Border-Free GCSU

BORDER-FREE GCSU NEWS

Border-Free GCSU has been featured in a report on "examples of impactful Internationalisation at Home programmes" published by Universities UK (UUK), the principal association of higher education in the UK, representing 140 universities, and whose membership is comprised of the executive heads of universities in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Georgia College & State University is one of only fifteen universities world-wide to be showcased in the report.

Encompassing fully six categories of participation - and not just study abroad - every GCSU student can now easily have one or more international experiences before they graduate.

• The UUK report was also noted in a June, 2021 newsletter of the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA), an organization of "national-level organisations which promote and fund internationalisation of higher education."  The ACA's member organizations come largely from Europe, plus the US (IIE), Latin America and Asia.
• The ACA describes the report as showing the "range of activities that are being carried out by universities and the positive effects they have on students and campuses, including breaking down barriers to physical mobility and making campuses more inclusive and sustainable places."

What is Border-Free education at Georgia College?

(Short on time?  Read about the history and development of Border-Free GCSU in a new window here)

An innovative framework for internationalization grounded in accessibility and inclusion, Border-Free education at Georgia College leverages the online environment to extend international opportunities to more - to all - GCSU students, faculty and staff.

“Border” is understood here not only in the sense of a boundary separating geographical entities, but also in the sense of a barrier to be surpassed or, ideally, eliminated. 

Conceived in this unique way, Border-Free Georgia College provides access to international experiences and opportunities to all - and particularly to those who can benefit most from an integrated program of extensive genuine access; access freed from barriers of all sorts whether actual (such as financial, disabilities/physical mobility, or time and responsibility constraints) or (“I could never do that”) perceived.

GCSU's International Education Center is currently exploring reciprocal border-free opportunities with partner universities and providers on five continents.

Border-Free also makes it possible for the external global community to interact with Georgia College to a far greater degree than ever before. 

Institutions that wish to partner with Georgia College to develop Border-Free opportunities are encouraged to contact the International Education Center.

“Diverse experiences in a broad range of contexts provide students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to develop skills critical to their future success and difference-making in our world.  Georgia College’s innovative Border-Free GCSU program leverages the global reach of technology to provide virtual study abroad programs, trans-national class projects and activities with peers overseas, plus research, student and professional development opportunities, and much more to the entire GCSU community.  Border-Free GCSU removes barriers to international participation and provides all GCSU students, faculty, and staff access to international experience without any need to travel.  I encourage all GCSU students to add Border-Free GCSU opportunities to the already exceptional and well-rounded liberal arts education provided by Georgia College.”

- Steve M. Dorman, Past President, Georgia College & State University

Resources and Information for GCSU Students

    Featured Past Programs:

• "Ten Plants that Changed the World" (GC2Y 2000).
  • Bahamas/Rwanda
• "Culture, Gender and the Good Life" (GC2Y 2000, plus multiple disciplines).
  • France
• "Climate Crisis: Teaching Fiction & Philosophy at the End of the World" (MFLG 4950)
  • Offered in conjunction with Friedrich-Schiller Universität (Jena, Germany).
  • Open to all majors.

Resources for GCSU Faculty (More Coming Soon)

Have a great idea but need help in bringing it to fruition or in making connections overseas?  Contact the International Education Center at studyabroadinfo@gcsu.edu for Border-Free GCSU assistance and information.

Emerging Categories/Opportunities

Border-Free Study Abroad

Program directors develop intensive opportunities based upon learning outcomes and utilize technology to connect students with international content and experiences, plus experts, organizations, and political and community leaders.  

• Such programs must follow standard guidelines for academic integrity and cultural sensitivity, plus follow fiscal protocols and best practices for online health and safety. 
• Proposals are submitted to the International Education Center following departmental and college approvals.  Instructions and online resources forthcoming.

Border-Free Classroom

Faculty may incorporate any level of internationalization into their classes, from a single guest lecturer abroad, to ongoing conversations and group projects among students here and overseas, and even co-taught/co-coordinated and co-attended courses.  The latter are particularly effective when mixed teams of students collaborate on projects and co-present.

• Simple classroom endeavors should be coordinated through the faculty member’s home department and – for internal and USG tracking purposes- with BANNER course coding requirements included.  Instructions and resources forthcoming.  
• Co-taught courses (and similar) must be coordinated through the faculty member’s home department and school, plus Academic Affairs and the International Education Center.  Details forthcoming.

Border-Free Academic Programming

These outside-of-the-classroom learning opportunities open the conversation to a larger audience, expanding beyond one class or even a group of classes.  

Topics may be interdisciplinary in nature and incorporate participants from multiple institutions or organizations, plus they may be one-time or ongoing collaborations.  Resources and registries (etc.) forthcoming.

Border-Free Student Development

These opportunities allow students to connect with other students abroad in a more social and easy-going manner or atmosphere.  

• Connecting non-academic student groups with similar groups abroad allows students to develop and practice intercultural communication, plus problem-finding/problem-solving, and teamwork skills while also developing networks and fostering friendship and camaraderie around the world.  Resources, registry and other information forthcoming.
• Example: The GC International Club is already collaborating electronically with a similar organization in Hong Kong.

Border-Free Faculty and Staff Professional Development

Connect with colleagues abroad to explore in-depth topics of interest or concern, and find out what others have done, are doing – and what they think – plus share opinions and solutions from the GC side.  Resources, registry, and other information forthcoming.

Whether it’s the pursuit of collaborative research or cross-cultural perspectives on day-to-day tasks, this is a great way to evolve, grow, and expand knowledge, plus gain valuable insight and solutions.

Global Communities and Enrichment

Border-Free opportunities open to Georgia College students, faculty, and staff, but also to the wider regional and global community through conferences, workshops, symposia, and more.

Border-Free has been developed to more easily put the world at the finger-tips of the Georgia College community.  The International Education Center is happy to assist faculty, students and staff in connecting with colleagues at our exchange partners and elsewhere, and to other professional contacts throughout the world.  

For more information about this exciting, innovative, and award-winning initiative, or if you have any questions - or related ideas or needs not covered by the above - contact the International Education Center.