Bridging the Gap Initiative

Bridging the Gap Between Multicultural Education and Internationalization

Few institutions have fully brought internationalization and multicultural education together in synergistic ways. Consequently, the educational approaches to teaching about difference do not reflect the pluralism of American society, or adequately prepare students for this global era. For institutions to fulfill their service mission in a globalized society, they will need to advance the analytical frameworks, pedagogical enhancements, diversification strategies, and innovative solutions to societal issues that the work in this intersection affords.

Through ACE's work with institutions on internationalization, access, and diversity we have developed an appreciation for the fruitful common ground between internationalization and multicultural education. However, ACE is also cognizant of the important distinctions between internationalization and multicultural education and the sensitivities of colleagues working on these change agendas. We recognize concerns that internationalization and multicultural education are not the same and that one should not be subsumed into the other. Yet, ACE believes that the two areas have much they can substantively contribute to each other. Indeed, neither area is complete without consideration of what the other brings to bear in terms of understanding and living effectively with difference.

In response, ACE's Center for the Advancement of Racial and Ethnic Equity (CAREE) and Center for International Initiatives (CII) are collaboratively building on their history of work on internationalization, access, success, equity, and diversity to host a symposium to advance the national discussion on bridging the gap between internationalization and multicultural education.

Through meetings and publications over the past few years, ACE has engaged institutional leaders and practitioners in discussion of the overlap between these areas:

• 2006 Roundtable of Scholars and 2007 Advisory Group meeting: ACE convened two working groups to advise CII and CAREE on the development of the collaborative initiative between multicultural education and internationalization.
• 2007 ACE Internationalization Collaborative Meeting: The 2007 Collaborative meeting highlighted how domestic pluralism/diversity/multiculturalism and internationalization can be synergistic and integrated, rather than in competition.
• 2007 Publication: At Home in the World: Bridging the Gap between Internationalization and Multicultural Education: The publication outlines the common ground between multicultural education and internationalization, the ways in which these areas diverge, and potential strategies for advancing conversations that cultivate collaboration between these areas.
• 2008 Bridging the Gap Symposium: ACE convened more than 120 higher education leaders in teams from 26 institutions to advance the national dialogue on cultivating collaboration between multicultural education and internationalization.

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This page last updated on: 07/22/2008