Translating Internationalization Initiatives From the Macro to the Micro

Abstract

Internationalization of higher education is a phenomenon affecting universities around the world in their effort to prepare students to interact in international and intercultural environments. This chapter presents a three-phased, professor-led, grassroots study aimed at, first, characterizing the state of internationalization at a particular Latin American university; second, defining what international and intercultural competences (IICs) should be adopted as the institutional goal for all students; and lastly, piloting pedagogical strategies and activities to bring the IICs into the classroom. Ultimately, this chapter hopes to serve as an example for how institutions can translate internationalization initiatives from the macro-level into the micro-level (the classroom) in a more inclusive way that better impacts student learning within the realm of internationalization at home. Likewise, this experience aims to help fill the current gap in the theory and practice of internationalization in Latin America.