Balancing Act: Walking Ethical Tightropes in International Education

Thursday, March 20, 2025

8:45 AM – 9:45 AM US EST

Location: Willow Centre and West, Mezzanine level

Presenter(s)

David L. Puente

Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs
WorldStrides
St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
Meg Ramey

Executive Director
WorldKind, Pennsylvania, United States

Session Leader(s)

Ann Hubbard (she/her/hers)

Assistant Vice Provost & Director, Learning Abroad Center
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Slides

Presenter(s)

Christina 'Chris' Thompson

Managing Director
Compear Global Education Network, North Carolina, United States

As EA professionals, we pride ourselves on bridging cultural divides and promoting intercultural learning, and yet we inherently face various ethical dilemmas that contradict and constrain our ideals and goals. This session is an opportunity for frank dialogue about how we cope with and reconcile some of our own contradictions related to neo-colonialism, Western ideals and moral assumptions, and oversubscribed or unsustainable program locations, in our short- and long-term strategic planning.

Learning Objectives:

The facilitated dialogue will enhance attendees’ understanding of the many ethical dilemmas international education practitioners face in their work, programming, and partnerships.
Participants will be asked to reexamine and update long-held notions about why we support increased global mobility of our students and what rationales and societal outcomes justify their program and destination choices in light of changing social and political dynamics.
Own and be able to confront the reality that some of our stated goals and values stand in contradiction to others that we ought not to abandon.
Reference/utilize a short list of relevant works that will be shared for those wishing to pursue more deeply the topics addressed.