Even from the comforts of their homes, Niagara College students continue to be globally and culturally engaged this Winter 2021 term.
Niagara College is collaborating with one of its partners in Ireland, Munster Technological University (MTU), formerly Cork Institute of Technology (CIT), to offer a workshop series in global leadership providing students from both NC and MTU a certificate of participation in Global Leadership in the 21st Century. As part of the program, 25 students from NC Human Resource programs will join 25 MTU Human Resource students in three virtual binational workshops through February.
“As we live in a global world, all graduates need to be prepared for the world of work in a global context,” said NC School of Business and Management Studies professor, Holly Catalfamo, EdD, who will be co-facilitating the binational learning experience. “It is essential for graduates to be able to work strategically across cultures, to think and behave in a culturally appropriate manner, and to communicate effectively with individuals from different countries, at home and while working abroad. During this pandemic, educators have been challenged to find innovative new ways to help our students develop global readiness competencies.”
Catalfamo will be co-facilitating the workshop series with MTU School of Business, Department of Organizational and Professional Development, lecturer, Caroline Conlon.
The partnership between NC’s School of Business and Management and MTU grew out of a previous opportunity for students through NC’s Be World Ready program. In 2018, the two post-secondary institutions created the Global Leadership Development program, allowing 20 students from NC’s School of Business and Management the opportunity to travel to Cork, Ireland during a Be World Ready International Field Studies (IFS) trip. During the 2018 trip, students participated in workshops with industry experts and MTU and attended site tours and presentations at some of Cork’s top businesses including Boston Scientific, Teamwork, Dell EMC, and the Rubicon Entrepreneurship Hub.
With plans to take another 20 students to Ireland in the fall of 2020 cancelled, given the COVID-19 pandemic, NC and MTU partners decided to get creative and introduce a virtual global learning experience where human resources students from both institutions would participate in a series of interactive online sessions, learning from and with students from abroad.
“Students will gain an opportunity to develop intercultural and global readiness competencies, which are aligned with Niagara College’s strategic vision and reflect our goal, within the School of Business and Management, to prepare graduates for professional success in a global world” explained Catalfamo. “By participating in these sessions with educators and students from Ireland, Niagara College students will explore, in a very meaningful way, the HR practices and processes of a European country and identify the similarities and differences of the practice of HR and global leadership in different nations. These virtual workshops move beyond the classroom to learn in a global context with peers from abroad.”
Through the three-part series, students will explore topics including Contemporary Perspectives on Global Leadership and HR; Neuroscience & Global Leadership – Developing Cognitive Readiness for Global Leadership; and Enhancing HR Decision Architecture for Global Leadership. Upon successful completion of the workshops, students will receive a certificate of participation.
“Globalization has revolutionized the economy and as a Human Resources student it is imperative, I educate myself on international cultures and practices,” said Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Human Resources) student, Kendra Mellikov, who has registered for the workshops.
“The opportunity to learn with [and from] peers from another country is unique and rare; getting to share diverse experiences and strategies of organizational functioning can only enhance my learning and comprehension. I am particularly looking forward to the session on ‘Neuroscience and Global Leadership’, being provided with a first-hand opportunity to understand human behaviour cross-culturally serves to enrich my HR knowledge … and the certification will strengthen my professional portfolio.”
NC Human Resources Management student, Anthony Henderson, explained how he chose to register for the workshops for the global leadership perspective it will offer.
“In today’s world with COVID-19 and lockdowns, we as students have lost that ability to meet and interact with other students outside of our classes who have the same interests that we have,” said Henderson. “I think that putting this seminar together was brilliant for two reasons. The first is that we will be able to learn about a few very interesting topics from two very inspirational leaders. The second is that we may have some time to discuss these topics with other inspired students not only from a Canadian perspective but from a global perspective.”
The series begins on February 9 via Zoom where students will explore the topic of Contemporary Perspectives on Global Leadership and HR.
