A Description of the International Summer Leadership Academy through the University of Toledo's Higher Education Program.

1. Judith Herb
College of Education
ISLA: International Summer
Leadership Academy

2. Judith Herb
College of Education
What is ISLA?
 ISLA is an international travel educational experience
organized for Master’s and Ph.D. students in the
Higher Education Program
 Each ISLA takes place in several countries and at
several decision-making levels
 Combines knowledge acquisition
and know-how training with
intercultural immersion and
exchange of best practices

3. Judith Herb
College of Education
 Belgium
 Netherlands
 United Kingdom
 China
 France
 Ireland
Where Does ISLA Go?

4. Judith Herb
College of Education
 Each International Summer Leadership
Academy takes place over a two-week
period in the summer
 The Academy consists of two modules

5. Module 1
Europe/China – Summer 1
1. Visit supranational, national, and local governing bodies of
higher education
2. Visit colleges and universities in different regions
3. Offer workshops with peers, present in seminar/conference
4. Network with peers
5. Explore cultural sites & immerse in customs and traditions
Judith Herb
College of Education

6. Module 2
The United States – Summer 2
1. Visit federal, state, and local governing bodies of higher
education
2. Visit colleges and universities in different regions
3. Offer workshops with peers, present in seminar/conference
4. Network with peers
5. Explore cultural sites & immerse in customs and traditions
Judith Herb
College of Education

7. Judith Herb
College of Education
 Students who participate in ISLA
are able to gain up to 6 hours of
class credit per summer
 ISLA is a required component of
the Ph.D. program, but is open to
all Master’s and Ph.D. students
in the Higher Education Program

8. Is funding available
for participation
in ISLA?
 There are several different types
of scholarships available for
students participating in ISLA:
 Departmental Scholarships
 Travel Grant from the Center
for International Studies &
Programs (CISP)
 European Union program
grant
 Hanban
Judith Herb
College of Education

9. Why is ISLA important?
 ISLA helps students learn of other cultures, educational
practices, and leadership ideas
 International exposure increases students’ awareness
and appreciation of cultural and educational differences
 It enhances students’ appreciation of their own heritage,
their values, and beliefs
 ISLA helps master skills and abilities higher education
professionals need to be effective in a multi-cultural
environment
Judith Herb
College of Education

10. How Does ISLA Influence Students’
Multicultural Competence?
“in student affairs, multicultural competence
may be defined as the awareness, knowledge,
and skills necessary to work effectively and
ethically across cultural differences”
-Pope and Reynolds’ Framework for
Multicultural Competence (1997)
Judith Herb
College of Education

11. We collect and analyze information from:
o Students’ journals
o Field notes and observations
o Institutional documents, audio-visual material
o Discussion sessions
o Workshops and conference/seminar
presentations
o Focus groups
Judith Herb
College of Education

12. We try to understand:
What students learned about:
-how the higher education
system works in each of the
countries we visited
-how a country’s culture is
different from our own
Did students learn how to:
-connect with individuals
from a different culture and
communicate well
-design initiatives that are
culturally-appropriate
-remain professional in a
different culture
Did students become aware of:
-the value of the cultural differences we experienced
-their own beliefs and biases
-the variety of ways to stimulate and embrace differences
+
+
Judith Herb
College of Education

13. For more information or questions
about ISLA please contact
Dr. Snejana Slantcheva-Durst
Department of Higher Education
Gillham Hall 1000G
2801 W. Bancroft Street
Toledo OH 43606
snejana.durst@utoledo.edu
(419) 530-5673
Judith Herb
College of Education

14. Thank You!
Judith Herb
College of Education