Louise Staunton is Associate Director, Trinity Global Experience at the Global Engagement Office, Trinity College Dublin. She has been working in international education for over 20 years. In her current role, she develops strategies to support the lived experience of international students and the wider global experience of all students, while working collaboratively across the institution. She also leads on Trinity’s University of Sanctuary activities supporting students from asylum, refugee, and international protection backgrounds, including management of the Global Incident Response Unit. . She was previously Programme and Training Manager at the Irish Council for International Students where she authored an innovative intercultural skills training guide and video for higher education Diverse Voices: Listening to International Students (2015). Louise served as an elected member of the European Association for International Education (EAIE) Expert Community on Mobility Advising from 2019 to 2022. She has written for EAIE publications and presented at numerous conferences globally on international education. She is currently Trinity's representative on the Irish Universities Association (IUA) sub-group on International Student Experience.
Ponencia: Fostering Intercultural Competence and Leveraging Innovation to Enhance Student Transition, Community and Belonging: An inclusive approach to Preparing Students for Transition to Higher Education
In today's increasingly globalised and interconnected world, developing intercultural competence is a must have skill for student success and particularly for students who plan to study internationally. From a teaching and learning perspective, it highlights the need to think beyond teaching linguistic proficiency to students and to take an expansive approach focussing on developing the whole student and facilitating intercultural competence development in the broadest sense. This presentation will highlight the innovative work being done at Trinity College Dublin to support students with a set of 360 degree supports at key junctures along the student journey. They encompass development of intercultural competence, global dexterity, with an additional focus on community building to enable and facilitate their transition and engagement. It will emphasise the need for an inclusive pedagogical approach that emphasizes the importance of nurturing these skills in students at both 2nd and 3rd level education. Drawing upon research and practical examples, the presentation will address the pivotal role of fostering community and belonging within educational settings. By creating inclusive learning environments, educators can empower students to embrace diversity, build meaningful connections, and cultivate a sense of belonging, thereby enhancing their overall learning experience. Furthermore, the presentation will showcase some innovative Trinity approaches using educational technology that promote cross-cultural understanding and communication among students, while also enhancing belonging and community building. Lastly, the presentation will examine the importance of supporting orientation and student transition processes, particularly for learners from diverse cultural backgrounds.