaluative feedback on program goals, group goals, specific program elements,
and personal growth. Following a review of the literature on multi-cultural
programs, NDM and NJC developed an assessment survey. Focus groups, individual
interviews, and evaluative observation have also been used to assess impact
on students and community partners. Student data (undifferentiated by
cultural background of the respondent) reveals that program goals have
been met each year. Students report understanding of service/volunteerism
and increasing knowledge of American culture as primary outcomes.
When asked to rate program activities in relation to achieving the goals,
students found volunteer service, classroom work, and
program visits were most helpful. All respondents rated the role
of Peer Ambassador as essential to the success of the program. Feedback
from community partners has been very favorable. Each nonprofit organization
involved with the International Cooperation in Service Program reports
that culture-sharing and volunteer assistance provide
enrichment and enhanced capacity to deliver services
to their respective client groups. Each year, the original community-based
partners seek inclusion in the program, citing benefits to their clients
and their organizations as primary reasons.
Resources
Descriptive program information, Peer Ambassador applications, and assessment
surveys are available on the College of Notre Dame website.
Contact Information
At Notre Dame, contact Sister Miriam Jansen, Director of International
Programs, (410) 532-3183 or mjansen@ndm.edu.
For the Office of Service Initiatives at Notre Dame, contact Chrystal
Bassette, Office Coordinator, (410) 532-5305.
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