Making Tech Work

International education is an ever-changing fi eld, and international educators must keep pace. Initiatives and innovations that were possibly only dreamed of 20 or 30 years ago like cloud-based learning management systems and social media platforms—are now everyday tools for educators and students. Such tools have enabled programs to be more inclusive, participant demographics to be more diverse, and models and expectations for international education experiences to significantly change to meet new needs.

A large contributing factor to these changes has been the advancement and acceleration of technology, along with its increased adoption and effective implementation. From complex customer relationship management (CRM) tools to the grassroots #WeAreInternational and #YouAreWelcomeHere social media campaigns, technology allows international educators to do what they do best—build real connections with students and expand the reach of internationalization.

Across NAFSA’s five Knowledge Communities—Education Abroad; International Enrollment Management; International Student and Scholar Services; Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship; and International Education Leadership—international educators on campuses around the world are implementing a variety of technology tools and solutions to enhance their work and better serve their students.

Yet, international educators should continually anticipate and consider how new and different technology can be used to facilitate internationalization activity, improve the international education experiences of students and scholars, enable greater communication between administrators and partners abroad, and advance both teaching and learning for domestic and international students.

Education Abroad

At the Learning Abroad Center (LAC) at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (UMTC), design and technology have combined to create a start-to-finish