The Center for Citizen Diplomacy Featured at NAFSA 2015 Annual Conference & Expo Poster Fair
BOSTON, May 29, 2015 /3BL Media/ - The Center for Citizen Diplomacy, a signature initiative of PYXERA Global, participated in the NAFSA 2015 Annual Conference and Expo: New Horizons in International Education premiere poster fair. The conference educates, informs, and inspires international education professionals at all levels. From May 24 to 29, more than 12,000 attendees gathered at the Boston Convention Center to further their professional development and engage with colleagues from across the globe.
“Students around the world have opportunities to be citizen diplomats every day – both on their home campuses and while studying abroad,” said Matt Clark, Global Engagement Manager of PYXERA Global. “It has been really exciting for us to start working more with faculty and staff at colleges and universities to leverage this idea of person-to-person global engagement and using the concept of citizen diplomacy to bolster schools’ internationalization efforts.”
Clark presented results from workshop trainings on citizen diplomacy for students and staff at colleges and universities during the “Connections between Peace, Social Justice, and Citizen Diplomacy” NAFSA poster fair on May 28. Results from the workshops indicate that participants trained to engage as citizen diplomats are more likely to take advantage of opportunities for international exchange and feel more capable of collaborating across differences. Select workshop results include:
- 78% increase in student level of understanding of opportunities for global engagement after receiving citizen diplomacy training. - Drake University
- 84% of participants said they are more likely to participate in global activities after receiving citizen diplomacy training. - Central College
- 100% of participants said intercultural communications skills learned in citizen diplomacy training will increase their ability to do their jobs effectively. – Iowa State University
In addition to exploring ways that some colleges and universities are already incorporating citizen diplomacy training for their students and staff, the Center’s NAFSA poster session provided an opportunity for attendees to share their thoughts on how citizen diplomacy training can complement other aspects of international education. An online survey is available here for faculty and staff to comment on their biggest needs for additional globalization tools.
Clark leads the Center’s work to promote person to person interactions across cultures that result in mutual exchange and shared understanding, with special emphasis in developing citizen diplomacy workshops for college and university students, faculty, and staff.
The Center for Citizen Diplomacy
The Citizen for Citizen Diplomacy and Citizen Diplomacy Network unite organizations that are committed to advancing purposeful global engagement at a person-to-person level, providing them with a common platform from which to share, participate, and learn in this important community. Read more about the Center here.
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2015 marks PYXERA Global’s 25th anniversary. Join us in a year-round celebration of 25 years of impact. Click here to join our community and learn how you can get involved. PYXERA Global leverages the unique strengths of corporations, governments, social sector organizations, educational institutions, and individuals to enhance the abilities of people and communities to solve complex problems and attain mutually beneficial goals. The PYXERA Global team is passionate and dedicated to navigating challenges and pinpointing purposeful global engagement opportunities for its clients and partners. Initiatives include a wide range of services from local content development to global pro bono programs and integrated community development efforts that transform lives and livelihoods.
