Abstract
Access to adults continuing their education is a critical determinant of social mobility yet is profoundly shaped by disparate local and global contexts. Assuming leadership roles or engaging in curriculum planning requires a comprehensive understanding of the local and global contexts to develop programming for adult learners. Therefore, instructors from two different institutions across the globe engaged their learners to explore a comparative analysis of the two worlds through the lens of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 4, this project provided a powerful model for developing a global perspective on educational equity. At this workshop, presenters will share the process, challenges, and outcomes of a COIL project that engaged future educational leaders from the Durban University of Technology, South Africa and the Bridgewater State University, Massachusetts, USA. We will first unpack the pedagogical framework of our COIL project, sharing key student reflections on investigating resources and barriers related to funding, policy, and support systems. Then, participants will engage in a guided activity to analyze case scenarios of adult learners from different settings, identifying systemic challenges and brainstorming culturally responsive interventions, and explore the possibilities of developing a COIL project. Attendees will leave equipped with a practical framework for analyzing educational access in their own contexts, insights into implementing cross-national collaborations, and actionable strategies for fostering more equitable lifelong learning opportunities. Through a think, pair, share activity, attendees will discuss embedding global perspectives into their practice and create impactful interventions that strengthen humanity.
Presenters
Girija NagaswamiVisiting Associate Professor, Educational Leadership, Bridgewater State University, Massachusetts, United States Thandi Gumbi
Lecturer, School ofEducation, Durban University of Technology, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Education and Learning Worlds of Differences
KEYWORDS
Access, Equity, Collaborative, Online, International, Learning, Adult Education
