Anyone working in a field related to international mobility needs to learn how to navigate the new normal in higher education in ways that are both sustainable and inclusive. The Sustainable on the Go: Sustainability and Inclusive Internationalization Virtual Conference, slated for Jan. 24, 2022, will deepen understanding on sustainable and inclusive internationalization in higher education.
This is the second edition of the Sustainable on the Go (SOTG 2022) conference. It is co-organized by York International, the UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability, McLaughlin College, and international partners. The conference will take place Jan. 24, 2022, which is also the United Nations (UN) International Day of Education. To learn more, visit the conference website at https://yorkinternational.yorku.ca/sotg-2022-contribute/.
After the inaugural conference in 2021, with international education scholars, mobility professionals, policymakers, sustainability experts, representatives from international development and UN organizations, as well as industry from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe participating, SOTG 2022 seeks to engage new voices, partners and stakeholders in creative dialogue formats to further enrich the discussion on sustainable and inclusive internationalization in higher education.
The Sustainable on the Go Conference (SOTG 2022) will focus on three themes. Gender, education for sustainable development and Indigeneity, are considered important pillars in all conversations. The three key themes for SOTG 2022 are:
- Sustainable and inclusive global learning: How can universities ensure that all students, regardless of their socio-economic or cultural background, are empowered and supported to participate in international education and global learning opportunities? Acknowledging that racism and other forms of discrimination are present in higher education and represent crucial sustainability challenges, what are universities doing to create better systems and to provide equitable opportunity?
- Connecting the local and global classrooms: While the pandemic virtually connected many of us, local teaching and learning is often not yet put into a global context and vice versa. How can we include the broad range of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) pedagogical strategies in meaningful ways to create ongoing reflection of what our local experience means in a broader understanding? How can we embed an even stronger sustainability focus into specific concepts, such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and Globally Network Learning (GNL), when in-person opportunities return to campuses? What are new or innovative forms of pedagogy in different regions to specifically address diversity, equity and other sustainability themes? How have assessment models and practices evolved during the pandemic?
- Local and global community engagement: What are the roles and responsibilities of students or alumni of higher education in their local communities? How do we empower and prepare students for continued community and global engagement post-graduation? What skills do students need to navigate a post-pandemic job market? How effective has virtual community involvement proven to be during COVID-19? What lessons have we learned and what needs to change?
University community members who would like more information about this event should contact Mario Guerrero, project organizer, York International, by email at sotg@yorku.ca.