by HOLA@HAJINKIM.COM | Jun 8, 2022 | Career Advancement Resources, Identity in the Workplace, Professional Development
Transcending Barriers and Increasing Opportunities for Women of Color in International Education
From Live Session on June 8, 2022 (Closed captioning available)
Session Description:
The field of International Education is predominantly female and White. However, both the workforce and the students we serve are increasingly diverse. In this community discussion, professionals in leading positions will share their experiences as women of color in the field. They will discuss best practices to combat certain disadvantages realties to this intersection of identities and thus increase opportunities for future leaders.
Presenters:
- Anniette Lauredo – Sr. Manager of Inclusion Programs, University of Miami
- Beverly Pruitt, J.D. – Assistant Vice President, Workplace Equity and Performance at the University of Miami
- Nina Castro -Assistant Director, Study Abroad, University of Miami
- Ida Thompson – International Student Counselor, University of Houston
- Tabitha Thomas – Director of Faculty, Immigration at North Dakota State University
Moderators:
- Hanni Geist – German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Diversity Abroad Task Force Member
- Caitlin Johnson – Sponsored Student & Scholar Coordinator, University of Kentucky International Center
by HOLA@HAJINKIM.COM | Jun 6, 2022 | Articles
Posted: June 6, 2022
By: Sub-group of 2021-2022 Career Advancement & Belonging Task Force
- Daniella Lubey, Study Abroad Advisor, University of San Francisco
- Adam Freed, Global Learning Coordinator, University of California Santa Cruz
- Oi Yin Lo, Assistant Coordinator, China & Italy, FIT State University of New York
In the early days of international education, the administrative responsibilities of program development and implementation were nearly always undertaken by scholars and/or practitioners from other disciplines. Rather than focusing solely on international mobility, these professionals balanced international education with other administrative duties, athletic coaching, teaching, research, or other work. The data has shown that international education employees are burned out due to many universities, offices and institutions that are doing more with fewer resources. Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress. Sound familiar? “Prolonged or repeated stress” would describe a normal day in many international offices, but since 2020, we’ve also been living in a world where the stress baseline has been raised considerably. Stress is a part of any job, but within the context of the pandemic and the “Great Resignation”, it begs the question: “Is burnout inevitable?”. International education professionals were forced to become crisis managers and work long hours to serve the needs of their students, but at the same time this took a huge toll on them personally.
In conducting a survey with the Diversity Abroad Career Advancement and Belonging Task Force, we received over 110 responses from current and former international education professionals on burnout in the field. Nearly three quarters of respondents work at a higher education institution and have over six years of experience in the field. Over 70% reported colleagues leaving the international education field in the past two years. While the majority of respondents noted that international education has always been a high-volume, fast-paced work environment, nearly 97% attributed these departures to the following main factors: burnout, low staffing to address workload, budgetary constraints, and insufficient compensation. Respondents had mixed feelings about staying motivated in the work that they care about, regardless of their years of commitment to the field. Over 25% felt their supervisor did not recognize their contribution to the team and over 30% did not feel supported by their supervisor and/or institution/organization; as a result many left their jobs. Taking time off for health and wellness was another area in which respondents did not feel comfortable doing.
Burnout is not discussed enough within our organizations. Resolving burnout often requires some kind of changes at the job, team, or organizational level. In developing self care practices to mitigate physical, emotional, and mental effects of burnout it is important to first of all, prioritize your health. In framing a new perspective about career situations, employees must consider which aspects of your personal and professional life are fixed and which can be changed. It is best to ask ourselves, what can we control and what is beyond our control? Hierarchical and other workplace structures can have an impact on contributing to or reducing burnout. Leaders play a big role in mitigating burnout among their employees. Discuss with your employer about your personal priorities in order to set realistic boundaries and guardrails in the workplace, press upon the necessity for a work-life balance and engage in personal rest and renewal. Continuing to allow flexible working arrangements is another area that can strengthen employee support and satisfaction. If necessary, ask people in your workplace or in your network for help or training that may be needed to succeed.
There is no doubt that pre-pandemic international education work was challenging, but as we have and are living through the COVID era, even more barriers have become ever present and we must take action to decrease burnout in international education.
by HOLA@HAJINKIM.COM | May 21, 2022 | Reports
Considering Religion Abroad: A Quick Guide for Advisors
Publish date: May 2022
A helpful quick guide for advisors which includes some questions to engage with your students at various stages of their study abroad journey, online resources to use, and tips on how to help students overcome religion-centric health and safety challenges while overseas.
by HOLA@HAJINKIM.COM | May 21, 2022 | Reports
Inclusive Marketing: Creating, Collaborating, and Innovating for the Future
Publish date: May 2022
This new resource guide is intended to help in the development, promotion, and management of marketing campaigns. For those of you looking to amp up your social media efforts, there is a very handy Social Media 101 guide. It also includes several tips and practical recommendations when marketing for students with disabilities.
by HOLA@HAJINKIM.COM | May 21, 2022 | Reports
An In-Depth Look at Supporting Asian American Students’ Education Abroad
Publish date: May 2022
This guide explores the pre-departure, in-country, and marketing support that Asian American students from differing identities received and provides several key recommendations that international education staff can do to support their students.
