Graduate Student Roundtable: A Discussion Forum for Graduate Students

NAFSA: Association of International Educators Annual Conference

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Thursday, May 31st, 2007 ~ 9:30am to 10:30am
Convention Center, 200E
David Comp & Mary Beth Johnson, co-chairs

This roundtable is intended to provide graduate students, recent graduates and those considering graduate school the
opportunity to network and discuss issues related to studying and researching the multiple aspects of international education.
This session will also serve as a starting point in planning future directions and opportunities for graduate students within
NAFSA and the greater field of international education. Additionally, faculty members and colleagues based outside of the
United States are encouraged to attend. This is the perfect opportunity for scholars in and outside of the United States to
network for potential collaborations on research and other scholarly activities.

The format for the graduate student roundtable will be that of two twenty minute dialogue “roundtable” sessions where
participants will choose from a variety of topics. Each roundtable will have an assigned moderator who will help facilitate
the dialogue and will take notes which the co-chairs will use to summarize the discussions. The roundtable summaries will
be incorporated into the Research/Scholarship network as a practice resource and/or network discussion starters. The goal
will be to have a minimum of five different topics for participants to choose from.

Potential table themes:

 The job search ~ Do I have the necessary academic credentials?

 How do I get involved in the field of international education?
 Where and how can I publish in the field?
 What graduate degree should I get and in what field?
 Where are the research gaps and what are the research needs?
 My graduate program lacks an international focus ~ How can I approach and engage my faculty?
 What can the field do to assist graduate students?
 Full-time vs. Part-time graduate school?
 Where do we go from here?

A very brief demographic survey will be distributed to roundtable participants.

Resources

Dessof, A. (2006, January/February). Master’s Degree: A Key to Your Career. International Educator, 15 (1), 36-43.
Available: <http://www.nafsa.org/_/File/_/InternationalEducator/YourCareerJanFeb.pdf>

NAFSA, Teaching, Learning & Scholarship (TLS) knowledge community

<http://nafsa.org/knowledge_community_network.sec/teaching_learning_and>
Networks: Intercultural Communication and Training
Internationalizing the Curriculum and Campus
Research & Scholarship
 Educational Research Ethics & Standards
 Research Bibliographies
 Research Databases
 Research Trends, Needs, and Funding
 Data Collection in Education Abroad
 Advocating for International Education

Education Abroad Mid-Career Initiative <http://160.94.154.34/educators/careers.html>

Education Abroad Newcomer Initiative <http://160.94.154.34/educators/newcomers/index.html>

David Comp: dcomp@uchicago.edu

Mary Beth Johnson: marybeth.johnson@hotmail.com