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Global Encounter: Framing MSU's Global Engagement for the 21st Century

Executive Summary

Over 350 MSU faculty, staff, administrators, graduate and undergraduate students, visiting international scholars and professionals, and emeriti faculty attended Global Encounter on April 20, 2006, in the Breslin Center. About half of the participants were faculty members. A broad cross-section of the university was represented, including all 14 colleges, plus the libraries and a variety of centers and administrative units. Numerous deans and department chairs also attended.

Hosted by Provost Kim Wilcox and organized by the Office of International Studies and Programs, Global Encounter was designed as a first step toward identifying strategic countries/regions, partners, and programmatic themes where the university can have transformational impacts in the decades ahead.

The event, which was highly interactive and participatory, brought together colleagues from wide-ranging educational units who shared similar country/regional or programmatic interests. The day's energy and excitement was palpable and it was literally possible to view the developing synergies. The interaction was the greatest outcome as old friendships were renewed and new personal and working relationships were forged.

A great amount of discussion focused on MSU and how we work with the world. A major outcome of Global Encounter was that participants were very focused on the process for future international engagement. That is, they expressed concern about developing truly bilateral agreements that assure mutual give and take between MSU and partner institutions and other constituencies, covering research, teaching and engagement, and marked by respect for the potential contributions from each institution and group. The numerous long-range goals for MSU's international involvement suggested in this event have received further focus and refinement.

The offices of the Provost and International Studies and Programs continue to review the vast amount of data collected through the Global Encounter process and have sponsored Global Encounter: Africa, Global Encounter: Brazil, Global Encounter: China and Global Encounter: India. Complete proceedings of all five of these events are posted at http:www.isp.msu.edu/globalencounter/. If you wish to comment on any part of these Global Encounters, follow the specific instructions in the Executive Summary for each encounter or contact ISP at globalencounter@isp.msu.edu.

Full Proceedings and Related Materials from Global Encounter
(all in PDF form)

* This material was generated from Global Encounter http://www.isp.msu.edu/globalencounter/, held at Michigan State University on April 20, 2006. This interactive and participatory event was the first step toward identifying strategic countries/regions/partners, and programmatic themes where MSU can have transformational impacts in future decades and how MSU should work with the world.

If you wish to comment on the Executive Summary or the other posted Global Encounter reports, contact ISP at: globalencounter@isp.msu.edu

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