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SIT Symposium Examines Multicultural Competence and Global Justice
World Learning showcased the intellectual vibrancy at the core of its programming with the first SIT Symposium, a gathering of more than 200 international educators and development specialists who manage its programs around the world.
From August 9-11, conference participants from more than 50 countries shared lessons learned and debated the best means to address critical global issues. Two dozen expert panels examined topics ranging from conflict transformation in the Middle East to environmental sustainability to strengthening civil society’s response to HIV/AIDS. The panels were organized around the theme, “Fostering Multicultural Competence and Global Justice.”
World Learning President Adam Weinberg opened the conference with a keynote address that highlighted the organization’s efforts to internationalize higher education and to capitalize on emerging trends, including interactive technologies and a generation of young leaders “filled with the spirit of social entrepreneurship.”
He said he was most struck by the global reach and impact of World Learning’s network of tens of thousands of alumni and staff. He also remarked on the unified pedagogical approach that cuts across all World Learning programs including: The Experiment in International Living, SIT Study Abroad, International Honors Program, SIT Graduate Institute, and International Development and Exchange Programs.
“There’s a magic, there’s a network, there’s an ability to design, to deliver and to run short-term programs that in really meaningful ways truly unlock the potential to make the world a better place,” said Weinberg. Other keynote speakers included writer and cultural anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson—the daughter of anthropologist Margaret Mead—and Gustavo Esteva, a leading Mexican author and social activist.
The symposium also offered an opportunity to welcome new members to the World Learning global network. Educators from the International Honors Program, which joined World Learning’s platform of programs in May, presented their comparative global health programs for undergraduates. In addition, World Learning welcomed members of its SIT Partnership Council, representatives from universities and academic institutions across the United States who partner with the organization to provide compelling study abroad experiences.